I got mine off of ebay.

This is the guy: http://cgi.ebay.com/COMPUSTAR-2WSS-A...QQcmdZViewItem

Note: Compustar won't warranty the end user on internet sales. But this guy, is an authorizied dealer and takes responsibility. I had some issues with my unit about two months ago. I sent him back the brain, antenna and remote and he replaced everything with new. No questions.

Don't let the $239.00 price scare you. This is a top of the line unit, that would cost you over 1g. to have installed by an authorizied local rep.

I added a Piezo glass break mic and a remote radar proximity sensor, another $120.00. Radio shack diodes $5.00 bucks, and a weekend of free time.

 

I choose insurance. To each his own. The more I get into the truck, that may change.

 

No offense, but have you ever had to make an insurance claim on a stolen or vandalizied vehicle?

F'n pain in the you know what.

Years ago my wife had her car stolen. Reported to the insurance company. Little did we know they have a mandatory waiting period, just in case it shows up. Sure enough some 45 days later it showed up as a torched car, stripped.

Took another couple of weeks for the check, which was prorated on the value and then another month or two before we could take possession of a replacement car we ordered. Bottom Line waste of time, and very negative, if you get my drift.

Ever seen a nice stereo ripped out of a dash. Amazing how much damage can be done in just a few minutes time. In our mules your looking at around $5000.00 if they damage the dash and surronding structure, not to mention the couple of weeks it sits at a body shop while they wait for parts that are not an off the shelf item.

Back in the 70's I got a free CodeAlarm pager alarm from a rep. My buddies and I were at a day baseball game when the pager I was wearing went off. We all did the classic O.J. through the airport run through the stands out into the parking lot. Low and behold we found a guy trying to pry my brand New Kenwood Supertuner out of my classic roadsters metal dash. Lets just say Mr. Five Finger discount saw Jesus for the first time and pronounced his sins.

 

No. I thought we were talking about a stolen vehicle. When it is gone, it is gone. Screw the stereo. I need another truck when mine's gone. And I will wait for it. Sue folks too.

Ok, I read the rest. Valid point. Nonetheless, a honking, beeping alarm may not change the fact that the truck is gone. What is your solution to this?

 

Priceless!!!

 

Mine is a spin on your fuel pump switch suggestion. I put a full flow ball valve on my Dahl filter setup when I installed it. A couple of months ago I had to park the truck within a stone's throw of Los Angeles. I've seen enough Cheech and Chong movies to know I had to protect the truck somehow. I closed the ball valve on the fuel line.

Next morning, after many beers the night before, I forgot I even did it. I put it on high idle for about 5 mins to get it a little warm since I was towing an equipment trailer with two light machines on it. I actually made it about a half a mile before it started sputtering.

Now a crook has the truck totally hotwired and a half a mile away from the cozy theft site and on a street at this point. I bet most would abandon the effort. It's a pretty cheap way to at least make it less comfortable for the *******.

 

my $ .02: insurance just makes the bank happy.

prevent damage to vehicle, if it won't start some of 'em WILL beat up the truck in frustration. Broken windows are a p.i.t.a. Blinking lights on the dash and nothing expensive anywhere visible inside will stop all but the determined.

The only problem with 1/2 mile down the street is: YOU don't know WHICH street and therefore are at the mercy of who ever is doing the recovery (1/2 mile X 1/2 mile is a really huge territory {downtown LA means about 100 + streets and alleys})

You can't stop them from stealing it if they are determined to take it. You just need to make them think it won't be a slam dunk easy deal.

 

You could shorten the time that the engine would run by placing the switch closer to the engine, maybe under the hood. If you raise any suspicion while arming it, then just pull the dip stick and act like you are checking oil.

 

I'd be much happier having it sit in a road and getting towed vs having it stripped in a warehouse somewhere.

 

I don't know that much about diesels yet, but I am learning. I chatted with Jody at DP Tuner yesterday and asked specifically about their "No-Start" program. Jody told me it was a theft deterrent. Not sure what to do with the tune selector switch, tho.

 

Ravelco.com


Been around since 1979. They have Never had a vehicle stolen.

I can go to harbor freight and buy an FM scanner that will scan,read and reproduce any alarm systems frequency, get in and drive off with your truck in less then 9 seconds. All for less then 40.00 bucks. The alarm keeps them at bay, The ravelco stops them even if they breakin. I live in AZ. Our trucks are the hot hot hot ticket to smuggling illegal aliens across the border. The crew cab 4x4's are the number 1 stolen vehicle in the border states. They come and nab your truck, rip out the dash lights, put the brake lights on a toggle, rip out the back seat, pait your windows black, rip out the rear seat door handles. Then they run them hard through the desert, and just to spite you they do it with the oil fill cap off. Then your insurance finds the truck two weeks later and will not total it because it is too expensive to do that. My poor neighbor had not one but both his dodges stolen this way while his wife was in the bank, he was at the gym, and the first truck was stiolen again, at the HS football game.

Niether truck has run right since then. I personally know 4 guys who have bought work trucks at auctions that this same thing was done so they gottem cheap for work.

Me I do not want a truck nor would I buy a truck that this was done too, so nsurance can kiss my butt, alrms only keep honest people honest. Ravelco in my truck, ravelco in my wifes truck, ravelco in my boat, ravelco on my motorcycle. Worth every penny!!!

 

My alarm triggers 150 db train horns. May not stop him the second time, but he ain't staying around very long the first time.

 

Tenn01 - the fuel pump is exactly what I was thinking. Especially if you have upfitter switches. Sometimes the best hiding place is wide out in the open. Who would think to look there? Wire one of them to power the pump.

 

I had an artic start installed when aI got the truck it is two way tells me if someone is *(*^*( ing with my truck has command start that works great I can turn the shock sensor on or off with my remote big help on really windy days or thunder storms it wasn't cheap about 700 CDN installed but I will be putting it into my other PS trucks.

Iain

94 7.3 2wd Dually
99 7.3 4x4
2003 6.0 4x4

 

Yeah, lotta ideas here but I used to own a M-stang ragtop so you know there was no use locking the doors unless you wanted to replace your top. Now the consensus among just about all folks who went through that mess with those cars was to mount a remote switch or cleverly hide it in plain view like you described. When the fuel isn't there, the car will not go, period.

Oh then they can beat it up etc. I'm not letting anyone steal my ride just so they won't beat it up. Well, I wasn't before, I have yet to do something on the truck but I still carry insurance. Don't care whether it makes the bank or the company happy because it is paid for and I don't feel like paying for another. JMO