Are Beetles harder to steal as the battery is under the seat and the engine is in the rear????
Plus With the early models You have to get behind the dash to access the ignition wires....
that must be harder than steal an early commodore - ford etc....
I'm only guessing....
Lee
ruckus 路
damn that's a beautiful dash!
Well done. Although it might make people try harder to steal your car 馃榾
68AutoBug 路
Thanks for the compliment....
I also have a little trick amongst the 6 extra 2 & 3 position switches I have , before the ignition will switch on...
I have a burgular alarm to go inside the car with 110db of siren etc inside the car so the person stealing it will be deaf in a very short time... I just hope it never goes off while I'm driving it馃檪 I can also turn My electric fuel pump off....
The way I'm going, I'll have to print a
"how to start & drive this Beetle" booklet... So I'll know what I'm doing 馃檪馃檪
I did notice on the "NEW" classic Mexican Beetles that I saw at Nambucca heads, that they have an alarm key switch on the opposite side of where the fuel filler cap goes... there is also an interior lamp push button where the engine lid goes and a genuine VW horn bolted above the engine....
Now whether this is "the Alarm" or just an alarm to stop people from tampering with the engine.... I don't know....
I could always do a Mr Bean and take the steering wheel with Me...馃檪馃檪 all I need is a Steering wheel sized briefcase or backpack馃檪馃檪
Maybe I should have said:
How to STOP anyone from stealing My Beetle....
but its really impossible to do so if they have a Tilt tray truck with a winch..... they just winch it onto the back of the truck..
[Edited on 5-3-2005 by 68AutoBug]
oval TOFU 路
I found it easy to hotwire early beetles... all you have to do is open the bonnet, access the ignition switch, and bridge the two terminals that the key would normal bridge... you an do it with a key i think! (i've don it on mine out of curiosity) Thats why you use club locks!
555bug 路
yup 30 seconds and its done, you can even do it without being in the cabin 馃檪 get an alarm with a kill switch and get some decent door lock pulls and consider goint to one piece windows.
VWFOOL 路
how come any key will open most early beetles?
probably the easistet car to get into and drive away u would think, or maybe thats the toyota hilux...
ikube 路
hope none of the theifs will come past this post 馃檨
How good is a 3 point immoboliser for a early beetle, I pretty much think I need one soon.
gazza 路
What about later model beetles (mine's a 71)?? Are these models harder to steal??
It's parked on the street unfortunately. She's not hotted up in anyway - but she's a good looker. Should I get a club lock or alarm - or both?? What about de-mobilisers??
Gaz
gazza 路
ps - i just want advice on security levels required - not instructions on how to steal it - for all to see. Thanks anyway.....
68AutoBug 路
With late model cars, You have to use the key to start the car but with Beetles... made before that technolegy.... I'm not sure if an immobiliser will work as good on a Beetle...
I'll have to ask My Son who used to install car alarms-immobilisers for a living a few years ago.... I believe a switch to open circuit the ignition can help.... the switch can be under the dash or even in the engine compartment...
I believe theives only try to steal a car for short time period.. after that they will try another car.... One piece windows won't stop them as they can smash the glass...
I know its VERY simple to actually hotwire the ignition.... from the generator/alternator to the coil..... but to actually start the engine....??
Any one with a pre 60s Beetle can simply turn off the fuel with the fuel tap..... 45 degrees is OFF.... Straight up is ON and 90 degrees or Horizontal is One imperial gallon for emergencies.... like When You run out of fuel.....馃檪馃檪
I believe the gearlever lock as sold by Mick Motors would stop anyone from stealing the car.... they can still break a window etc... but cannot put the car into gear....
The other thing - why steal an old Beetle - they are all old...
why not steal a not so old commodore or falcon or datsun toyota etc... or WRX or EVO 4-5-6- etc.....
Lee
68AutoBug 路
I'm hoping most people here will never steal any car.....
You could show Me how to steal anything but that doesn't mean I would do it.....
but as We all know-- there are others who would.....
I always had a simple alarm made from a Dick Smith Jaycar kit that went off when the doors were opened... it was hooked to the interior light... I also had the interior lamp delay so when You closed the door the light would stay on for 30-60 seconds..... so the alarm kept going for that extra 30-60 seconds after the door was shut... I never used to lock My Cars [mostly VWs] just used the key switch which was usually mounted next to the door.....
I had switches for the bonnet & rear door on type 3 wagon...
Alarm Horn speaker was mounted near brake master cylinder.....
These simple kits are still available from DSE & Jaycar plus the key switches... they use NO Power when switched on...
until a door etc is opened and then they use a very small amount of power.... Most alarms these days have the switch off timed by the Law, as a car alarm can only go for so long, then it has to switch off automatically... thats the Law....
Its very simple to connect up the simple alarms...
I have noticed lately, that most bought alarm syatems have all the same colored wires so a burgular doesn't know which one to cut.... the blue one - they are all blue!!!馃檪馃檪
Lee Noonan
Che Castro 路
my 63 would be piss easy to steal, the doorlocks are so worn that you can turn it with your fingernail and open it!
I dont think anyone would steal the car, but they would probably steal the stereo and stuff.
Club locks can be taken off in about 10 seconds with a hacksaw. the ones with two locks on them take a little bit longer. the gearstick lock is good, although you can always pick the lock. But if they have gone to that length they probably really want to steal it so there would be little you could do short of hiring a security guard for your car 馃檪
An immobiliser would slow them down.
One good one is to take the distributor rotor, the engine cant start unless they happen to have the correct rotor for the engine and they can get past the decklid lock.
The late beetles also have the advantage of having locking steering columns, the ignition key also locks it in place, making it a bit harder.
[Edited on 7-11-2004 by Che Castro]
baybuscamperkid 路
bodgy locks isnt just a VW thing. any old car should have its lock barrels renewed with new pins. i have 2 friends with mazda 323s with original locks and i can open the doors of both and actually drive away one using my keys from my laser. for the bus i have made sure all my lock barrels are in good nic, i have an immobiliser/alarm installed, am considering a killswitch, but already have one of those plastic battery cutoff switches in teh back.
Secoh 路
comprabale to stuff of similar age VW's are hard to steal, but compared to today's cars would be a breeze. especially now that all the locks are worn out. You can hotwire a beetle without going anywhere near the ignition or battery, all you need is access to the engine bay. but they wouldnt even bother with that. most kiddy-crims just bust a quarter window, open the door, slide hammer the ignition barrel out and start it with a screw driver. couldn't be simpler. It's really worth investing in a fuel tap and kill switch on older cars. if it won't start straight away they usually won't bother unless they really really want it. older cars usually just get nicked for transport (c*nt steals it to get to the pub, or the next pub), late model stuff gets stolen for parts and rebirthing.
68AutoBug 路
Only the real late model Beetles have steering locks, the others have the ignition key there but no lock...
I have heard that the steering locks of most cars can be broken quite easy....
The expensive CLUB Super steering lock made of very High Tensile steel covers Your vehicle up to a certain amount I believe...
I might be wrong....
The Mr Bean, take Your steering wheel with You seems to be the best... if You can't steer it... You can't steal it....
Well My Beetle won't start even with the right key unless something else is triggered....
The ignition doesn't even come on....
I still like alarms though.....
Lee
DubCrazy 路
The horribile truth is the older cars are way to easy to steal but in saying that if a *pro* wants your car no matter what you have in it or fitted to it, it will go.Hidden kill switchs are a good thing as are a decent alarm/immobiliser. Removing the steering wheel will stop the bloody joy riders and work well. U can get a quick release boss so that its a 2 second job to remove( i had one on may car in the uk) but carring a steering wheel around with u can be a pain to say the least. There is only one sure fire way to stop your car being stolen and thats live it it, people are less keen to take a car and its owner for a ride 馃榾
steff................................
Secoh 路
club locks are for show. any moron with a short piece of water pipe can remove them in half a second, and those ones that hook under the brake pedal to the steering wheel aren't much chop as steering wheels are designed to flex quite a lot.
old cars are appalingly vulnerable.
Che Castro 路
hey secoh what makes them more difficult to nick than cars of its era?
I was thinking of installing a flashing LED somewhere on the dash as well
Secoh 路
for one thing VW's back then had very good locks and had a key combination of about 1 in 100,000 I think it was. Whereas the early lasers (81-88) had a key range of something pathetic like 15 keys. In other words the 16th laser you came across probably had an identical key as one of the last 15.
Comparing with other 60's and early 70's stuff VW's used a door constructiuon and window seal that was not coat hanger or packing tape friendly. The quarter windows also locked properly. They were also amongst the first to have steering column locks.
Comparing pre 80's VW's to anything made from '90 onwards and they're wide open for theft though, same as all the other pre-80's cars.
Canni. 路
I'd imagine a beetle would be pretty easy to steal....if someone wants to take your car they will... I know the vent windows are a particuarly weak spot.
Club locks are useless a theif can take one of them off in like 10 secs...
However our old 80s golf has stood up pretty well to thieves! The RACV guys used to shudder when mum told them she'd locked the keys in the car, said it was the hardest to break into using methods like the coat hanger. It only got broken into when its vent windows were broken, the also broke the door locks and luckily failed to start it (why hotwire a bright green 83 golf I ask?? surely they'd have been better cars to steal?)
I'm thinking of l getting an alarm (but who reacts when they hear one go off anyway?) so maybe better option a kill switch?
Secoh 路
I have an immobiliser system in my Skyline. more effective in an EFI car of course.
Mr Bubble Head 路
Heres what I plan to do
The electronics will slow them down if you want to go one better try a good mechanical device get on of these its worth paying for security.
Steering wheel locks are only as good as the strenght of the wheel and a sharpe hacksaw.
I'm also going to use fuel cut off device and mabey somthing else but I dont want to compromise looks.
nIck
Mr Bubble Head 路
pic
Mr Bubble Head 路
pic
Che Castro 路
nice shifter.
i was thinking of putting in a flashing red LED into my dash as well 馃檪
68AutoBug 路
I believe anyone with one of those shifters would sleep much better......
Beautiful piece of gear too....
Keys look good..... would be hard to steal......
How Much??
Lee
68AutoBug 路
Do those gearshifter locks - lock it in gear or in neutral??
Lee
carisma 路
a VIPER alarm or MONGOOSE 40 are good alarms its really hard to start the cars with one of these in the car..theyd have to burn the car before they could get it started...you need good insurance to,,a VIPER alarm u can voice program it with your own voice.they are motion and heat detecter in them so people are warmed when they go to close with voice recorded to tell them to bugger off and they cut the fuel,, starter and battery so u cant start them
baybuscamperkid 路
Che Castro wrote:i was thinking of putting in a flashing red LED into my dash as well 馃檪
just remember there are downsides to flashing lights: the alarm i have came with a supre bright blue flasher, so bright infact that you could see it flashing through the silver tarp that covers my bus, so when travelling i wouldnt be able to sleep at night - light would light up the whole damn cabin!
Chewy 路
I'm planning to put in a second hidden ignition barrell, fuel cut off valve and cover up the terminals on the starter motor..
should deter all but the most determined bastards, I hope..
Che Castro 路
i'd put a hidden switch for the LED somewhere though. as i wouldnt want to run it all the time
68AutoBug 路
You can manually switch the LED on or hook it up to a relay so when the ignition is turned off, so is the relay and the LED is activated.....
IN a Mitsubishi L300 I had many years ago I bought two blue lamps about 10mm and installed them in the dash... they used to flash with the ignition off.... I don't know where I bought them as I've never seen them since..... They weren't Light Emitting Diodes but flashing blue lamps - with I presume small bulbs inside... You can get really BRIGHT 10mm LEDs now.... they can light up the interior.... at night....
Lee
DIY-DUB 路
i gotta say if i was in a life or death situation i woud steal a car but hopefully return it l8r with a note sayin sorry and heres 2 tickets 4 the local show 2morro nite then while u out i clear out ya house, no doubt uve al heard the story b4
helbus 路
I don't think many joy riders or opportunist theives will take a Beetle as the common thing a lot of people say to Fleur (my wife) is "How can you drive one of those cars with the funny gearshift" ????? I don't know where they are coming from with that one, but maybe it has something to do with people seeing the zig zag picture on the ashtray of the Kombi and thinking that is the shift pattern?
This leaves more the professional theives, so this is where being very vigilant is important. Lock it in a garage if you can. Yes by all means put all manner of detterents on the vehicle, and combine a few different ones.
I am lucky with my EH as I am yet to see anyone start it even after the immobiliser is switched off, other than myself, Fleur and the guy who helped with the supercharger.
Even sonething as simple as putting bricks under the wheels with bells on them would make them think twice.
68AutoBug 路
I haven't heard of that one....
Not much car stealing or house break ins happen in the country areas....
I had a mate in Melbourne - some one broke into His garage & shed and stole every single thing... didn't leave anything.... Lucky He was driving his car at the time.,,.
Not much excitement once You leave the City.....
We don't even have traffic lights We could steel 馃檪馃檪
Lee
1stcarbug wrote:i gotta say if i was in a life or death situation i woud steal a car but hopefully return it l8r with a note sayin sorry and heres 2 tickets 4 the local show 2morro nite then while u out i clear out ya house, no doubt uve al heard the story b4
theverybigtallman 路
one of my mates one day pulled a prank on his old man - switched all the leads around on the distributor. it turned over all right, but the timing was all out so it wouldn't run. it was funny as a prank, maybe it can be used as antitheft?
theverybigtallman 路
the trick is not to forget how they proprely go, though...
Mr Bubble Head 路
I think I payed $650 for the shifter plus postage but Gene Burg had a discount on the shifter at the time 10% off I think
Its big bikkis but Its nice to know that if anyone trys that they'll have to have plenty of time and come tooled up. If they want it bad enough they'll get it.
nIck
akean1 路
i heard of someone wiring up the coil to line up with your crotch in the drivers seat(obviously has an off switch), also saw an imobiliser kit from jaycar that lets the engine start, then cuts it out after 60 seconds
akean1 路
i heard of someone wiring up the coil to line up with your crotch in the drivers seat(obviously has an off switch), also saw an imobiliser kit from jaycar that lets the engine start, then cuts it out after 60 seconds
Boozer 路
ow!
BUGBOY 路
Easy to steal!
All aircooled beetles are easy to hot wire and start.
All the old cars have worn out locks etc and all open and start with any key. Try it. LOL
The best you can do its park it in a safe place, but most people steal cars that go fast.
If you have an early beetle kick your fuel tap over half way and when and if its taken you`ll find it just around the corner. They`ll think its ran out of fuel.:duh
Take your rotor button out if you have to leave it some where not to safe. Dam thing turns over but never starts. :P
Or do what i do, just leave the keys in it. Someone could be watching ?馃槈
malcolm 路
a fuel tap under the running boards or a micro switch under your carpet just run your hands over it and have it activate a fuel solenoid.
ColumBUS 路
the question should by why do you want to know how to steal a beetle???
bugeyedbabe 路
taking notes
ready 4 next meet...:thumb
bertie_beetle 路
in john muirs guide, i think it said that you can use a key or screwdriver to link the solenoid and the starter or something tech-a-nical......is this true?
GL1972 路
bertie,
That will turn it over but the coil must have 12V going to it also.
Nothing will stop the professionals. Think if during the day a car with a tandem trailer rocked up and reversed up your driveway. Then your pride and joy is rolled onto it and driven away. Would your neighbors notice? If they did would they chalenge them?
Maybe a wheel clamp would be the go!
Brendan
bertie_beetle 路
oh, ok. well i agree, that if anyone wants to steal a car, i mean REALLY want to, they will. when i park my car at the train station, its not so much it being stolen that i worry about, but more so it having its windows smashed, set on fire etc. (strathpine station - for those that know the area. not cool) unfortunately, there's not much you can do about that, except be cautious where you park it.
68AutoBug 路
Yes, the easy way is to hook a wire from the coil to the generator/alternator live connection.... so You have power to the engine.... [IGN ON]
then climb underneath the Right hand side of the car next to the back wheel and start the engine with a screwdriver...
ie.. Short out the solenoid on the starter motor with a screw driver.... until the engine fires.....
You do this of course, AFTER You have broken into the car...
so You can then get in and drive away....
If the car was in gear and the hand brake was OFF, chances are the car has just ran over You!! 馃檪馃檪
As I'm NOT a car thief,
a Club lock or steering lock would stop Me.... a locked door would also stop Me.... a locked engine lid or gear shifter lock would also keep Me out.....
Hidden switches are cheap -
Battery Switches are also inexpensive... but a headache if You have to lift the rear seat to insert the key.....
Would be OK in a Kombi or Karmann ghia with the battery in rear engine compartment...
Other mods are: Ign goes thru stop lamp switch...
so Brake lights have to be on to start engine... OR
Reverse has to be engaged to start cengine .. car with reversing lamps... OR
Interior light has to be ON to start engine..... OR
Parking Lamps have to be on to start engine.... OR...
a simple push button has to be pressed while key is turned to start engine.....
................................................i think i'll just walk:bounce:bounce
68AutoBug 路
I was going to comment on an anti breakin part available from the UK for VWs, but I haven't seen them for sale in Australia so i believe Our VWs haven't been broken into by that method... and I don't want to tell everyone.... How to do it....
I should have called this POST:
How to STOP people from breaking into Your beloved VW...
as I don't want to help anyone to steal anyones Beetle....
Lee
helterskelter400 路
i just went and hotwired my buggy using a method noted above.
cool.
my tool roll now includes a bit of heavy guage wire with gator clips at each end for just in case i loose my keys. i wont even need a hill for roll starting when i finish my crank start handle.
68AutoBug 路
At Nambucca last year, there was a fellow selling the crankshaft pulley bolts that had the crank handle bit on the end of the bolt....
and I just saw the same thing on a locally owned VW powered Generator bought from the army....
they start very easy with a crank handle....
this was a single port 1600 engine....
helterskelter400 路
yep i got one of those exlelent crank nuts. saw it and had to have one. a mates got one on his buggy, borrowed from his longe term country buugyy restoration. totally utalitarian, totally usefull, totally functional, totally VW....
57kombi 路
Just a little bit off the track here,
In England a lot of the first modle Mondeos were being broken into and it was noted that all of them had had their airbags deployed.
What was happening was a thief would hit the tow hook under the front bumper with a hammer and the electronic brain in the car would think that it had been in an accident, the airbag would go off and the doors would automatically unlock for saftey reasons
Easy way to get into the car and steal the stereo.
All the later models had to have the ignition on before the airbag would deploy.
Cheers
Dave
akean1 路
i heard of a car safety device, not so much anti theft, but anti car jacking. if someone is trying to get in yor car (while you are still in it) you hit a panic button, and gas jets on both sides of the car send a wall of flames to "deter" the attacker. pretty sure this one was banned
WABaja 路
Put a LOCKABLE cover over the inside and outside of your fuse box...
My uncle used to remove the dizzy rotor when ever he parked the car...
a mate of mine chains his car down to his garage floor with a Huge chain that was set in the concrete when they poured the pad and used a giant, very good quality padlock... He wraps the chain around the diff, so if they get the keys and find the kill switches and then still manage to get it started they have to get underneath and unchain it first...:cussing
boersch 路
Does this mate of yours drive a ferrari?? :o:o
oval TOFU 路
It would be a bitch if they didnt notice it and try to drive off.. and leave the diff behind... ouch!
barls 路
there is the next step up on the coil and its called the car tazar it will shoot a blue spark up to a foot. kind of illegal in the country of ours but effective