Hi guys,
I usually just read but I now need some ideas. Truck is stock. It was stolen from our driveway sometime Thursday morning early. It was recovered Friday sometime. Apparently they were trying to use it to steal other stuff from some farmer and got it stuck it the mud.
The tow operator told me it took two tow trucks to pull it out. There was a big puddle of transmission fluid on the ground and he thought the transfer case might be froze up.
Anyway it will be taken to Midway Ford here in Kansas City on Monday for them to determine actual damages. As far as looking at it the only thing I can see is they punched it the door lock and broke the steering column lock.

My question is what is the best way to disable the truck. I mean make it a no start? Appreciate any and all answers, Thanks, John

Here are some pics from the tow lot.











Well we will get the truck back tomorrow from the Ford dealer. It is done as far as the theft damage. I had a front end alaignment done which resulted in the need for ball joints and drag links, but that is another story. As far as what they did concerning the repairs. Repaired steering column lock, repaired door lock, replaced the front seal on the tranny and did a tranny service and replaced the rear pinion seal and fluid in the rear end. Also detailed the truck inside and out. Insurance paid for all the repairs minus my deductable.
I have recieved the Cyclops anti theft device and will be installing it when I get the truck home tomorrow. Thanks for all the replies. It is good to know there are people to offer their help and encouragement when needed. Thanks again, John

 

I put the Cyclops anti-theft device on mine a week or so ago. Unless the thief knows that it is there and has his own replacement relay it will not start.

 

A cheap (my favorite ) way to prevent theft is to pull the IDM relay...takes 10 seconds tops.

 

OMG!! So sorry to see what these scumbags did to your truck! The Cyclops anti-theft device sounds good to me and it's now on my shopping list...

 

i simply put the DP tuner in no start mode.
or if i will ever be in an unsafe place i would remove the switcher.

this way the only way it would be moved would be if the thief has a DP switcher in his pocket, or he had a tow truck.

 

Cyclops is good. No start position on the switch is good. Or some other variant on the same theme.

To be sure, Ravelco is the answer if you want their only method of theft to be a tow truck.

 

I'm buying the cyclops next week for the X. Raveclo is awesome but I don't like all the hacking of wires and splicing. I just think something will go wrong and end up with a mess of wires and the truck will never start.

 

Thanks for the replies. I have ordered the Cyclops anti theft device. Still thinking about the Jimmi Jammers. Again thanks guys.

 

Jimmi Jammers - speed bumps for the polite thief.

Straight up - the most reliable switch you can buy, installed where it cuts the IDM power. Hide that sucker good. You might even get fancy with a DPDT switch, and have the other connection activate the horn if the ignition is turned on with the kill switch off. Even if would-be thieves were to find the switch, their stealth was compromised while learning of its existence.

 

I put the Cyclops in my truck a couple months back after a FTE members struck was stolen and never recovered....just 5 miles from my house! So simple to install and works great.

Knowing what I know about these trucks now and my own experience....they probably overheated the transmission trying to get it unstuck and puked fluid out the front seal. Its pretty common from what I've read. Dealer will probably want to drop it to replace the seal and all should be good.

Curious to know what they charge for the car wash!

 

Sorry to hear of your troubles, OP.

I have a set of uninstalled Jimmi Jammers, mainly because of what Rich eluded to (and I don't keep anything of value in the cab). I need to get in the habit of using DP's no start setting more often.

On a positive note, glad you got it back and nice to see a post from another KC local. If you ever need any help, hit me up!

 

I learned the hard way, Set my F6 to "0" and pulled the switch...( I was gone for 3 weeks) Forgot where I stashed it and couldn't drive my truck for a Week! I'm my own worst enemy. But It works as advertised!

 

All that is good but if you do something like pull the IDM or switch it, by the time they find out it wont start they have punched your door lock and probably the ignition switch (I know, at least they they don't get the truck). We need a way to keep them away from our trucks to begin with.

I don't have the answer but I do have a Viper alarm with the flashing LED that keeps the honest people honest and the lazy thief moving to an easier target.

 

Sounds like you're looking for a trunk monkey.

 

As far as gaining access to the truck is concerned there is no way to stop the guy with a hammer, crow bar or just a big rock. Most are going to a chop shop and glass is cheap and the least of their worries. My dad always said that locks are to keep honest people out.