Anti-theft advice

nopstar · 08-05-2004, 04:42 PM

Does anyone have experience with anti-theft devices like “the club”?
I know there are several different styles… I’ve seen steering wheel locks, gearshift locks, pedal locks etc. Any opinions?

I figure better safe than sorry.

dooboy2112 · 08-05-2004, 04:47 PM

"The Club" is no good unless your steering wheel is made out of the same stuff as "the club".

keiffers · 08-05-2004, 05:16 PM

When it comes down to it .... "if they want it bad enough, they're gonna take it REGARDLESS of what you have installed".

juma · 08-05-2004, 06:00 PM

an alarm will keep away the casual thief- or just a blinking red LED bulb in the center of the dash will work too. to prevent the 30 seconds and gone, you can put an off/on switch in your brake/steering interlock. so, no matter what, they can't steer the car or take it out of park without breaking that whole lock mechanism. make sure you hide the switch well. juma

Bayou Titan · 08-05-2004, 06:13 PM

The comment about the Club is correct. The saying that "a chain is no stronger than its weakest link" was conceived with The Club in mind. You can cut through a steering wheel in nothing flat with a new hacksaw blade. Try this for fun some time on a salvage yard. Padded steering wheels make this even easier by providing a cushion for the hand that is gripping the wheel.

I think a quality alarm system is good start because it will make some thieves give up without trying and discourage vandals. Probably the best solution is a kill switch button disguised as a screw under your dash that is easily accessible and only you know where it is. Your Titan will not start until this button is touched and a thief will never figure it out. You can also buy a "boot" and boot yourself but this is troublesome and therefor a better solution for long periods of non use of your Titan such as when you are on vacation in another vehicle.

Also worth mentioning, your Titan key has a transponder chip in it which acts as an immobilizer. To start your Titan, a key with the same chip as the Titan has in its ignition must be used.

TuffTitan · 08-05-2004, 06:46 PM

Not sure if this would work, but if you are cheap, try pulling the fuse to the fuel pump. Don't know how readily accessible it is but think it would prevent the Titan from going very far if someone was able to get passed the initial line of defense. Chances are no thief is going to try and diagnose any problems with a stolen vehicle. Bayou is right about the immobilizer in the key which should deter most thieves.

My suggestion, keep your insurance premiums paid current, Don't keep a lot of valuables in the vehicle. and who knows if they steal your 04, maybe you can replace it with an 05.

kmonto · 08-05-2004, 06:50 PM

The "Club" is worthless. I lost a Buick Grand National 1987 model in Colorado the third week I was there. The car was gone, and the club was where the car was parked.

Bastard theives. Now I got a new product that they CAN NOT break. It's the metal lock mechanism that goes on your brakes to prevent them in getting it out of gear.

They have tried it on my other car to cut it, brake it with a hammer, and so on without any luck!

HeHe! Now an air cutter can do it. But with a bunch of noise...

rvsixer · 08-05-2004, 06:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TuffTitan

My suggestion, keep your insurance premiums paid current, Don't keep a lot of valuables in the vehicle. and who knows if they steal your 04, maybe you can replace it with an 05.

Excellent advice. Also if you are upside down on your loan, gap/replacement coverage is a good idea (otherwise in addition to your rig being stolen, you might wind up still having to payoff a loan balance and or not being able to replace with an '05).

Also great idea on the fuel pump fuse. Instead of pulling it everytime, an inline switch to it would work great too. Anybody have a wiring diagram for the Titan yet?

Bayou Titan · 08-05-2004, 07:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rvsixer

Anybody have a wiring diagram for the Titan yet?

I don't know if you are aware of it but you can download the zillion page Titan technical service manual for under 20 bucks. do a search and find where it has been discussed. It is fantastic. Better have high speed to download though!

keiffers · 08-05-2004, 07:05 PM

As was previously mentioned (and I forgot to mention), the best security device on the Titan is the immobilizer chip in the key. They can't take your truck unless you stupidly left your key in the ignition or truck. Why spend extra money for something that you already have.

Nuckle · 08-05-2004, 08:30 PM

Gap insurance.

Nuck

rawze · 08-05-2004, 09:12 PM

i think my 9mm is the ticket

Nuckle · 08-05-2004, 09:15 PM

I had a 1998 Z71 stolen and the thing that hurt me the most was that my P229 .357sig was in the console. Insurance would not pay for it.

Nuck

jaysonstuart · 08-05-2004, 10:24 PM

yeah most insurance companys aren't going to cover concealed weapons in your console!

rvsixer · 08-06-2004, 07:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bayou Titan

I don't know if you are aware of it but you can download the zillion page Titan technical service manual for under 20 bucks. do a search and find where it has been discussed. It is fantastic. Better have high speed to download though!

Thanks Bayou Titan, yes I have it at home. I seem to recall the electrical info not being very detailed but I will check it out this weekend.