Theft Proofing Your AE86 -Advice Needed

[KonaTrueno723]

While on my lunch break, I just got word that a couple cars got stolen in my neighborhood which one of them happens to be a good buddy of mines down the street. I'm now paranoid as my 86 is sitting at home in a non enclosed garage & somewhat defenseless..
I remember a thread discussion about this subject in the old club4ag but that info's now gone.

For now this is what I've got for security:
Quick disconnect steering wheel (removed when parked)
Good quality wheel locks
A families rust bucket truck blocking my car in

Any help on ideas & suggestions you 86 peeps want to contribute to my concerns, please feel free to do so..!
Damn I need to get a dog too.

Many thanks in advance!
Mike

[oldeskewltoy]

For now this is what I've got for security:
A families rust bucket truck blocking my car in

not saying they can't beat the truck too... but taking the car from around the truck... LIKELY they'll pick another target. In the end you can only deter someone who is willing to find an easier catch... what that means is make your car harder then the next guys.....

BUT... if they want YOUR car... nothing short of an enclosed garage will keep you safe... and sometimes even a garage isn't enough

[KonaTrueno723]

I just acquired a good quality car alarm system from a friend so i guess that's a good start huh!?
I hope this subject will once again continue to help others..we gotta take whatever means necessary to protect our cars!

Edit

[carbd7age]

My car never leaves my parents' garage, where it's usually taken apart for some reason lol.

[KonaTrueno723]

For now this is what I've got for security:
A families rust bucket truck blocking my car in

not saying they can't beat the truck too... but taking the car from around the truck... LIKELY they'll pick another target. In the end you can only deter someone who is willing to find an easier catch... what that means is make your car harder then the next guys.....

BUT... if they want YOUR car... nothing short of an enclosed garage will keep you safe... and sometimes even a garage isn't enough

never thought of it,but rust bucket doin a great job. any of you have suggestions on door locks?

[mikeyee]

kill switches

those special magnet wand kill switch things

pulling fuses when you leave car

pick up lo-jack (or equivalent ie: dog trackers, gf trackers, etc)

Solex locks (or re-keyed to a different key model than old toyota corolla key)

alarm (with tilt sensor if you have baller wheels. also some jdm tyte key lugnuts)

detachable wheel hub with lock

[KonaTrueno723]

My car never leaves my parents' garage, where it's usually taken apart for some reason lol.

Lol..in some cases.. removed, misplaced, recovered!

Just got home from work (car is here thanks to rust bucket), i was thinking about doin a kill switch utilizing the starter signal wire,then thinking again they'd prob kick start the damn thing. so I looked over at my pro street vega & i remembered installing a safety shut off switch at the rear.. But it's an external one. I need to figure out how to disable my 86 electrical system..

[carbd7age]

Take those three weird shape fuse dealies that are right on the positive terminal. I forget what they are, but I'd reckon most car thieves don't carry a pocket full of those!

[KonaTrueno723]

kill switches

those special magnet wand kill switch things

pulling fuses when you leave car

pick up lo-jack (or equivalent ie: dog trackers, gf trackers, etc)

Solex locks (or re-keyed to a different key model than old toyota corolla key)

alarm (with tilt sensor if you have baller wheels. also some jdm tyte key lugnuts)

detachable wheel hub with lock

Wow thanks! So far I got two of that seven listed..the third i'm tryin to get figured out right now.. Forgot about solex locks! Man thats a must have right there

I stopped in at my friends house. He wasn't home but the family's was & they're prety bummed.. So far nothing from the police or anything..I live on a fricken island! Stupid criminals stole a families Toyota tundra!?! They'll get theirs one day! Bastards!

[Grant]

I would say an alarm that disables the fuel pump, or something else that's difficult to get to, and then a GPS tracking device that has a movement sensor and can call/text your phone the second it detects something.

[KonaTrueno723]

These are great suggestions guys thanks!

carbed7age= I've taken your advice & removed them. Looks like it disabled the voltage entirely. Surprisingly the cover for it is still there!

Grant= I'll check the alarm kit I just got today. It's a viper something which I think has an immobile circuitry feature.
I'm really liking the GPS system with smart phone alert capabilities...& is definitely in the plans for sure!

Sooo,,here we are having discussions on how to fix & keep are cars runnin.. Then here I am tryin to disable it so it doesn't!
That ramdom incident down my street was just a wake up call..

[yellowsnow4free]

Alrighty, here's what I recommend:

Get an AutoLock Pro or AutoLock X to lock up your brake or clutch pedal:



http://www.unbreakable.com/auto-locks.aspx

If you're so inclined I also recommend a killswitch of some kind. Maybe wire it up to the fuel pump, assuming it's electric.

Another idea is to get a car cover:

http://www.summitracing.com/parts/sum-11112

That's the one I have. It also came with a cable lock

Hope that helps!

[ditn]

i have a gps tracking device in my car that warns me when the car moves.
They will always find ways to steal your car so i think a tracking device well hiden and with batteries is your best bet

[ga_goosh]

I have considered one of these but i dont know how well they will deture criminals


I also like what yellowsnowforfreeposted

+1 on kill switches

[KonaTrueno723]

Yup.. GPS tracking will be next! Thnks!
We'll so far I'm working on 2 kill switches disabling two locations & a main disconnect switch. Fuel, dist power, & battery will b disabled.
I should be taking pics of this for the DIY section but I'm just iffy' about posting since its really my security related issue. So i may have to think about that one..

Man,lock bars has improved over the years,,The autolock pro & oklock looks prety solid & work to disinterest thieves,,,I'll seriuosly look into that!
Great suggestions guys! Thanks

[gnugget808]

Add a kill switch for your fuel pump or MSD if you have one?

[KonaTrueno723]

Add a kill switch for your fuel pump or MSD if you have one?

I got the fuel pump kill switch almost done. I removed my MSD for a future swap so kill wire is @ the dist for now. Thks!

It's a bit of a pain routing everything up & so far I'm in it at $175 for cables, wires, a main disconnect sw, & for the alarm I just bought. If i keep goin, more $$ but it has to get done,,if I want to keep my car

[KonaTrueno723]

Yellowsnow4free..car cover idea is good! I've managed to find my car cover for the 86 & it's a lockable one & water proof..I have to buy a cable n a padlock for it tomarrow. Now if i can just keep the damn neighborhood cats off my car & cover, I'll be fine

[HASport AE86]

I don't worry about my corolla being stolen, most don't start when you want them to anyway.

[KonaTrueno723]

I don't worry about my corolla being stolen, most don't start when you want them to anyway.

^^^^ man I just need to learn to relax & have some beers & chill Life is short,from what I hear

[KonaTrueno723]

Just finished up my kill switches. It was a pain in the ass but successful. Taking the car down on monday to get the alarm installed..also bought a lock & cable today for my cover.

Edit:
I want to put a warning out for people wanting kill switches or anything electrical related..its really for those who's NOT familiar to their cars electrical system. If all the wires in your 86 scares you, find someone who's experienced that's not.. If your intentions is to just cut & hack into your existing factory harness just to connect a switch, please don't.. Use a factory Toyota repair manual. I would strongly recommended it! Read & understand specific ae86 electrical schematics.. This is especially important to vehicles with an ECU. Do it right cause if precautions are not taken, your risk of electrical shorts w/accompanying headaches will occur.. Or even worse an electrical fire!

Please proceed with care!

[typexd]

Usually what I do with my other cars is remove the ignitor. Not very often that you see a thief walking around with one. I actually relocated mine to the interior of my cars though. I also have a detachable steering wheel with a locking hub as well.

[HASport AE86]

After having one of our EK hatches stolen a few weeks ago, I've given up on theft proofing. It had an alarm with killswitch AND WAS LOCKED TO A 3" THICK POLE WITH A 1" THICK STEEL CABLE RUNNING THROUGH THE WHEEL AND LOWER CONTROL ARM. If they want it, they'll take it. I would just do basic stuff to keep the tweakers from breaking into it and stealing candy bars and your NOW 15 cd. I would go the LoJack route and get an insurance policy that is good. Tell the agent what you want and they will build you a custom plan that makes sure if anything should happen it only ends up being an headache and not a financial disaster.

[Red]

If the car is clean, pulling fuses or putting in a kill switch won't help because the pros come with a truck and you are "gone in 60 seconds". For real.

Solex locks, like all circular tumbler cylinders, are pick proof--but real easy to hit with a slap hammer. AFAIK a total waste of time and money.

Better to check out the Garmin GTU 10, or the Escort/Blackline Harpoon, both trackers that cost you up front and then an annual fee. If the car walks away, they will text you, and the car can be followed and tracked. All considered NOT expensive when you think about "bye bye". Alarms won't stop "bye bye". There are even cheaper ones like the Zoombak but you have to ask if they'll still be in business in a year or three. Trackers can be defeated--but that makes a lot more effort and risk because the FCC doesn't plea bargain, and messing around with GPS signals gets the government really PO'd.

I've had four attempted thefts and one total theft over the years and armored the car a bit more every time. Shaved the door locks, no outside key cylinder at all. So instead they bent down the whole window frame to climb in. You see why I say Solex locks are a waste of time? The custom fabbed stainless steel surround on the steering column stopped them, it is welded in place, makes it real hard to pop the ignition cylinder. You don't even want to ask your local stainless guys what it will cost to make up one of those.

Wheel locks are worth doing, I think, but they'll only slow down the amateurs. The pros have a tool to beat those too. If your car goes away on a truck, the wheel locks won't help at all. If you've got fancy wheels, slowing amateurs down is worth doing.

[KonaTrueno723]

I also have a detachable steering wheel with a locking hub as well.

Right,, I need to upgrade to a lockable version. At the moment i have a quick release hub that does me no good.
That igniter idea is good advice too.. Thanks!

[KonaTrueno723]

After having one of our EK hatches stolen a few weeks ago, I've given up on theft proofing. It had an alarm with killswitch AND WAS LOCKED TO A 3" THICK POLE WITH A 1" THICK STEEL CABLE RUNNING THROUGH THE WHEEL AND LOWER CONTROL ARM. If they want it, they'll take it. I would just do basic stuff to keep the tweakers from breaking into it and stealing candy bars and your NOW 15 cd. I would go the LoJack route and get an insurance policy that is good. Tell the agent what you want and they will build you a custom plan that makes sure if anything should happen it only ends up being an headache and not a financial disaster.

Oh man,,,sorry to hear about that. I'll look into my insurance & see what's my options there.
LoJack for sure...!

[Red]

Kona, if you look at LoJack you "must" look at the theft alert option, which doubles the price of the system. With the option, the alarm phones out when an unauthorized person moves the car. Without it, Lojack is WORTHLESS until you figure out the car is gone and YOU CALL IN to activate the system. You go away for the weekend...and the car is 48 hours gone bfore you call it in, and a that point it is gone. LoJack also has no way to let you know if it is working, unless you pay extra for a test every month? six months? year? Howeve rlong you want to wait in between tests.

The trackers are going to be way cheaper to buy, as well. Even with the subscription fees.

Hasport, what was on the end of your steel cable? I'd bet they clipped or popped the lock, there's always a weak point. And ways, or course, even to cut cables.

[KonaTrueno723]

If the car is clean, pulling fuses or putting in a kill switch won't help because the pros come with a truck and you are "gone in 60 seconds". For real.

Solex locks, like all circular tumbler cylinders, are pick proof--but real easy to hit with a slap hammer. AFAIK a total waste of time and money.

Better to check out the Garmin GTU 10, or the Escort/Blackline Harpoon, both trackers that cost you up front and then an annual fee. If the car walks away, they will text you, and the car can be followed and tracked. All considered NOT expensive when you think about "bye bye". Alarms won't stop "bye bye". There are even cheaper ones like the Zoombak but you have to ask if they'll still be in business in a year or three. Trackers can be defeated--but that makes a lot more effort and risk because the FCC doesn't plea bargain, and messing around with GPS signals gets the government really PO'd.

I've had four attempted thefts and one total theft over the years and armored the car a bit more every time. Shaved the door locks, no outside key cylinder at all. So instead they bent down the whole window frame to climb in. You see why I say Solex locks are a waste of time? The custom fabbed stainless steel surround on the steering column stopped them, it is 'welded in place, makes it real hard to pop the ignition cylinder. You don't even want to ask your local stainless guys what it will cost to make up one of those.

Wheel locks are worth doing, I think, but they'll only slow down the amateurs. The pros have a tool to beat those too. If your car goes away on a truck, the wheel locks won't help at all. If you've got fancy wheels, slowing amateurs down is worth doing.

I'm starting to get a headache Red... It's "damn if you do, damn if you don't"... I dont know what its like stateside in your communities but theft here in hawaii has really gone up.. Lots of times stolen vehicles on my island are usually found _._ stripped down to nothing at some side road. Its an island, where can they go! And it doesn't stop there.. They're goin in people's homes stealing sh*t too! Its sickening! Paradise has its dark side tourists dont see..And besides theft proofing the 86, I need to theft proof my home as well! I still need to get a dog.

[Zenki85]

Stay with the old paint, keep it sleeper look and put a sr5 sticker with some pizza cutters and mad limo tint. Also LoJack. Thumbsup!

[KonaTrueno723]

Stay with the old paint, keep it sleeper look and put a sr5 sticker with some pizza cutters and mad limo tint. Also LoJack. Thumbsup!

See, I KNEW I shouldn't have sold my old stockers....! Damn

LoJack it is... Thanks for all the input guys