Morris Minor Owners Club

I'm worried about parking the Moggy in public car parks with its limited security features, especially in the warm weather when you want to leave the windows open to keep it cool.

Can you get a steering wheel lock that will fit onto the thin origional Moggy 1000 steering wheel like the ones you can get for modern steering wheels.

I tried using my sisters steering lock only to find it became more of a hazard than a security measure, and kept making myself jump as it kept hitting the horn!!!

Does anybody know if you can find/buy this sort of thing, I'm guessing you can't just nip to Halfords!

I have seen many people use gearstick - handbrake locks. These are highly visible from outside of the vehicle which puts off any wouldbe thief. There are many available either from high street shops or online - all of which will fit the Minor. I would not recommend that you leave any windows open - ever. Just wind down all the windows when you return to the car, it'll soon cool and saves the heartbreak of getting back to an empty parking space!

ive got a battery cut out.its basically a new battery terminal that you attatch to the earth lead.when you leave the the car you open the bommet undoo the screw.that leaves your battery disconnected.then close bonnet.there is a small by pass wire that keeps enough power to keep the radio memory going.you could wire in a switch to the fuel pump hide it in the car some where.that way if someone steals your car they only get a few yards down the road.or really easy take the rotor arm out.

I've got a cheapo steering wheel lock (£9 from Wilko's) which does the job - according to my insurers it counts as a security device, even though it's rubbish.

It is, however, vibrant yellow and clearly seen from outside the car.

For security's sake, always lock the doors and boot, and always close the windows and quarterlights TIGHT shut.

Have a look on eBay for a disklock but make sure you buy a MEDIUM as the standard small size for the modern cars doesn't fit. No horn pressing either.

I'm afraid that even with locked doors and shut windows it would take anyone familiar with the cars all of 3 seconds to get in, and about 20 seconds to be driving away I won't go into details in a public forum - don't want to give ideas to bad people!

As a deterrent, fit highly visible steering wheel or handbrake/gear-lever locks as described above. These will slow down the process of nicking your car. Also fit an alarm with visible warning stickers, and ensure that anything tempting is out of sight - stereo: remove the panel when leaving the car, shopping etc: put in the boot.

You cannot stop a determined thief stealing to order, but can deter casual thieves, and make them walk on to an easier target. Druggies and drunkards won't know what they're doing and so are just as likely to smash a window whilst the alarm is going.

You could consider a tracker device to find the car if it is stolen, but these are not foolproof and can be expensive. The good news is that overall the risk of theft is still quite small, but don't make it easy for the swine.

also you can use a "DNA" security marking kit - invisible microdots which you stick to the car in a number of places, making it easy for the police to identify the car if it is found. I'm using SelectaDNA. You get stickers to put in the car windows warning thieves to move along.

The best plan is probably a combination of lots of different security devices, ranging from visible deterrents through physical immobilisers to trackers and DNA and suchlike.

And not leaving windows open (unless you have a dog, of course!)

I wish I could think of a way to wire the battery live to the door handles/steering wheel/handbrake

wibble

Also, etch the registration number onto the windows. It's done by sandblasting through a mask of the correct letters. Many windscreen depots do it for free - ask local Police Crime Prevention (Reduction these days) Officer for likely places. If all the glass is done then it's expensive to replace.

A friend of mine kept having his large oblong shaped headlights nicked from his Mercedes. He was quite good at electronics and managed to put a charge to the body to 'discourage' those concerned. He was nicked for it!

A shame he wasn't *bad* at electronics, causing a loose wire to have that effect when he re-fitted the lights the last time...

On moggies I,ve seen a bar that clamped around the clutch and brake pedal shafts which stopped them being depressed, looked a bit homemade but I would think it wrks a treat.

How about a quick release steering wheel boss (Mr Bean) ?
http://www.ksport.co.uk/products.asp?f=quick-release
This is what I'm going to do to my Land Rover.

Paul Humphries

I've adapted a quick release boss to have a remove-able wheel but it doesn't look as good as the one above. Plus I use a Mountney wheel - the original wouldn't easily adapt.

Funnily enough I got the Mountney from a Land Rover place (Paddocks or Craddocks can't remember which) who were selling them really cheap at the time.

I wouldn't want to have to take the steering wheel with me any time I park somewhere slightly dubious. I can see you getting some funny looks if you walk into the theatre or a fancy restaurant carrying a Minor steering wheel!

Yup the other disadvantage is heading out of the house and forgetting to bring the steering wheel with.

dp wrote:Yup the other disadvantage is heading out of the house and forgetting to bring the steering wheel with.

With the Land Rover I was going to make a secure anchor point in back that I could then padlock the wheel when removed.
No reason why an anchor point couldn't be made on Minor, say, under drivers seat or in boot.

Paul Humphries

You need to keep it on your keyring ;)

alex_holden wrote:I wouldn't want to have to take the steering wheel with me any time I park somewhere slightly dubious. I can see you getting some funny looks if you walk into the theatre or a fancy restaurant carrying a Minor steering wheel!

Try taking the rotor arm out when you leave the car that will stop someone driving off with it! and as they are quite hard to find in your local high street shop it makes it a safe bet but don't loose it

Another old favorite is a piece of timber placed under the drivers seat so thats its tipped forward and held in place with a suitable chain and large padlock.

Matt wrote:You need to keep it on your keyring ;)

u'd never loose your keys with a cool key ring like that