Sensitive question - theft deterrent (1 Viewer)

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Joined
Apr 21, 2019
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Location
Nosara, Costa Rica
Website
www.highlineoutdoor.com
Has anyone had their theft deterrent/engine demobilizer compromised? Land Cruisers get stolen frequently where I live, almost on a weekly basis. I have a 06 LX and other than The Club, the only other prevention is the native anti-theft system.

I'm exploring GPS tracking with an app-enabled kill switch. But it will take some time to source and have installed down here.
 
I didn't think these were stolen all that often. How are they stealing them? Don't you need to trick the ECU into thinking an immobilizer fob is in the ignition?

Finding out how they're being stolen will help determine how to stop it. A kill switch is fine if they're jumping in and driving away, but it won't help if the thieves show up with a trailer and just winch it onto the trailer and take off...
 
I didn't think these were stolen all that often. How are they stealing them? Don't you need to trick the ECU into thinking an immobilizer fob is in the ignition?

Finding out how they're being stolen will help determine how to stop it. A kill switch is fine if they're jumping in and driving away, but it won't help if the thieves show up with a trailer and just winch it onto the trailer and take off...

Not many options if they showup with a trailer like that unfortunately. One option that I've seen used on the Pirate4x4 boards is a hydraulic brake lock... obviously, if you hide it, it would become much more difficult to drag the thing onto a trailer.

I setup an immobilizer in my old 4runner.. pretty simple circuit that required a momentary switch to be pushed while the engine cranked, and then the after the engine started, the circuit would hold power to the fuel pump relay until the engine shutoff. Very cheap, and pretty reliable.
 
I remember 15 or 20 years ago in Argentina (where I come from) most modern/secure vehicles (the ones with immobilizers) were stolen with a trailer/tow truck, so aftermarket alarm companies started adding inclination sensors on their alarm systems, so when the car was being pulled into the trailer the alarm blasts off.
 
I didn't think these were stolen all that often. How are they stealing them? Don't you need to trick the ECU into thinking an immobilizer fob is in the ignition?

Finding out how they're being stolen will help determine how to stop it. A kill switch is fine if they're jumping in and driving away, but it won't help if the thieves show up with a trailer and just winch it onto the trailer and take off...

My friend's LX570 was stolen from his driveway a few months ago in California. Police found it at a parking lot with no damage. Police told him the thief has the electronic to bypass immobilizer.
 
For years 1998-2002 there isn't any way past the immobilizer. On the later years the immobilizer can be reset onboard and is fairly simple to do.
 
I didn't think these were stolen all that often. How are they stealing them? Don't you need to trick the ECU into thinking an immobilizer fob is in the ignition?

Finding out how they're being stolen will help determine how to stop it. A kill switch is fine if they're jumping in and driving away, but it won't help if the thieves show up with a trailer and just winch it onto the trailer and take off...
Sophisticated, every way
 
Sophisticated, every way

I'd go hidden kill switch(es) if they're not trailer-ing the rigs away. Two hidden switches should make it real hard to make a quick get-away.

The two way pager Viper alarms are also pretty damn good. I had one on one of my past Supras and that system was great. 1/2 mile range (now available with infinite range with a cell modem) and reliable. $500-1000 installed and you should have some of the best anti-theft stuff out there.
 
Resurrecting this one, as I'm preparing for a (tentative, but looking likely) year-long trip in Europe with the 100, and people have raised theft as a possible issue.

I do like this suggestion, as it requires cutting no factory wires, but which fuses could it go on? The main IGN fuse appears to be under the hood, which would either mean opening the hood to activate/inactivate the switch, or running wires out of the fuse compartment and through the firewall, which I'd like to avoid doing. I do see a number of IGN-related fuses in the interior panels . . . any thoughts on whether any of the interior ones would be good for putting the kill switch on?
 

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