TheSamba.com :: View topic

Wed Oct 01, 2003 8:38 pm

So, Of all the topics I've seen on this great site, I haven't really noticed much discussion about the most effective ways to keep your car from being jacked.

The Club is a joke, a locking E brake just means the guy burns out your rear pads....what do you use?

Wed Oct 01, 2003 8:42 pm

I plan to put every lock I can on my '65. Convert locks on the glove box, hood release and the rear decklid. May never fully prevent a theft, but I like the solid dash top to bottom - if the hood is locked, it is harder to get to the switch from the back.

Not sure if LoJack is offered in a 6 volt system yet . . Hahahahhaaha
8)

Wed Oct 01, 2003 9:04 pm

A big dog works well! Most car thieves don't carry rotors with them, so remove it if you're worried.

Wed Oct 01, 2003 9:37 pm

I can tell you if someone wants it bad enough they will take it so the best thing to do is keep your eye on your car. I would never leave my car where it wasnt safe or for a long period of time. I find that hidden kill switches or battery cut off switches would be your best bet, or just sit in it and when someone comes up to jack it do like this guy..

Wed Oct 01, 2003 11:29 pm

LOL funny you ask. I just moved and needed to store my 67' at my Dad's house, notorious for getting cars broke into and stolen.
So... I put a cable through the wheels,2 different style of wheel locks,removed the steering wheel & coil and finally chained it to my sand rail parked right next to it. IN THE BACK YARD under a car cover!

maby I'm just paranoid?

Thu Oct 02, 2003 1:48 am

Aside from having a gun in your car (illegal in my state, CA.) or chaining it to every unmoveable object within ten feet, you could invest in a Gene Berg shift lock. Lock it in reverse and not many people will be compelled to drive off in it! The July 2003 issue of VW Trends has a real good article on the "Berg" shifter. Good Luck.

Thu Oct 02, 2003 3:31 am

I agree a locking shifter is a good way! There is that voltage switch thing and good ol' Coil wire removal not effective if the bad guy has one with him! :P

Thu Oct 02, 2003 6:33 am

Club, locking shifter, locked engine lid and hood, locking gas cap, and finally, NEVER leave it out of my sight.

Thu Oct 02, 2003 6:51 am

79SuperVert wrote: Club, locking shifter, locked engine lid and hood.

I gots two words for ya. Bolt Cutters. Take 2 chunks outta the steering wheel about .5in apart, grab Club, rotate. I've seen it done. The club works for teenagers and tweekers, not a real car thief. So it works most of the time.

I remember seeing many moons ago a locking trunk lid handle. It was cable operated as normal, but also key locked. Was it a custom item?

The locking shifter is something I'm going to look into. I've seen some vague refs to it here in the past week or so. What I was thinking of doing myself(once my car looks less like a beater) is installing a battery cutoff of some nature. Something hidden behind a small panel that actually cuts off the juice from the starter to the battery to the ignition. Some modern cars have the chip that you can yank out, disabling the computer. But, since no computer reside...wait...I DO have a computer in my bug...ahem, anyway. I just have to figure out what kind of item I can be able to pull out and take with me that will work.

Thu Oct 02, 2003 7:00 am

Totally agree with you about the Club. It's there to deter the casual jerk who wants a joy ride. But the shift lock is available from places like Wolfsburg West. And on some Beetles the hood is released from a lever inside the glove compartment. Otherwise I've heard of people putting a big chain and lock around the hood handle and the bumper. You want it to look hard to steal.

Thu Oct 02, 2003 7:32 am

I've got a rally-type battery cut off switch mounted on a thin MDF kickboard under the rear seat. It's easy to reach from the drivers seat, but hidden away enough so you can't see it. Cost me £5 for the switch + £2 for a short battery lead. Disconnect the thick lead off the battery & connect this to the switch, then connect the new lead from the switch to the battery. I used the existing vinyl kickboard as a template for the new MDF panel. Took a couple of hours to fit the whole lot.
Oh yeah, the alarm runs direct to the battery with it's own fuse, so the car is still protected when the switch is off.

Thu Oct 02, 2003 9:06 am

Hey, might be a dumb ?, but can you install one of those alarms thay sell at stereo shops into a bug?

Thu Oct 02, 2003 9:29 am

Alarms are for people with electric door locks who dont want to use the key, and clubs are a nice deterent, but if you really want to keep your ride, a hidden fuel pump kill switch is the way to go. If you live in So Cal, you definitely need a Lojack. I also like the take the rotor with you idea.

Thu Oct 02, 2003 9:31 am

I suppose my brilliant suggestion only works if you have an electric fuel pump

Thu Oct 02, 2003 9:37 am

justbuggin wrote: I've got a rally-type battery cut off switch mounted on a thin MDF kickboard under the rear seat. It's easy to reach from the drivers seat, but hidden away enough so you can't see it. Cost me £5 for the switch + £2 for a short battery lead. Disconnect the thick lead off the battery & connect this to the switch, then connect the new lead from the switch to the battery. I used the existing vinyl kickboard as a template for the new MDF panel. Took a couple of hours to fit the whole lot.
Oh yeah, the alarm runs direct to the battery with it's own fuse, so the car is still protected when the switch is off.

Pics! I wanna see this. I'll not be adding the security features to my car for a while, but ideas now equal plans later.

Thu Oct 02, 2003 9:37 am

Well, i dont really care about the door locks or anything i basically just want it for the sound it makes when the doors are opened. Would it be good for that?

Thu Oct 02, 2003 9:41 am

badandy417@yahoo.com wrote: I suppose my brilliant suggestion only works if you have an electric fuel pump

I'm still running mechanical for now, but upgrading once my dual kadrons come in. Do you have any resources to point me too for the cut off switch? Instructions, diagrams, plans scribbled on a napkin...

Thu Oct 02, 2003 9:47 am

Ok Frankenbeetle, I'll try to find time tomorrow to take a pic or two.
Whats with the
Quote: Alarms are for people with electric door locks who dont want to use the key

:?:
I just see an alarm as an extra deterent to any snivelling scrote who tries to steal my car.
(How the hell do you spell snivel?)

Thu Oct 02, 2003 10:35 am

justbuggin wrote: I just see an alarm as an extra deterent to any snivelling scrote who tries to steal my car.
(How the hell do you spell snivel?)

You got 'snivel' correct. Car alarms...think about it for a second. In the middle of your sleep, your brain is fuzzy, you hear a car alarm going off. What is your FIRST reaction? Mine is to mumble an obscenity about the mental state of my neighbour and to roll over.

I think car alarms have no real shock value anymore. People just ignore the sound these days.

Thu Oct 02, 2003 10:38 am

Who pays attention when a car alarm goes off anymore?
To me, it just let's people know you have something worth stealing when they hear the 'chirp'.