Honda Car Forum

Aside from the obvious .... getting rid of the car ... or moving to a
new neighborhood. I don't even live in a bad area but twice in the
last month someone has tried to take my 94 Integra GSR.

Both time the alarm has gone off at 4AM. The first time I went out and
the hood was popped but still clasped. I wasn't sure what happened.
Last night the alarm went off again at 4AM and I figured that
something might be wrong with the electrical system. But this morning
I went out and the window channel knob on the outside of the door
frame had been broken and twisted until the window was pried out of
the channel leaving a slight opening. The plastic around the steering
wheel is completely busted. I'm not sure if there's any significant
damage yet.

The car still turns over. I called the police and filed a report but
I'm not hopeful of anything. Apparently they are trying to investigate
a "ring that's stealing acuras and hondas". He implied that it might
just be for parts.

I have a factory alarm. I can put "the club" on but I imagine that's
not going to stop anyone. For now I'm just going to park it at
friend's house behind their car in the driveway. But for the long term
is there anything I can do to keep the car from getting stolen? Is
there a better "club" device that I should use? Lojack? This seems
silly for a 10 year old car with 140K miles on it...

Thanks!

imbalzan2@yahoo.com (mike) wrote in
news:795f2067.0402251059.7f5fe5b8@posting.google.c om:

> Aside from the obvious .... getting rid of the car ... or moving to a
> new neighborhood. I don't even live in a bad area but twice in the
> last month someone has tried to take my 94 Integra GSR.
>
> Both time the alarm has gone off at 4AM. The first time I went out and
> the hood was popped but still clasped. I wasn't sure what happened.
> Last night the alarm went off again at 4AM and I figured that
> something might be wrong with the electrical system. But this morning
> I went out and the window channel knob on the outside of the door
> frame had been broken and twisted until the window was pried out of
> the channel leaving a slight opening. The plastic around the steering
> wheel is completely busted. I'm not sure if there's any significant
> damage yet.

Those guys must be incompetent;my 94 GSR was slim-jimmed open.I didn't even
notice anything until I tried to unlock the door,it was already unlocked,
and saw the ECU gone,and the cables hanging down,the kick panel missing.I
wonder how your hood got popped open without entering the car?
>
> The car still turns over. I called the police and filed a report but
> I'm not hopeful of anything. Apparently they are trying to investigate
> a "ring that's stealing acuras and hondas". He implied that it might
> just be for parts.
>
> I have a factory alarm. I can put "the club" on but I imagine that's
> not going to stop anyone. For now I'm just going to park it at
> friend's house behind their car in the driveway. But for the long term
> is there anything I can do to keep the car from getting stolen? Is
> there a better "club" device that I should use? Lojack? This seems
> silly for a 10 year old car with 140K miles on it...
>
> Thanks!
>

Well,I had the EFI control module (ECU)stolen from my 94 GSR,and it took *6
weeks* to get a new one. The car doesn't run without it.I've also heard of
a GSR on a dealer's lot having the entire motor/tranny package stolen out
of it,right on the dealer lot.Air bags are expensive,so stealing them is
very profitable. Thieves have also stolen the Acura badges off the rear of
my car,scratching the paint in the process.Acura parts are expensive,that's
why the thievery.

Maybe you need one of those microwave proximity sensors that make the alarm
chirp when someone gets close to the car.Most alarms have provisions for
extra sensors.
Ideally,I'd like a silent,paging alarm,so I could go out and shoot the MFs.

What "factory alarm" came with the 94 Integras? None that I know of.



--
Jim Yanik
jyanik-at-kua.net

MY roomie got her GSR stolen in Vegas over the New Years holiday. The
yfound it days later totally stripped, right down to the dashboard. The
only thing left was the frame.
"mike" <imbalzan2@yahoo.com> wrote in message
news:795f2067.0402251059.7f5fe5b8@posting.google.c om...
> Aside from the obvious .... getting rid of the car ... or moving to a
> new neighborhood. I don't even live in a bad area but twice in the
> last month someone has tried to take my 94 Integra GSR.
>
> Both time the alarm has gone off at 4AM. The first time I went out and
> the hood was popped but still clasped. I wasn't sure what happened.
> Last night the alarm went off again at 4AM and I figured that
> something might be wrong with the electrical system. But this morning
> I went out and the window channel knob on the outside of the door
> frame had been broken and twisted until the window was pried out of
> the channel leaving a slight opening. The plastic around the steering
> wheel is completely busted. I'm not sure if there's any significant
> damage yet.
>
> The car still turns over. I called the police and filed a report but
> I'm not hopeful of anything. Apparently they are trying to investigate
> a "ring that's stealing acuras and hondas". He implied that it might
> just be for parts.
>
> I have a factory alarm. I can put "the club" on but I imagine that's
> not going to stop anyone. For now I'm just going to park it at
> friend's house behind their car in the driveway. But for the long term
> is there anything I can do to keep the car from getting stolen? Is
> there a better "club" device that I should use? Lojack? This seems
> silly for a 10 year old car with 140K miles on it...
>
> Thanks!

Be cautious.
Back in 1996, I had my 94 Integra broken into. Door lock was damaged.
Although I usually used the "club", that time I neglected to use it.
I replaced the broken door lock.
One week later, again, I neglected to use the "club" because it was
mid-afternoon in a heavily traveled area. The car was stolen. Never
recoevered.

SKIP wrote:
> MY roomie got her GSR stolen in Vegas over the New Years holiday. The
> yfound it days later totally stripped, right down to the dashboard. The
> only thing left was the frame.
> "mike" <imbalzan2@yahoo.com> wrote in message
> news:795f2067.0402251059.7f5fe5b8@posting.google.c om...
>
>>Aside from the obvious .... getting rid of the car ... or moving to a
>>new neighborhood. I don't even live in a bad area but twice in the
>>last month someone has tried to take my 94 Integra GSR.
>>
>>Both time the alarm has gone off at 4AM. The first time I went out and
>>the hood was popped but still clasped. I wasn't sure what happened.
>>Last night the alarm went off again at 4AM and I figured that
>>something might be wrong with the electrical system. But this morning
>>I went out and the window channel knob on the outside of the door
>>frame had been broken and twisted until the window was pried out of
>>the channel leaving a slight opening. The plastic around the steering
>>wheel is completely busted. I'm not sure if there's any significant
>>damage yet.
>>
>>The car still turns over. I called the police and filed a report but
>>I'm not hopeful of anything. Apparently they are trying to investigate
>>a "ring that's stealing acuras and hondas". He implied that it might
>>just be for parts.
>>
>>I have a factory alarm. I can put "the club" on but I imagine that's
>>not going to stop anyone. For now I'm just going to park it at
>>friend's house behind their car in the driveway. But for the long term
>>is there anything I can do to keep the car from getting stolen? Is
>>there a better "club" device that I should use? Lojack? This seems
>>silly for a 10 year old car with 140K miles on it...
>>
>>Thanks!
>
>
>

From the FAQ:

How can I prevent my car from being stolen?

You can't! If somebody really wants it, they'll steal it!

But you can adjust the odds in your favour in a variety of ways. I'll list
these in increasing order of cost. You can implement some or all according
to the health of your pocketbook.

1. Install a hidden switch in your fuel pump line. Not hard to do, costs
only a buck or so for a switch from Radio Shack and a yard or so of wire.
But you have to remember to turn it off when you park the car and on again
before you start it.

2. A relay in the fuel pump and starter solenoid coil lines operated
automatically by a little keypad device. I've seen these for $10 or so at
electronic parts stores.

3. A brake/clutch locking device like this one. Forget about The Club or
similar steering wheel devices. They're a joke.

4. A factory alarm system

5. An aftermarket alarm system. Clifford recommended.

6 Lojak the crème de la crème of car alarms. The cops can track down your
stolen car by radio direction finding! They can get into a high speed chase
and use PIT maneuvers on your expensive fenders!

Get an LED, or if your car has one already replace it for a bigger and
brighter one. I have a 2000 GS-R with an aftermarket alarm system and I have
replaced the alarm's LED for a very cool looking (bright blue) one fron
Radio Shack. I have never had any theft problems with this car so far.


"mike" <imbalzan2@yahoo.com> wrote in message
news:795f2067.0402251059.7f5fe5b8@posting.google.c om...
> Aside from the obvious .... getting rid of the car ... or moving to a
> new neighborhood. I don't even live in a bad area but twice in the
> last month someone has tried to take my 94 Integra GSR.
>
> Both time the alarm has gone off at 4AM. The first time I went out and
> the hood was popped but still clasped. I wasn't sure what happened.
> Last night the alarm went off again at 4AM and I figured that
> something might be wrong with the electrical system. But this morning
> I went out and the window channel knob on the outside of the door
> frame had been broken and twisted until the window was pried out of
> the channel leaving a slight opening. The plastic around the steering
> wheel is completely busted. I'm not sure if there's any significant
> damage yet.
>
> The car still turns over. I called the police and filed a report but
> I'm not hopeful of anything. Apparently they are trying to investigate
> a "ring that's stealing acuras and hondas". He implied that it might
> just be for parts.
>
> I have a factory alarm. I can put "the club" on but I imagine that's
> not going to stop anyone. For now I'm just going to park it at
> friend's house behind their car in the driveway. But for the long term
> is there anything I can do to keep the car from getting stolen? Is
> there a better "club" device that I should use? Lojack? This seems
> silly for a 10 year old car with 140K miles on it...
>
> Thanks!

In article <EIg0c.11593$0l1.5567@bignews3.bellsouth.net>, Sonoman
<nospam@microsoft.com> wrote:

> Get an LED, or if your car has one already replace it for a bigger and
> brighter one. I have a 2000 GS-R with an aftermarket alarm system and I have
> replaced the alarm's LED for a very cool looking (bright blue) one fron
> Radio Shack. I have never had any theft problems with this car so far.
>


I found that noise and immobilization are the two key factors. Making
enough noise for people around the vehicle to hear used to work but now
days nobody cares. You need to make enough noise that the punks/pros
are uncomfortable in your car. I put an old dual horn from a Delta88
under my dash behind the head unit and another siren in the hatch as
well as 2 under the hood (one of the ones under the hood has it's own
battery that charges off the alt).

Another idea is to use coaxial cable to supply power to some of your
sensors. If the wire is cut, the inner sheath will usually ground
itself to the main copper and complete the circuit (this can be wired
to set off a backup horn, etc.). If you have the time, put some
strobes in your interior or brake lights (these will draw some
attention in the middle of the night). I put one in my dome light and
2 in my tails - they're bright enough to call some serious attention to
the situation.

If you take an old module such as door lock, DRL, or cruise and rip the
innards out, you can actually mount the brain of your alarm inside it.
This will make your alarm look like an OEM module.

Another suggestion would be to avoid alarms that have an 'onboard light
flash'. EIther avoid the design or don't use the feature. You can
also put reams of mastic sound deadening material around it. The
reason is that punks will listen for the location of the brain (trust
me). Hide that damn brain, disconnect your siren and set off the
alarm... can you 'hear' the brain anywhere?? no? You're on the right
track.

As mentioned previously, you can also inturrupt either the starter, EFI
system or ECU. I would use the EFI (fuel pump in particular). Be
carefull though because a cold solder joint on that switch will be a
bear to handle when you loose power going up a hill on a highway.

The best thing you can do is to make your car look completely stock and
get good insurance. If you are going to have a professional install
your alarm system, keep in mind that the install is everything. I
would take a crappy alarm installed by a seasoned installer over a top
end system tossed in by a hack.



HTH
Andrew.
aka neex.

Your hood was opened by pulling down the fenderliner on the drivers side and
yanking on the cable, maybe its time to re-route it..heres a good how-to for
fuel cutoff switch and hood cable relocation :

http://www.team-integra.net/sections...ArticleID=732&
search=hood+cable
http://www.team-integra.net/forum/di...rumID=13&Topic
ID=11658





mike <imbalzan2@yahoo.com> wrote in message
news:795f2067.0402251059.7f5fe5b8@posting.google.c om...
> Aside from the obvious .... getting rid of the car ... or moving to a
> new neighborhood. I don't even live in a bad area but twice in the
> last month someone has tried to take my 94 Integra GSR.
>
> Both time the alarm has gone off at 4AM. The first time I went out and
> the hood was popped but still clasped. I wasn't sure what happened.
> Last night the alarm went off again at 4AM and I figured that
> something might be wrong with the electrical system. But this morning
> I went out and the window channel knob on the outside of the door
> frame had been broken and twisted until the window was pried out of
> the channel leaving a slight opening. The plastic around the steering
> wheel is completely busted. I'm not sure if there's any significant
> damage yet.
>
> The car still turns over. I called the police and filed a report but
> I'm not hopeful of anything. Apparently they are trying to investigate
> a "ring that's stealing acuras and hondas". He implied that it might
> just be for parts.
>
> I have a factory alarm. I can put "the club" on but I imagine that's
> not going to stop anyone. For now I'm just going to park it at
> friend's house behind their car in the driveway. But for the long term
> is there anything I can do to keep the car from getting stolen? Is
> there a better "club" device that I should use? Lojack? This seems
> silly for a 10 year old car with 140K miles on it...
>
> Thanks!

"JP" <jpowellspam@echoes.net> wrote in
news:c1vsvr02fd1@enews1.newsguy.com:

> Your hood was opened by pulling down the fenderliner on the drivers
> side and yanking on the cable, maybe its time to re-route it..heres a
> good how-to for fuel cutoff switch and hood cable relocation :
>
> http://www.team-integra.net/sections....asp?ArticleID
> =732& search=hood+cable
> http://www.team-integra.net/forum/di...sp?ForumID=13&
> Topic ID=11658


Or you could install an alarm pin-switch for the hood.
Although the alarm's motion sensor should trigger if the hood is released.


--
Jim Yanik
jyanik-at-kua.net

mike wrote:
> Aside from the obvious .... getting rid of the car ... or moving to a
> new neighborhood. I don't even live in a bad area but twice in the
> last month someone has tried to take my 94 Integra GSR.
>
> Both time the alarm has gone off at 4AM. The first time I went out and
> the hood was popped but still clasped. I wasn't sure what happened.
> Last night the alarm went off again at 4AM and I figured that
> something might be wrong with the electrical system. But this morning
> I went out and the window channel knob on the outside of the door
> frame had been broken and twisted until the window was pried out of
> the channel leaving a slight opening. The plastic around the steering
> wheel is completely busted. I'm not sure if there's any significant
> damage yet.
>
> The car still turns over. I called the police and filed a report but
> I'm not hopeful of anything. Apparently they are trying to investigate
> a "ring that's stealing acuras and hondas". He implied that it might
> just be for parts.
>
> I have a factory alarm. I can put "the club" on but I imagine that's
> not going to stop anyone. For now I'm just going to park it at
> friend's house behind their car in the driveway. But for the long term
> is there anything I can do to keep the car from getting stolen? Is
> there a better "club" device that I should use? Lojack? This seems
> silly for a 10 year old car with 140K miles on it...
>
..357 magnum?? <eg>