BajaNomad

Truck Security - Kill Switches

MitchMan - 6-10-2010 at 11:24 AM

Looking for some security for my truck in BCS.

Thinking of getting a Club for the steering wheel and a Club for the brake-pedal-to-steering-wheel in addition to a good kill switch system. Been doing some reading on the Master Lock Sentry Series key-fob-operated kill switch. Sounds pretty good and easy to self-install.

Is this overkill? YES Am I paranoid? YES

Any recommendations besides therapy?

Barry A. - 6-10-2010 at 11:44 AM

In my opinion, all those things help-------but a professional can defeat them all. Basically, the use of clubs, and the like, will discourage kids, amatuers and joy-riders, but NOTHING can help much with a professional. (witness the recent aircraft thefts).

Myself, I use "the club" on all my vehicles parked out of my garage each and every night. So far so good, but I live in Redding, CA and not in Baja.

Barry

classicbajabronco - 6-10-2010 at 03:49 PM

Find a club for your car stereo and another for your battery, and maybe another for your tires.. They are the items that get stolen most often from what I hear. when I got robbed they stole the batteries, stereos and left the jack and wrenches ready to come back for the tires..all these items are easily sold.

Hi glad to see you

wessongroup - 6-10-2010 at 03:59 PM

Use a Bob


[Edited on 6-10-2010 by wessongroup]

Here is Bob "playing with me" .... he likes to chew a bit... what a mouth..




[Edited on 6-11-2010 by wessongroup]

BajaGeoff - 6-10-2010 at 05:04 PM

Great looking security system! That is one handsome pooch!

TMW - 6-10-2010 at 05:34 PM

Other than the factory security system I use a club. The newer manufacture system seem to be much better. Someone will always figure a way around them sooner or later.

k-rico - 6-10-2010 at 06:08 PM

These guys make some pretty elaborate car security systems. One was already installed in the F-250 I just bought. Impressive stuff.

http://www.viper.com/

They sell them in TJ. Car alarms are big business here.

Udo - 6-10-2010 at 08:07 PM

I have this website: http://tirelock.com in my favorites for when we move to BCS.

Bob and Susan - 6-11-2010 at 06:00 AM

just buy replacement insurance

then you get a new truck

remember in la area of california a car is stolen every minute

Woooosh - 6-11-2010 at 09:44 AM

I watch people pop their hoods and either disconnect the battery or a spark plug cable. Mexicans seem to think that works best from what I can tell.

wessongroup - 6-11-2010 at 10:16 AM

the battery under the hood ain't have bad.. simple but effective

BajaBruno - 6-11-2010 at 11:04 AM

Is there a "kill switch" for diesel pickups? Maybe a fuel pump cut-off?

TecateRay - 6-11-2010 at 03:15 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by MitchMan
Looking for some security for my truck in BCS.

Thinking of getting a Club for the steering wheel and a Club for the brake-pedal-to-steering-wheel in addition to a good kill switch system. Been doing some reading on the Master Lock Sentry Series key-fob-operated kill switch. Sounds pretty good and easy to self-install.

Is this overkill? YES Am I paranoid? YES

Any recommendations besides therapy?


I had the club when they tried to steal my truck in La Paz 10 years ago - no problem, they just cut the steering wheel. The only thing that saved me was a kill switch that I had put into the fuel pump circuitry.

On my 2002 Diesel I have a commercial, key fob operated starter system disabler, and I have a "home made" kill switch to my fuel system. I had some professional help in selecting the circuit and right wires, but putting the switch in was no big deal. I highly recommend both, as well as the "club" that goes to the brake pedal.:yes:

Barry A. - 6-11-2010 at 04:33 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by Bob and Susan
just buy replacement insurance

then you get a new truck

remember in la area of california a car is stolen every minute


Lived in San Diego, El Centro, Folsom, and Redding most of my life, all in California. I park 3 vehicles outside in my driveway, or street. Been driving cars and trucks for 60 years in both Baja and CA and NEVER have had any problems at all (knock on wood). But I do use the wheel-club on all my vehicles outside, and NEVER leave them unlocked, even during the daytime.

Barry

I bought the ultimate kills switch

Ken Cooke - 6-11-2010 at 07:32 PM

I paid $465 intalled (tax included).



www.nohotwire.com

Udo - 6-11-2010 at 07:57 PM

Thanks, Ken!

That's a lot better than the Denver boot, and much more compact. It's within reach for most of us, and the guys come to you to install it.

Wadda deal! ($422, for AAA members)

Ken Cooke - 6-11-2010 at 08:00 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by Udo
Thanks, Ken!

That's a lot better than the Denver boot, and much more compact. It's within reach for most of us, and the guys come to you to install it.

Wadda deal! ($422, for AAA members)


You fill out the on-line form, they call you back the next day and they schedule a time to come to your residence or place of work (as long as it is someplace w/o any foot traffic or cameras), and 2 hrs. later, you are shown how to use the new system.

The vehicle can still be stolen - via TOW TRUCK and then parted out, so you still have to be careful w/your parked baby says Ravelco.

Maderita - 6-12-2010 at 12:23 AM

Fuel pump cutoff switch. $10. Easy to install.
Drill through the sheemetal floorboard (or firewall) where a toggle switch will protrude through into the cab in a very inconspicuous place. For example, that could be under a seat or way up under the dash. Locate and cut the fuel pump hot wire and run wires to and from the switch.
Can't say how easy this is on other vehicles. My Jeep Wrangler required less than an hour to do a perfectionistic job. You won't want problems with this circuit in the future, so it would be wise to solder connections, tape thoroughly or use heat shrink tubing, and takes steps to protect from chaffing. Use only a quality toggle switch, such as K-4.
http://www.k-four.net/Product.aspx?pid=12

Parking at some remote trailheads, it worries me every time I leave the Jeep unattended. I have ignition kill with an alarm system, a club for the steering wheel, hood lock, and the fuel cutoff switch. My backup to all of that is comprehensive insurance for theft.

BajaBruno:
Seems like it should work for a diesel. I think you would want to be careful not to forget and crank the engine with the switch in the "Off" position.
My switch is installed so that the forward position = "Go" ("On")

pepino - 6-12-2010 at 05:06 AM

My experience with kill switches has been good. Being creative and hiding the wiring to either coil or fuel pump is effective. Just place the toggle switch in a very obscure place and hide the wiring well. The only defeat of this system are the thieves that may come with a tow truck and drag it off, not too common.

TecateRay - 6-16-2010 at 09:45 AM

Be careful about the grade of switch you use. A switch designed for too little voltage/amperage could burn up and leave you stranded. If you are switching a heavy duty circuit, it may be controlled by a relay and you can switch the relatively lower amp wire to the relay vice the actual wire that powers the fuel pump, etc. :light:

Jack Swords - 6-16-2010 at 02:48 PM

We have just pulled the fuel pump relay and taken it with us on our new 4Runner. Have to pop the hood, lift the fuse/relay box lid, and pull it out. Car won't start. Its a special little relay specific to the 4Runner so I bought a backup in case I lose the original. It's hidden somewhere in the car. Like the kill switch idea but didn't want to drill the new truck. Later when it gets rocked up.

DENNIS - 6-16-2010 at 06:28 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by Jack Swords
It's hidden somewhere in the car.


Can't remember where you hid it, can you, Jack. :lol::lol:

Jack Swords - 6-16-2010 at 08:06 PM

How did you know, Dennis? But my wife knows, thankfully.

Bajafun777 - 6-17-2010 at 06:40 AM

Ken, not a bad setup on the nohotwire.com may put that one on too. Will definately consider it for my truck since the truck and jeep are paid for and the dang insurance companies always have a gimick, huh. Later-- bajafun777

fishabductor - 6-17-2010 at 12:09 PM

I cut the wires leading from the coil to the dizzy and put in male/female terminal connection encased in a oversized wire protector. when I leave the truck I disconnect this connection and it'll turn over but never catch.

TecateRay - 6-26-2010 at 10:47 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by Jack Swords
We have just pulled the fuel pump relay and taken it with us on our new 4Runner. Have to pop the hood, lift the fuse/relay box lid, and pull it out. Car won't start. Its a special little relay specific to the 4Runner so I bought a backup in case I lose the original. It's hidden somewhere in the car. Like the kill switch idea but didn't want to drill the new truck. Later when it gets rocked up.

Now that you found the fuel pump relay, just find the wire that powers the relay and put your kill switch on that side of the relay circuit, locate it inside the cab.:light:

MitchMan - 6-27-2010 at 09:27 AM

fishabductor , what's a "dizzy"?

Kill switch

bacquito - 6-28-2010 at 01:23 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by Barry A.
In my opinion, all those things help-------but a professional can defeat them all. Basically, the use of clubs, and the like, will discourage kids, amatuers and joy-riders, but NOTHING can help much with a professional. (witness the recent aircraft thefts).

Myself, I use "the club" on all my vehicles parked out of my garage each and every night. So far so good, but I live in Redding, CA and not in Baja.

Barry


I agree with Barry- the club is the best to use. I had a kill switch fail and it was a problem. A DMV officer told me the club was the most reliable to use to prevent theft but it is sure not a guarantee. Carry an extra club key!

KAT54 - 6-28-2010 at 01:34 PM

That red club is a pain to use and store.
Why not just get better insurance that covers theft?

MitchMan - 6-29-2010 at 11:09 AM

TecateRay, questions on the fuel pump relay kill switch. Hope you don't mind.

There are alot of people who use a kill switch to interrupt the starter, but that seems to me to be pretty useless on a manual shift vehicle since all a thief has to do is push start the car/truck unless you do it like Fishabductor does (his post on 6/17 - I still don't know what a "dizzy" is).

I have been researching the kill switch issue relentlessly for the past month 'cause I have to put one on my truck.

Does it matter which wire you put the switch in: the wire to the fuel pump relay or the wire leading away from the relay? Does it matter what kind of switch device you use concerning its amperage/current capacity? If so, what amperage/current capacity is recommended?

Also, have you heard of using pressure switches that may be hidden in the inside roof underliner or in the driver side door panel that my be activated by the owner/driver with the touch of the hand in a place on those surfaces that only the owner/driver would know?

Finally, in and among the relay switches there is an EFI relay switch (if and only if you have Electronic Fuel Injection (EFI)on your vehicle). Is that the same as the fuel pump relay? If not, wouldn't that one be just as effective to apply the kill switch to (if not more so than) the fuel pump? Thanks in advance for any input


[Edited on 6-29-2010 by MitchMan]

TecateRay - 6-30-2010 at 08:06 AM

Quote:
Mitchman,
The wire leading to the relay is usually a lower amperage circuit and the safer one to "switch". The relay is actually a secondary electronic switch that takes a small signal, sets, and then passes a higher power (amp) flow of electricity to the next device in line, in this case the pump. Sounds to me like the EFI relay would have the same end effect by preventing the car from starting.

If you have a friend with some automotive electrical knowledge or can find a shop that specializes in auto electrics they should be able to help you find the right wire to disable your vehicle.

A couple of cautions:
1. Use a strong enough switch to handle the voltage and amperage for the circuit. My auto expert friend told me a horror story about a young woman who had a shop put in a kill switch - that switch was too "light" to handle the volts/amps and it short circuited, killed the engine while she was on the freeway - she died in the ensuing accident.
2. If I forget to reset my kill switch and crank the engine I sometimes get a warning light, I checked the codes and it is the fuel pressure low code. It usually resets after two or three restarts. Needless to say, I'm much more careful about resetting the switch after a few of these episodes. The first time it happened was down south of El Rosario and I was pretty nervous, new truck and all, not knowing what the light was for.

On the pressure switch question - I have never used one, I just put my toggle switch in an out of the way place. The kill switch just makes the car harder to steal, not impossible. also remember that you need to be able to conveniently set and reset the switch without being too obvious in case the car thief is watching you as you park.

I also have a commercial starter interrupt system by KARR alarms that operates by an extra key fob. Their new systems are more sophisticated and I believe they only sell through new car dealers. Two systems might be "over kill", no pun intended, but it just helps me sleep better when I'm parked in suspect areas, either side of the border.

[Edited on 6-29-2010 by MitchMan]
:yes:

MitchMan - 6-30-2010 at 09:12 AM

Thanks, TecateRay. Very helpful.