ok people. Had my truck stolen 2 weeks ago. They found it 48hrs. later and fortunately although damages were around the 5 grand range, it could have been a lot worse. It really is incredible that there is no ford anti-theft device with this vehicle. The alarm that comes with it is totally idiotic. The alarm doesn't even go off when you open the door. You can literally smash the window, pull up the lock and voila! I know it didn't have a disabler, but what the hell is ford thinking with certainly not w/ their brains considering this is a $50,000 vehicle? They don't even have a basic locked console or glove compartment. In this neck of the woods, the Ford pick up has taken over from minivans as the #1 vehicle to steal as it is totally effortless to steal these trucks. Obviously having an aftermarket alarm/disabler istalled on Tuesday for $430. Any comments from anyone? I'm quite pissed off at the moment as you can tell!

 

[updated:LAST EDITED ON 13-Mar-02 AT 11:35 PM (EST)]I'm interested as to the best way to prevent stealing too!
I am pickig up the new SD next week and figure I better look into this? Diesel fuel cutoff? Starter kill? motion/vibration sensor?

How do we prevent stolen Sd's?

What are these magnet keychain things that you pass over a switch to flip it open and be bale to start the truck? Where do we get our hands on these things and do they work? Will they screw up the normal remote if placed on the same keychain?

What kind of system are you getting? email me if privacy is a concern!

 

Ford doesn't install any kind of alarm. Your dealer may have added one to your truck though. If so, then you should ask them about a replacement and any kind of warranty insurance re-imbursement that may be available.

If you think the red "panic" button on the keyfob indicates that you truck has an alarm, you are mistaken. All it does is honk the horn & flash the lights (when you push the red button) in order to draw attention to yourself if YOU are being attacked or need assistance. This personal protection system does nothing to protect the truck.

 

I had the official Ford authorized alarm autostart system added to my truck. It had to be installed by a local dealer. The first black box went nuts on me.

The second box seems OK except for a few dumb problems.

1) sometimes, it will disarm but not unlock the doors. No idea why yet.

2) If the system is armed and the autostart/run feature times out after 15 minutes the alarm sounds. They have no idea how to defeat that as of yet.

Features include...
New key FOB
you can remote start the truck
You can leave the truck running, lock it arm it and leave. Great for short stops in a diesel.
Starter disable, which works well, the first box malfunctioned.
Of course it can be set to Valet mode etc...

I had it customized a bit as well...
I had a starter disable bypass switch installed for just such an occasion as happened to me before.
I had a siren silencer switch hidden in the grill. I can shut it up or if I'm at a marina I can let the local management know how to shut it up if it malfunctions.

I can also do crap like turn the lights on etc... from the remote.

Except for the two buggy problems above, the system is great.

Robert

 

You could tie a Rottweiler to the tow hooks. Alarms are not much of a theft deterrent if the thief really wants it bad enough. The threat of being mauled beyond recognition would get their attention. Or you could just sit in it 24/7 like this . I know I am making light of a serious matter, but I don't know of a cost-effective fix for scumbags...atleast a legal solution.

 

My father went to California for the winter and took his 1999 Harley Heritage Softail with him. He has a condo in San Pedro with a secured garage area. Went out to the garage one morning and his bike was gone. When he went to the dealer to order a new one they told him there was a global tracking system that you can purchase for auto's and motorcycles. It costs about $500.00. and they guarantee that if they can't locate your stolen auto in 24 hours or less you will be refunded the amount you payed for the system. I'd be pissed too. It's bad enough you have to go through all the police reports and insurance paperwork and then the repairs but what is worse is it makes you feel violated. Hope everything works out ok for ya.

 

I think this is the system Y2K350 is refering to, www.lojack.com It depends on what state you live in, as they don't operate in all states.

 

I didn't mean to imply that a siren alarm system would protect your truck, it won't. I'm really after the remote start / leave run features. That's one reason I had switches installed to bypass the starter disable and shut the siren up.

When my original box malfunctioned, I was in a store parking lot. The siren was wailing, the starter disable had kicked in, I was basically stranded. I popped the lower dash cover off, ripped the wires out from under the dash, cut the wires to the control box for starter control, twisted them together and cranked the truck. I then opened the hood, took out my knife and cut the siren wires.

I couldn't have looked more like I was stealing this truck unless I'd had a stripped shirt on that said "Convict" on the back of it. Several people walked by, no one said a word. Not being familiar with the box that well... the whole process took about 10 minutes including a call to the alarm guy to find out which wires to twist... no police ever showed up.

The siren is for YOU. If YOU are near by and hear it wailing, YOU will be the only one that gives a rip and investigates. The only other use, I park at a Marina and leave my truck for several days while we cruise. I let the dockmaster know about my truck etc... if HE hears the siren HE MIGHT investigate. Otherwise, in the event of a malfunction he can turn the siren off with my siren disable switch.

Lojack... doesn't work anymore. Real car thiefs have jammers. The simply plug it into the power point of the car they are stealing and it jams the signal. Ask a buddy of mine in NJ that had his Porsche Twin Turbo flat bedded out of the parking garage. He had a siren alarm and Lojack. The car's never been seen again.

The best security? Lock your truck/car, take your keys, pay your insurance.

Robert

 

[updated:LAST EDITED ON 15-Mar-02 AT 12:16 PM (EST)]>The best security? Lock your truck/car, take your keys, pay
>your insurance.

Yes, that is the best way to cover your butt, however not a option on my '78 that is to me anyway, irreplaceable.

I will also be installing a aftermarket alarm on my new truck. I figure at least I can give em a few surprises while they try to steal it!

[link:www.clifford.com|Clifford] has some really neat features available, like wireless immobilizer. This attaches to your fuel pump wire anywhere on the truck and can't be traced from the control unit. Anyone know if this works on diesels?!?!?!

Is it actually illegal to install a siren in the passenger compartment to blast their eardrums? Probably more trouble than its worth!

Did you guys know that Alpine has a pager alert when your alarm goes off? Of course you have to be within a few miles or so!

Supposedly, the Ford installer that I talked to said that the Ford alarms are a little overpriced. (probably just rebadged aftermarkets too)

 

If someone wants it, they'll take it. Sad but true.

Look at Ferrari, the new 360's have alarm crap to the hilt, GPS locators, computers that talk to the driver, Northstar type crap where the parent company can tell where you are, how fast you are moving AND disable your engine. They will actually speak up while you're driving and ask you to enter your code... if you don't they warn you your engine is about to be disabled and shut it down... if you do enter the code, but a duress code, they'll act like it's all ok and still send the police... and Ferrari's STILL get stolen.

The best security device I've ever seen was a 8 ft python a guy lets live in his truck. Most car thieves simply are not equiped to deal with an 8' snake... and killing it isn't an option like a dog... if you've ever tried to kill a snake you know. Of course, he also didn't get bothered with folks trying to bum rides either.

Robert

 

About 9 months ago I got one of those Sears Die Hard security batteries. You can disable the battery using a remote. So far this has worked just fine. In fact, I got a security device discount from the insurance company. Battery cost about $150. Insurance savings are about $50 over the 100 month warranty time of the battery.

It also has a cutout feature so that if the battery voltage drops to a certain level (say if you leave a light on), it disconnects the battery from the vehicle before the voltage drops too low to start. You then reactivate it with the remote to start the vehicle. I have one of these on my mother's 87 Cadillac that used to kill batteries all the time because some dumb electronic feature would cut itself on from time to time. It has saved me many a jump start on that vehicle. Actually I would be better off if someone did steal that Cadillac. Unfortunately a thief can't steal it if the battery is dead.

For some reason the Sears in my area has stopped selling them. They must have had some problems. I did have to take one back as it failed soon after I got it. Overall though I am very happy with the battery.

Pete

 

I love the python Idea.

 

 

>I had the official Ford authorized alarm autostart system
>added to my truck. It had to be installed by a local
>dealer. The first black box went nuts on me.
>
>The second box seems OK except for a few dumb problems.
>
>1) sometimes, it will disarm but not unlock the doors. No
>idea why yet.
>
>2) If the system is armed and the autostart/run feature
>times out after 15 minutes the alarm sounds. They have no
>idea how to defeat that as of yet.
>
>Features include...
>New key FOB
>you can remote start the truck
>You can leave the truck running, lock it arm it and leave.
>Great for short stops in a diesel.
>Starter disable, which works well, the first box
>malfunctioned.
>Of course it can be set to Valet mode etc...
>
>I had it customized a bit as well...
>I had a starter disable bypass switch installed for just
>such an occasion as happened to me before.
>I had a siren silencer switch hidden in the grill. I can
>shut it up or if I'm at a marina I can let the local
>management know how to shut it up if it malfunctions.
>
>I can also do crap like turn the lights on etc... from the
>remote.
>
>Except for the two buggy problems above, the system is
>great.
>
>Robert

Robert-

How much did this cost you installed?... I ask because I'd like to have it installed on two of my vehicles.

Tony

 

>order a new one they told him there was a global tracking
>system that you can purchase for auto's and motorcycles. It
>costs about $500.00. and they guarantee that if they can't
>locate your stolen auto in 24 hours or less you will be
>refunded the amount you payed for the system.

That is the worst guarantee I have ever heard of. You pay $500 for a system and all they will pay for if the system fails is the cost of the system? That's like buying $250K of term life insurance for $200 and if you die, they refund the $200.

IIRC, that is the "guarantee" that LoJack had. And on top of that, you had to have their reps service/inspect the thing yearly, for a fee, to keep the guarantee in effect.

I made that mistake once, will never go the LoJack route again. Clifford used to make the best security systems but now that they are owned by DEI, not sure if they are still the best.

Todd