Kill switches
- Thread starter Macfly
- Start date
chet6.7
Explorer
I have not fitted one, a company I worked for had trucks getting hijacked, they had a kill switch that stopped the truck cold in one position and another position that allowed the truck to run for a brief period of time. The position that allowed the truck to run for a bit was to let the hijacker leave the area and help the driver escape.
Joe917
Explorer
I installed kill switches on both my Frontrunners that cut the fuel pump.
A thief can try to start the vehicle and it will turn over but not start.
If a thief turns the key and nothing happens the first thing they will do is look for a kill switch.
On the Mercedes truck we has a hidden valve that would not release the spring brakes.
A thief can try to start the vehicle and it will turn over but not start.
If a thief turns the key and nothing happens the first thing they will do is look for a kill switch.
On the Mercedes truck we has a hidden valve that would not release the spring brakes.
montypower
Adventure Time!
We put one on our Tacoma... but it was also a manual with 3 sticks which could be intimidating. Our Super Duty is connected online. Can check status on it via the phone; somewhat handy and strange.
Alloy
Well-known member
Our Subaru was connected online. We tried to shut it down but it wouldn't let us do it because the thief copied the key fob. If the keys are in the vehicle it overrides commands from the online system.
ramblinChet
Well-known member
Suburban Auto Group offers the trunk monkey theft retrieval system:
BritKLR
Kapitis Indagatoris
FWIW, check auto immobilizers versus kill switch. For decades most of our fleet had an immobilizers switch wired into the console, just a simple red switch among a dozen other switches.
If the car was idling and in park and the switch activated, the car could idle (a/c, heat, lights, etc) but if someone tried to put it into gear the car died and wouldn't restart until the switch was deactivated. Same thing if the switch was activated when the car was off, it wouldn't restart until activated. Never had a problem except when someone went to move the car and didn't know about the switch and it died........Goodluck
If the car was idling and in park and the switch activated, the car could idle (a/c, heat, lights, etc) but if someone tried to put it into gear the car died and wouldn't restart until the switch was deactivated. Same thing if the switch was activated when the car was off, it wouldn't restart until activated. Never had a problem except when someone went to move the car and didn't know about the switch and it died........Goodluck
Macfly
Active member
OMG, I loved that Trunk Monkey series, talk about going back to the birth of the internet!
Macfly
Active member
I have seen some electronic ones that use a second electrical fob, which seem like they could be a good idea, but a simple switch could be good too.
Since I've never had such a valuable vehicle I'm very keen to make sure it remains all mine!
Do any of you guys use any extra security devices like steering locks etc?
Since I've never had such a valuable vehicle I'm very keen to make sure it remains all mine!
Do any of you guys use any extra security devices like steering locks etc?
m-l_johnny
Active member
These days, a manual transmission is a good theft deterent.
1stDeuce
Explorer
When I must leave my vehicles for a while at airport parking areas or sketch downtown areas I tend to pop the hood and pull the starter relay. I plug it into a "blank" spot and drop the hood. Figure most thieves want to get in and go, and are probably not watching me park or willing to investigate why the engine won't crank. When they hit issues, they quickly move on to something easier... 
On my old college truck, I had four switches on the dash. One was driving lights, the other three were wired in series so that two had to be up and one down in order to crank the truck. (Used the clutch interlock circuit.) I left the keys in the ignition most of the time while it sat in the lot. I went to an engineering school in the later 90's, so the concerns of today were far from my mind...
Our dept's fire trucks have battery shutoff switches that take out the main power to the fuse box. This keeps all the computers from running the battery down over a few weeks, but leaves the factory wiring to the starter motor unchanged so we're not pulling so much current through the shut-off switch to start the engine. Something like that but fairly well hidden might be a good option for anti-theft as well...
On my old college truck, I had four switches on the dash. One was driving lights, the other three were wired in series so that two had to be up and one down in order to crank the truck. (Used the clutch interlock circuit.) I left the keys in the ignition most of the time while it sat in the lot. I went to an engineering school in the later 90's, so the concerns of today were far from my mind...
Our dept's fire trucks have battery shutoff switches that take out the main power to the fuse box. This keeps all the computers from running the battery down over a few weeks, but leaves the factory wiring to the starter motor unchanged so we're not pulling so much current through the shut-off switch to start the engine. Something like that but fairly well hidden might be a good option for anti-theft as well...
Ninelitetrip
Well-known member
Kill switch at the battery terminal, but you lose the alarm. Anti theft maybe try Ravelco.
Ravelco Anti Theft Device
Home page for the Ravelco anti theft device, anti theft device for cars, anti theft device for trucks, anti theft device for big rigs, anti theft device for heavy equipment. Not one vehicle ever stolen using the Ravelco Anti Theft Device!
www.ravelco.com
DirtWhiskey
Western Dirt Rat
Seems like you could pretty easily take starting ability away from any vehicle by disabling one of the dozens of systems that are required to run a vehicle. Use your imagination, get good insurance and get a GPS asset tracker.