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What is the easiest reversible way to disable the car
So for theft prevention reasons, I'd like to render my car undrivable. I've hear that car thieves can be quite skilled when it comes to finding kill switches or replacing missing starter fuses. So I'd like to do something more. What is something easily removed from an rx7 without a lot of effort that will disable it? The car is driven once a week or so, i was thinking perhaps i'd just remove the ECU (takes me less than 10 mins) but perhaps there is something easier.
Either Dale or Rich brought up a good point on PFC ecu that you could set the idle to 250 rpm, so car won't start at all.
All you have to do it take the commander with you and car won't start with that setting.
I love that idea of setting the idle super low and just walking away with the commander!
I might think twice about removing and replacing the ECU if you're going to be doing it often. Maybe I'm paranoid, but I just think that the last place I want wear-and-tear is my ECU connection pins. If something goes wrong there it could be a pain to diagnose, and might harm the engine.
Just my two cents.
Easier than removing the ECU and much harder to break or bend something while plugging it back in.
good idea, yet I don't want to walk around with 20 lbs battery on my hand.
even smaller ones are heavy as well.
I'm thinking about putting an extra connector on the direct wires to the injectors to prevent the car from starting.
Of course the connector would stay under the dash or something.
Unplug the water temp sensor on the back of the water filler neck or pull the plug for fuse B2 on the main positive battery relay. Both will make your car crank but never start (ask me how I know).
I am in the process of putting hidden switch under my car seat that has to be pressed in order for the starter to work. I just bought the small switch on Amazon. I will splice into the wire going to the clutch switch. You will have to have the momentary button pushed at the same time as turning the key forward. I could hide it even better to not be seen as easily but I plan to have it more under the seat cushion, not even visible if looking under the stock seat, and rather hidden.
Mike
The commander idea is good but the pins in the plug are extremely fragile and can be bent and break easily with repeated install and removal.
if you're looking for something quick you can do like if you were going somewhere then you can put an inline fuse in one of your ignition wires and put the holder somewhere discreet like under the knee panel since it's so quick and easy to take off. That way all you have to carry around is a small fuse. You can get a little pouch thing for your keychain to hold it as well. It's better than carrying a battery or the commander.
so even if they get in the car, they won't be able to turn it on. Also lock your steering wheel by turning it until it engages the internal lock thing. Those 2 things alone are more than enough to deter someone. It will take more time than it's worth to bypass either of them. Worst case they'll leave you with a big mess of broken this and that but you'll still have the car
So for theft prevention reasons, I'd like to render my car undrivable....
Is the car left outside or in a garage? B/C rendering it "undrivable" is only half the equation if it's left outside. The car is still worth a lot in pieces.
Most of us re-wired our fuel pump, you can put that inline fuse somewhere hidden in the trunk and take it with you when you leave. But as Sgtblue mentioned, I have heard parts being stolen from a parked car, rarely hear the whole car got stolen.
I wired in an on/off switch for the fuel pump on my old FB. Hide the switch somewhere discrete, and flip it off when you leave the car. If someone breaks in, the car may start, but it will quickly die, and wont start again.
One night back in my FC days I was at a car meet and a bunch of us with 2nd gens thought it would be funny to try our keys in each other's doors.
Funny it wasn't. I was able to get into about 1 out of 4 FCs with my key. and 1 out of 4 people were able to unlock my car.
I guess that's one reason my FC had a fuel pump kill switch stashed under the dash.
The car comes with an anti theft system from the factory that disables the starter if anyone tries to break the glass and open the door or if they mess with the ignition switch. Does yours still work?
So the stock system has all these inputs to it. If you don't like or want to enhance the response mechanism (starter cut relay) perhaps you can retrofit the system so that the same signal that triggers the starter cut relay triggers a fuel pump cut? What I'm saying is, there is an existing system here that you could use to your advantage, whether it's being satisfied with the factory system or enhancing it in some way.
EGI, main relay, or if you think 10 minutes is fine just pull the plug wires off the block. Sure it's annoying to get them on but it shouldn't take you very long.
10-31-18, 12:49 PM
