Jeep Anti theft tactics...

Old Bill · Dec 7, 2004

Hey everyone,

OK, I've seen "kill" switches, and I have one that cuts power to the coil. Would be thief thinks the thing won't turn over, and hopefully leaves.

I've also seen chains/straps that keep the shifters from being used. Visible deterrent.

Then you've got the "club" and "brake locks", chain through the steeing wheel, etc. Also visible deterrent.

And lastly, there's modern electronics, I really don't care to bother with commercial units. If there is a creative/simple circuit for a timed (say 20~30 seconds after start) ignition cut off, etc, I might be interested.

What I am interested in is what everyone has done for "manual" theft prevention. What has worked for you guys? Any stories of attempted theivery?

And yes, I've seen the CJ3B page.

I'm getting close enough for this to be of interest to me....

Many TIA

linckeil · Dec 7, 2004

http://www.earlycj5.com/forums/showthread.php?t=6667&highlight=theft

sparky · Dec 7, 2004

From the Willys Tech CJ-2A FAQ:

ANYTHING GOES - SECURITY

QUESTION: Does anybody have any suggestions for keeping an old jeep from being stolen?

ANSWERS: What I'm doing with mine is fabricate a boot for around the clutch or brake pedal so they can not be pushed in, Chains are to easy to cut and the electrical system is so simple it is just too easy to hot wire it to rely on anything like that.

A electrical cut-off switch would work if you hide it in a good spot. JC Wittless has these.

When I drove mine back in school, I used a bike cable locked to the right rear leg of the drivers seat. I would park it and turn the wheel to its stop and then lock the loose end to the steering wheel. You could also remove the coil/distributor wire.

You can do it the way that the military jeeps did in the past and that is put a piece of chain thru the steering wheel and have the other end fastened to the floor (bolted, welded, ect.) and just use a padlock to secure it.

Another trick is to remove the rotor, I use this method when I bring my jeep to school. How many people keep a spare rotor for a jeep in their pocket?

Make a "Touch Connector": It's a connector that can be wired to something like a screw on the dash or the back of a rivet head. It works like this. Unless you have grounded the system by placing your finger of thumb on this item the starter won't turn over. It's simple in it's operation in that no-one knows (or picks up) that as you turn the key you lean forward with your hand on that important part of the dash.

I read an article in one of these four-wheel-drive magazines that a reader had posted a while back. This individual said that he used to remove his coil wire when leaving his Jeep unattended until one day when it was stolen. Apparently the thief had used the #1 sparkplug wire as a coil wire and drove off with the remaining cylinders firing away. The guy further stated that he now uses a dummy wire comprised of vacuum hose and spark plug boots to play the role of the coil wire. Now, when the thief pops the hood, he or she will see nothing out of the ordinary.

I have an electric fuel pump which makes it very easy to put cut-off switch in the electric line. Go buy some wire and two toggle switches (I use two toggles so if they find one switch, they probably won't know there is a second hidden somewhere). A similar method will work well with the coil too. Heck, it costs no more than $15 and a little cleverness to hide the toggles.

You could disconnect you the coil wire and just place it on the coil, if someone got it started and would drive away the first bump would render the ignition useless.

You could install a fuel cut-off valve somewhere it would run for a minute and then mysteriously die on the thief.

Do it like the military. On the older trucks we had a length of chain welded to the body that would reach the steering wheel so you could pad lock it around one of the spokes. The HMMV had an aluminum body so they took a different approach. They put a tube under the dash next to the steering column and put a plastic coated steel cable thru the tube with a loop on the end. the bottom side of the cable was fixed so it would not pull out of the tube. You just pulled the cable out and locked it on the steering wheel. I like the cable & tube setup better. Neater & keeps the cable out of the way when not in use.

I never had need to find out if it worked, but I wired my Mico-Lock (brakeline electric solenoid) to the coil power, through a switch on the dash that was "on" when the handle was down. If someone started the Jeep and drove away, the brakes would stay on after their first stop.

One simple method of theft protection is to drill a hole in your clutch and brake pedals and put a bicycle lock through the holes. It doesn't completely disable the vehicle, but sure makes it difficult to drive.

I wired my Mico-Lock (brakeline electric solenoid) to the coil power, through a switch on the dash that was "on" when the handle was down. If someone started the Jeep and drove away, the brakes would stay on after their first stop.

This is one of my favorite methods as the rig starts right up and away they drive only to end up in traffic or some conspicuous place with it stalled. Being the cowardly scum that they are the thief will probably just leave it there rather than risk it. Of course this means your baby is in the middle of the road, but at least it's not too far away. This may not work in the hills or areas of less traffic density where they'll take the time to figure it out (I'm mostly worried about leaving my rig at trail heads).

Professional thieves know all about commercial alarms and standard techniques and will easily bypass these (like the coil wire technique). Thus I prefer a home built system. I was going to attach a schematic of a circuit posted to thejeeptech list a while back but couldn't find it that is similar to Ben's idea (as usual Ben get's the prize for simple elegance). This used an ignition cutoff circuit with a magnetic relay. Use a magnetic note clip on the outside of the dash to activate it. Move the magnet a few inches and the rig won't start. Nobody would think twice about a magnetic note holder (some note helps the realism) on a steel dash.

Don't forget as well that many pro thieves use a tow truck and just haul the rig away on a flatbed.

This starter disable device seems to be elegantly simple and very effective. I think I am going to install this on all my vehicles. It will pay for its self in insurance discounts, so why not (15-20%).

http://www.autoprotect.com/block.html

Here's my suggestion on vehicle security, get a sprint car type steering wheel disconnect from summit racing, they have the pin or pinnless type which makes it easy to take your steering wheel with you, this will only work if you are willing to give up your stock steering wheel. Cost is under $40 (+$30 for a modern greyhound steering wheel) . Lets see somebody try to steer a cj with a vice grips

Just unbolt the nut that holds the steering wheel in place and remove it when you are not in the vehicle. When my 3B is operational, I just walk around with my steering wheel. You get funny looks but anyone who owns a classic Jeep knows what you are doing.

I once had my daughters riding with me in my 48 CJ2A. We went to turn a curve and the wheel turned but the steering didn't because the nut had backed off just a fraction. We went off the road and took out a big wooden sign. Nobody was injured but it proved to me the importance of having that nut good and tight.
Click to expand...

Old Bill · Dec 7, 2004

linckeil said:

http://www.earlycj5.com/forums/showthread.php?t=6667&highlight=theft
Click to expand...

Uhhh, Oops...shoulda searched first....

Thanks.

sparky · Dec 7, 2004

I didn't say it. R)

michigan_pinstripes · Dec 7, 2004

sparky said:

...This individual said that he used to remove his coil wire when leaving his Jeep unattended until one day...
Click to expand...

...someone removed it for you ---Tellico Security

BRAD!!!!!!

...

kamel · Dec 7, 2004

This is similar to the home security problem question.

The answer is the same.

The professional will get 'round anything you throw at him if he really wants to break in / steal your jeep.

But they are few and far between, and frankly, they don't give a hoot about an old Jeep.

So, you are out to discourage the 'casual' or 'opportunist' thief.

Something that will keep it from moving on its own and perhaps make a noise that will cause the 'casual' thief to run the other way.

Its got to be easy to use because you want to park the jeep at the mall, go inside, come back out, start and drive away.

So, perhaps something electric - electric hood lock for starters (or non-starters), electric switch that grounds the points, or maybe an electric brake system lock.

If you had a remote on your keychain you could activate all that stuff under the hood and deactivate it just as easy.

Or you could get one of those transponders that attach to the keychain that would activate the system when you walked, say 50 feet away, and turned the system off when it sensed you were coming towards it - 50 feet away. I believe Corvettes have them as well as the new GTO.

Of course, it would always be fun to have some sort of hidden GPS unit that would tell where the jeep is if it was stolen. God, it would be great to see the look on the thief's face when you and the police show up at his door.

Just to watch him shiver when he hears - Grand Theft Larceny - felony mentioned would almost be worth having your jeep stolen (temporarily).

Well, maybe not...

sparky · Dec 7, 2004

michigan_pinstripes said:

...someone removed it for you ---Tellico Security

BRAD!!!!!!

...
Click to expand...

Remove the rotor, much less obvious.

66cj5 · Dec 7, 2004

three flat tires is my solution.

Boyink · Dec 7, 2004

Just leaving the t-case in nuetral is probably enough for the majority of would-be Jeep snatchers...

I don't worry about theft around here.

sparky · Dec 7, 2004

3 shifters is probably enough for most would be Jeep snatchers to get discouraged I'd guess.

jpflat2a · Dec 7, 2004

Boyink said:

Just leaving the t-case in nuetral is probably enough for the majority of would-be Jeep snatchers...

I don't worry about theft around here.
Click to expand...

true, but some of us don't have a working parking brake

I just take the rotor (Prestolite distributor)
who knows what engine a flatty will have under the hood anyways
towing it away is the major threat IMO

panzer · Dec 7, 2004

sparky said:

3 shifters is probably enough for most would be Jeep snatchers to get discouraged I'd guess.
Click to expand...

4 with a PTO!!!

sparky · Dec 7, 2004

Or OD.

blevisay · Dec 7, 2004

Another trick is to remove the rotor, I use this method when I bring my jeep to school. How many people keep a spare rotor for a jeep in their pocket?

Me now.............SPARKY!

sparky · Dec 7, 2004

What?

blevisay · Dec 7, 2004

You know what!

Rotor taker............

sparky · Dec 7, 2004

R)

It was Sean's idea

blevisay · Dec 7, 2004

sparky said:

R)

It was Sean's idea
Click to expand...

Oh OK then.........

mb82 · Dec 7, 2004

mental note when sparky is around have spare rotor

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Jeep Anti theft tactics...

Old Bill Aggressively passive....

linckeil Member

sparky Sandgroper Staff Member Founder

Old Bill Aggressively passive....

sparky Sandgroper Staff Member Founder

michigan_pinstripes I'm not lost, I'm wandering

kamel Senior Curmudgeon

sparky Sandgroper Staff Member Founder

66cj5 Jeep with no name

Boyink Super Moderator Staff Member

sparky Sandgroper Staff Member Founder

jpflat2a what's that noise?

panzer Super Mod Staff Member

sparky Sandgroper Staff Member Founder

blevisay Oh Noooooooooooooooo! Staff Member

sparky Sandgroper Staff Member Founder

blevisay Oh Noooooooooooooooo! Staff Member

sparky Sandgroper Staff Member Founder

blevisay Oh Noooooooooooooooo! Staff Member

mb82 I feel great!

Log in or Sign up

Jeep Anti theft tactics...

Old Bill Aggressively passive....

linckeil Member

sparky Sandgroper Staff Member Founder

Old Bill Aggressively passive....

sparky Sandgroper Staff Member Founder

michigan_pinstripes I'm not lost, I'm wandering

kamel Senior Curmudgeon

sparky Sandgroper Staff Member Founder

66cj5 Jeep with no name

Boyink Super Moderator Staff Member

sparky Sandgroper Staff Member Founder

jpflat2a what's that noise?

panzer Super Mod Staff Member

sparky Sandgroper Staff Member Founder

blevisay Oh Noooooooooooooooo! Staff Member

sparky Sandgroper Staff Member Founder

blevisay Oh Noooooooooooooooo! Staff Member

sparky Sandgroper Staff Member Founder

blevisay Oh Noooooooooooooooo! Staff Member

mb82 I feel great!

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