Car security

[brett]

I've been thinking about buying a Disclok, the big yellow or silver steering wheel lock that covers the whole steering wheel. I need to measure the diameter of the wheel first as they only do them in certain sizes.
My only concerns are how close my steering wheel is to the windscreen and if it would actually do a lot seeing as there's no steering lock.
Does anyone have any experiences with Disclok's on Minors ?

[ASL642]

I think from memory 42cm fits the standard size Minor steering wheel. Not cheap but a very good deterrent and very visible from outside the car. Many member's have fitted them to their cars.

[irmscher]

Line the inside with something soft

[alexmcguffie]

Theres some interesting videos on the internet of how to remove a DiscLok in seconds.... Good as a visible deterent but if someone wants it, they'll have it! Often best to come up with your own solution that nobody knows about.

[MarkyB]

All the videos I could see were for removing the locks from motor bike discs, couldn't see any about those big steering wheel locks.

[alexmcguffie]

I found a few, obviously not going to post links though

[alainmoran]

Do not, whatever you do buy a steering wheel lock ... I used to have one on my MG-TD (VW kit car) and all that happened was that the 'person' used it as a lever to destroy the steering wheel

Your best bet is to do some rewiring, I've found that combining a relay with the main power (so that you have to hold a hidden button in as you switch on the ignition), along with a separate switch to disable the fuel pump (even if they find the first switch, or hotwire it they'll only get 100yds before it conks out) is a fairly good measure.

There are plenty of places to hide switches, some even in plain sight (ie: they have another purpose as well), so nobody but you will know how to start your car ;)

[brett]

Yeah, I thought there may be a few negative thoughts about the Disklok. My biggest concern was how close the wheel is to the screen, Disklok's are very heavy and all it would take to break the screen would be to apply or remove it in a rush !
The car's garaged and I hardly drive anywhere anyway so I suppose a couple of hidden switches for the fuel pump and the coil would do.

I did come up with a thought though. I've no idea if it's been done before or not but here goes. I want to keep my car as original as possible and that obviously includes it's positive earth electrical system, so no modern car alarm then.
Well maybe not, my idea is to have another battery, not connected to the car's electrics, maybe in the boot, just to run a car alarm. It could be removed and charged as necessary. Also doing it this way there would be no connections from the car alarm into the car's wiring loom and it could all be easily removed if needed.

Just a thought and I await your reply's informing me why this can't be done or wouldn't work !

[alexmcguffie]

Hi Brett,

Good thinking on the seperate battery idea, a thief would never know it was there, hidden under the boot boards. You could have a switch to connect it to the main battery to charge it occasionally when the car is running.

If you picked a modern alarm that didn't need any 'chassis' earth points then you could fit it and still keep the car positive earth.

[MsRose]

I'm having a tracker fitted to mine.

At least if someone takes it, I'll receive a text message the minute it moves and can track it, and hopefully retrieve it.

I've posted about it in the general section if anyone is looking to have one fitted.