Notices
1994.5 - 1997 7.3L Power Stroke Diesel  

Repairing My Stolen Truck

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old Dec 13, 2018 | 11:38 AM
  #1  
Gotanoldtruck's Avatar
Gotanoldtruck
Thread Starter
|
Cross-Country
Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 87
Likes: 2
From: Chicago
Repairing My Stolen Truck

My 1997 F250 was stolen about a month ago. I just recovered it. They broke out the passenger side door lock to get in, busted the key ignition cylinder, jimmied off the VIN plate from the dash. No other damage that I have discovered yet. Without overdoing it (the truck is my daily driver with 310,000 miles) what advice do you have about either a hidden kill switch or keyless start? And how to restore my door sheet metal where the cylinder was jimmied out. I am thinking about deleting that key hole.

By the way, I looked at buying an identical replacement truck. This truck is worth 2X what I paid for it 10 years ago. Not sure why.

Thanks in advance for your input.



4x4 Turbo Diesel
 
Reply
Old Dec 13, 2018 | 02:01 PM
  #2  
z31freakify's Avatar
z31freakify
Hotshot
10 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
Joined: Dec 2012
Posts: 11,271
Likes: 1,654
From: Las Cruces New Mexico
An ON/OFF connected directly to the starter solenoid signal wire with the switch and wiring hiden where only you know where ots at.
Glad you got your rig back, there is a guy in the Superduty section that also got his stolen yesterday.
 
Reply
Old Dec 13, 2018 | 03:02 PM
  #3  
Hit Man X's Avatar
Hit Man X
Lead Driver
20 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
Joined: Sep 2002
Posts: 9,540
Likes: 2,032
From: North Texas
Thumbs up

You may want to consider LoJack for it too, it is not that expensive.
 
Reply
Old Dec 13, 2018 | 03:40 PM
  #4  
fordpride's Avatar
fordpride
Post Fiend
Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 15,505
Likes: 18
From: Livoina,La
Glad you got it back. First get with state police to get the VIN tag taken care of. Is insurance not covering the damages ? For the cylinder lock it would help if you could post a picture of the damage. To disable it you can wire a switch to the starter solenoid or to the CPS signal wire.
 
Reply
Old Dec 13, 2018 | 03:45 PM
  #5  
BBslider001's Avatar
BBslider001
Hotshot
10 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
Joined: Mar 2012
Posts: 10,590
Likes: 382
From: Texas
Maybe use the Club?
 
Reply
Old Dec 13, 2018 | 04:10 PM
  #6  
fordpride's Avatar
fordpride
Post Fiend
Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 15,505
Likes: 18
From: Livoina,La
Originally Posted by BBslider001
Maybe use the Club?
you have to catch in the act to be able to use a club. Lol
 
Reply
Old Dec 13, 2018 | 04:29 PM
  #7  
Hit Man X's Avatar
Hit Man X
Lead Driver
20 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
Joined: Sep 2002
Posts: 9,540
Likes: 2,032
From: North Texas
Thumbs up

Originally Posted by fordpride

you have to catch in the act to be able to use a club. Lol


LOL!
 
Reply
Old Dec 13, 2018 | 09:47 PM
  #8  
BBslider001's Avatar
BBslider001
Hotshot
10 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
Joined: Mar 2012
Posts: 10,590
Likes: 382
From: Texas
Originally Posted by fordpride
you have to catch in the act to be able to use a club. Lol
 
Reply
FTE Stories

Ford Trucks for Ford Truck Enthusiasts

story-0

10 Ugly Ford Trucks That We Still Kinda Love

 Joe Kucinski
story-1

10 Things Every Truck Owner NEEDS (2026 Edition)

 Michael S. Palmer
story-2

Rezvani's Latest Post-Apocalyptic Monster Is a Ford F-150 Raptor Underneath

 Verdad Gallardo
story-3

Top 10 Most Expensive Ford Trucks Ever Sold on Bring a Trailer

 Joe Kucinski
story-4

2027 Ford Super Duty Buyer's Guide (Every Model, Engine, & Package)

 Brett Foote
story-5

Top 10 Ford Truck Tragedies

 Joe Kucinski
story-6

AEV FXL Super Duty - the Super Duty Raptor Ford Doesn't Make

 Brett Foote
story-7

Lobo Vs Lobo: Proof the F-150 Lobo Should Be Even Lower!

 Michael S. Palmer
story-8

Ford's 2001 Explorer Sportsman Concept Looks For a New Home

 Verdad Gallardo
story-9

10 Best Ford Truck Engines We Miss the Most!

 Joe Kucinski
Old Dec 13, 2018 | 10:08 PM
  #9  
Bob_T's Avatar
Bob_T
Laughing Gas
10 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
Joined: Feb 2014
Posts: 774
Likes: 25
From: Reno, Nevada
PHP Hydra chips have No Start position that a thief is very unlikely to figure out. Probably other chips have a similar anti theft position.
I also have a toggle switch on my electric fuel pump.
 
Reply
Old Dec 13, 2018 | 11:17 PM
  #10  
oldbird1965's Avatar
oldbird1965
Fleet Owner
20 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 20,419
Likes: 197
From: AZ
Club FTE Silver Member

Bob, is the no start position #17? To be honest I've never played with it. The trouble with cutting the fuel pump is they can still start it and take off and just running it hard it will suck fuel and run. Hard on the injectors but its happened to me a couple times on the road and the only thing I noticed was a lot more noise. The starter defeat sounds better.
 
Reply
Old Dec 13, 2018 | 11:34 PM
  #11  
AK gman's Avatar
AK gman
Junior User
Joined: Nov 2018
Posts: 58
Likes: 0
I have a TS Performance chip i got several years ago that has a no start position. It will turn over and glow plug light comes on . A thief would think it just wont start. I use it all the time. If you plug the key hole they will just break glass. We have such weak laws for car theft in Ak that vehicle theft is out of control in Anc. In some cases when caught in stolen vehicles they dont arrest them or take them in, just give them a court appearance. Need to catch them and get them out of the gene pool.
 
Reply
Old Dec 14, 2018 | 04:20 AM
  #12  
Bob_T's Avatar
Bob_T
Laughing Gas
10 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
Joined: Feb 2014
Posts: 774
Likes: 25
From: Reno, Nevada
Glenn, yes, I think the no-start is number 17 or the last position. I’ve never messed with it either. PHP told me it’s more or less permanently programmed in and we can’t over write it with another program.
 
Reply
Old Dec 14, 2018 | 07:12 AM
  #13  
BuddyBarnes's Avatar
BuddyBarnes
Laughing Gas
5 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
Joined: Jan 2016
Posts: 910
Likes: 96
From: Fl.
Originally Posted by oldbird1965
Bob, is the no start position #17? To be honest I've never played with it. The trouble with cutting the fuel pump is they can still start it and take off and just running it hard it will suck fuel and run. Hard on the injectors but its happened to me a couple times on the road and the only thing I noticed was a lot more noise. The starter defeat sounds better.
I did not know this. I have always thought -no fuel pressure , no start. Thanks
 
Reply
Old Dec 14, 2018 | 10:35 AM
  #14  
Airstreamer67's Avatar
Airstreamer67
Senior User
Joined: May 2013
Posts: 208
Likes: 0
I've got an automatic transmission and therefore don't need the no-start-without-clutch-down protection. So, I found those no-start clutch switch wires just above where the clutch is normally located , cut them, and wired them to a hidden switch. When the switch is open, the engine won't turn over just as it wouldn't with the clutch up on a standard transmission.

Of course, the engine can be made to turn over by shorting the solenoid under the hood or perhaps even at the starter, but many times any complication will deter a thief.
 
Reply
Old Dec 14, 2018 | 10:44 AM
  #15  
oldbird1965's Avatar
oldbird1965
Fleet Owner
20 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 20,419
Likes: 197
From: AZ
Club FTE Silver Member

Interesting, I didn't know those wires were there on a auto truck.
 
Reply



All times are GMT -5. The time now is 12:19 AM.

story-0
10 Ugly Ford Trucks That We Still Kinda Love

Slideshow: 10 ugly Ford trucks that we still kinda love.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-06-03 09:51:16


VIEW MORE
story-1
10 Things Every Truck Owner NEEDS (2026 Edition)

Slideshow: the best gifts for dads & grads

By Michael S. Palmer | 2026-06-03 15:43:58


VIEW MORE
story-2
Rezvani's Latest Post-Apocalyptic Monster Is a Ford F-150 Raptor Underneath

Slideshow: Called the Fortress, the 850-horsepower pickup combines Raptor underpinnings with military-inspired features, survival equipment, and a starting price of $285,000.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-06-03 11:38:36


VIEW MORE
story-3
Top 10 Most Expensive Ford Trucks Ever Sold on Bring a Trailer

Slideshow: 10 most expensive Ford trucks ever sold on Bring a Trailer.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-05-27 16:24:34


VIEW MORE
story-4
2027 Ford Super Duty Buyer's Guide (Every Model, Engine, & Package)

Here's everything that has changed for the latest model year.

By Brett Foote | 2026-05-27 16:17:28


VIEW MORE
story-5
Top 10 Ford Truck Tragedies

Slideshow: Top 10 Ford truck tragedies.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-05-18 19:34:33


VIEW MORE
story-6
AEV FXL Super Duty - the Super Duty Raptor Ford Doesn't Make

And it might be even better than that.

By Brett Foote | 2026-05-18 19:26:42


VIEW MORE
story-7
Lobo Vs Lobo: Proof the F-150 Lobo Should Be Even Lower!

Slideshow: Does lowering an F-150 Lobo RUIN the ride quality?

By Michael S. Palmer | 2026-05-18 19:20:37


VIEW MORE
story-8
Ford's 2001 Explorer Sportsman Concept Looks For a New Home

Slideshow: Ford's bizarre fishing-themed Explorer concept has resurfaced after spending decades largely forgotten.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-05-12 18:07:46


VIEW MORE
story-9
10 Best Ford Truck Engines We Miss the Most!

Slideshow: The 10 best Ford truck engines we miss the most.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-05-12 13:09:47


VIEW MORE