What is the easiest reversible way to disable the car
Thread Starter
Full Member
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 102
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From: California
These suggestion are fascinating. Thank you all for your suggestions. I'd rather come back to my car with parts missing than to have to find the car missing altogether. Several "stolen" car post in my area over the years have resulted in the car never being found.
Originally Posted by adam c
Do you want to carry a steering wheel around with you while you are away from your car? Its too big to hide it in the car where it cant be found.
Rotary Enthusiast
Joined: May 2018
Posts: 1,473
Likes: 262
From: South FL
I haven't looked at modern alarms. There use to be auto page and similar stuff. I would imagine these days they have something to send a text or something. I am not that close to tackling my interior which will include an alarm probably so I have no idea. Worth looking into if your that worried.
My mom lets me redline
Joined: Oct 2011
Posts: 600
Likes: 132
From: Cornwall, ON
I never park my car... unless I'm in it lol. Honestly though, I drive an Rx-7 to achieve the driving high -it's the supreme.
Last edited by Rotary Alkymist; Nov 3, 2018 at 11:05 AM. Reason: Typo
Rotary Enthusiast
Joined: May 2018
Posts: 1,473
Likes: 262
From: South FL
Rotary Enthusiast
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 846
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From: hsv al
Some GM vehicles have been stolen from dealers lots with a masterkey it seems like. So all these little things just add layers which isn’t a bad thing.
The thought of it being stolen with a tow truck is the hardest to prevent probably. And it’s not uncommon to see an rx7 on a roll back lol.
If you think your car is safe in a garage then watch this video.
. It takes 6 seconds to open a garage door with a coat hanger...
So yea, create layers of protection for your car.
I found out my security system still works.... well my wife did... and she was piiiiiissssssed.
I tried to drive the car to work one day but the battery was dead. So I hooked it up to the charger and went to work. She called 20 mins later fuming because the alarm was going off, which made the dog go nuts, which woke up the sleeping new born baby.... luckily I have a friend that lives close by and could unhook the battery on his way to work.
The thought of it being stolen with a tow truck is the hardest to prevent probably. And it’s not uncommon to see an rx7 on a roll back lol.
If you think your car is safe in a garage then watch this video.
So yea, create layers of protection for your car.
I found out my security system still works.... well my wife did... and she was piiiiiissssssed.
I tried to drive the car to work one day but the battery was dead. So I hooked it up to the charger and went to work. She called 20 mins later fuming because the alarm was going off, which made the dog go nuts, which woke up the sleeping new born baby.... luckily I have a friend that lives close by and could unhook the battery on his way to work.
Joined: Mar 2001
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From: https://www2.mazda.com/en/100th/
So I pull the egi fuses on my fc,
and a couple years ago I found my car rolled a few houses down the block with the ignition in the on position, door open and hood popped but not up, they couldn't figure out why it wouldn't run and gave up
and a couple years ago I found my car rolled a few houses down the block with the ignition in the on position, door open and hood popped but not up, they couldn't figure out why it wouldn't run and gave up
Always Bad Advice
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 327
Likes: 87
From: San Diego
If your intentions are to prevent the local juvenile delinquents from taking your car for a joy ride then do something simple like pull the main fuse. Professional car thiefs forget it. Here in California’s major metropolitan areas the professionals use a ramp truck with tow hooks and a 6,000 lb winch. They can yank a car out of a parallel parking space and up on to the truck bed in under 5 minutes. A quick drive to an isolated location to remove the LoJack, steering wheel lock, and alarm system and your car is a the chop shop before you wake up in the morning. No need to ask me how I lost a fully restored 1974 BMW 2002tii one night.
I have relocated battery in rear storage bin and a breaker switch. The breaker is mostly to stop parasitic losses from killing my battery if I don't drive the car for a month, but I imagine in the event of a break-in the odds of a thief quickly figuring it out are pretty slim.
If you’re willing to add a switch , could one just be put in series with the clutch switch? Seems like it would be easier than running it to something like the fuel pump relay, and it still wouldn’t start if hot-wired at the ignition.
Joined: Nov 2011
Posts: 3,425
Likes: 489
From: okinawa to tampa
The thief isnt going to leave when he finds that you have insurance. Why would he care?
Mike
You'll need to work harder on that. Sarcasm 
Sophisticated thieves are not starting cars, they are towing them and there's really not much you can do about that, other than parking in a secured garage or being within eyesight of your car. That leaves what do you do after you find yourself in an unlucky situation.
For unsophisticated thieves, pulling the EGI fuse should be sufficient. Additional switches are failure points IMO and what about the person that gets the car after a sale. Hopefully that info is passed.
Actually, the manual transmission is probably enough. And if you want to be sadistic, leave it in gear. Preferably in reverse
Sophisticated thieves are not starting cars, they are towing them and there's really not much you can do about that, other than parking in a secured garage or being within eyesight of your car. That leaves what do you do after you find yourself in an unlucky situation.
For unsophisticated thieves, pulling the EGI fuse should be sufficient. Additional switches are failure points IMO and what about the person that gets the car after a sale. Hopefully that info is passed.
Actually, the manual transmission is probably enough. And if you want to be sadistic, leave it in gear. Preferably in reverse
I have relocated battery in rear storage bin and a breaker switch. The breaker is mostly to stop parasitic losses from killing my battery if I don't drive the car for a month, but I imagine in the event of a break-in the odds of a thief quickly figuring it out are pretty slim.