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Preventing a theft
Posted: Sat May 02, 2009 8:32 am
by a-kjw
A tip I can pass on that I have used for years on a Morris and an MG. It could be used on any car with an electric fuel pump.
Sorry to have to edit this but you dont know who is reading the postings.
Kevin
If the car is stolen the car will start OK because there is fuel in the line but will only run for a few hundred yards or so and then run out of fuel.
Its unlikely that the thief will spend much time trying to restart a car that is obviously not going to start.
Total cost? Less than a fiver.
Posted: Sat May 02, 2009 10:40 am
by bmcecosse
Err -it's been suggested many many many many times in the past! And I had this on my Minor 45 years ago!
Not usually on the earth connection though! Seems a bit obvious since the connection will show under the bonnet.
Posted: Sat May 02, 2009 11:24 am
by Peetee
Nevertheless, always worth a reminder as there have
been a lot of new posters recently.
Posted: Sat May 02, 2009 11:47 pm
by toginthemog
I found my live feed at the back of the glove box so it does'nt show if you do do it
Posted: Sun May 03, 2009 12:13 am
by PSL184
Is it really wise to tell everyone on a public forum our secrets???
Posted: Sun May 03, 2009 11:51 am
by mickessex
The best way is to just connect the steering wheel to the mains supply

Guaranteed to prevent your minor from going missing
Mick
p.s. This is a joke
DON'T DO IT!
Posted: Sun May 03, 2009 1:11 pm
by aupickup
just conneveted it up
came in for a bite to eat, went out and forgot to unplug the wheel
now i have STRAIGHT hair

Posted: Sun May 03, 2009 8:44 pm
by Dryad
Well here's an idea for a cheapo tracking device that I plan to use; get a cheap mobile phone, one which goes for a couple of weeks before needing recharge. Set the phone to silent mode. Register it with one of the many mobile tracking companies such as
http://www.followus.co.uk/home.html and then hide the phone in your car somewhere. If it gets stolen you can find out where it is to an accuracy of 50m for just £11.99. You just have to make sure you recharge the phone every couple of weeks.
Posted: Sun May 03, 2009 10:39 pm
by bmcecosse
I bet you soon forget to recharge the phone! Unless - it can be left on permanent charge from the car battery ? Seems a good way to keep 'track' of much more expensive cars too! It's such a good idea I'm surprised none of the manufacturers have built such a device into their cars from new!
Posted: Sun May 03, 2009 10:52 pm
by PSL184
^^^ They do and it works via GPS...
Posted: Sun May 03, 2009 10:55 pm
by bmcecosse
Aye - but not in 'run of the mill' cars - do they ?? Telephone cross ref may be better - GPS is fooled if it can't 'see the sky' - ie covered car park etc - even inside a domestic garage !
Posted: Sun May 03, 2009 11:01 pm
by PSL184
Yep - usually found on high end Mercs, Jags BMW's etc....
Posted: Mon May 04, 2009 3:31 pm
by bmcecosse
Oh well - nothing that will trouble me then !
Posted: Mon May 04, 2009 3:52 pm
by d_harris
Dryad wrote:Well here's an idea for a cheapo tracking device that I plan to use; get a cheap mobile phone, one which goes for a couple of weeks before needing recharge. Set the phone to silent mode. Register it with one of the many mobile tracking companies such as
http://www.followus.co.uk/home.html and then hide the phone in your car somewhere. If it gets stolen you can find out where it is to an accuracy of 50m for just £11.99. You just have to make sure you recharge the phone every couple of weeks.
Problem is that unless you have a contract phone then the mobile company will require that you spend some money on it every x amount of days.... it wouldn't be too hard to set up a permanent charger in the car mind....
Posted: Mon May 04, 2009 4:37 pm
by bmcecosse
My phone is pay as you go - and I haven't topped it up for almost a year! It's only ever used about once every two or three months - and then just for a few seconds.
Posted: Mon May 04, 2009 4:41 pm
by LouiseM
My phone is pay as you go - and I haven't topped it up for almost a year! It's only ever used about once every two or three months - and then just for a few seconds.
How very frugal

Posted: Mon May 04, 2009 4:57 pm
by Dryad
It depends on your network. Vodafone will shut down your number if you haven't topped up for three months, whereas Orange seem happy to keep your number going forever. I've had mine for ten years on Orange and only ever top it up about once a year - if that.
Posted: Mon May 04, 2009 5:25 pm
by d_harris
bmcecosse wrote:My phone is pay as you go - and I haven't topped it up for almost a year! It's only ever used about once every two or three months - and then just for a few seconds.
for most networks you have to use it at least once in every 60 or 90 days...
Posted: Tue Sep 01, 2009 2:14 pm
by hornmeister2000
I was once accosted by an elderly gentleman whilst reading Minor Matters on a train. He gave me a lecture about how a Minor wasn't a proper classic as it was too new...! Anyway, he gave me a good anti-theft tip: when you leave the car, take the rotor arm with you.
If only my dizzy cap wasn't so filthy...

Posted: Tue Sep 01, 2009 3:23 pm
by grumpygrandad
surely not a man of few words then,, grandad