STOLEN Stolen FJ62 - SoCal, Please Keep an Eye Out

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"IMO, the best tech you can get for your desirable vehicle is a cell network based tracking device that is hidden in the vehicle. It needs to alert you when the vehicle is on the move so you know when it's stolen and then you can track it online. I'm working on my own build of such a system for my 80, there is a small monthly cost for a data connection dedicated to the vehicle, but at least if it gets stolen, I have a very good chance of recovering it."

Let us know more about this... Very interesting. Thanks!
 
We're gonna get that sucka, and the cruiser too! Chin up, it's not over yet.
 
Between the O-side, Ramona, 2 San Diego, and IB replies in the last few responses, I'd say SD is well represented in the 'lets get the punkass' department if it goes south. Hope we can help.
 
Its kind of too late for this now, but if you live in the state of California, Oregon, or any other high car theft areas, you need to install a kill switch, and invest in a anti theft or tracking device. Too many of these vehicles are getting stolen-most of which are in California. They are too easy to steal without some sort of prevention. A simple kill switch to the coil wire, starter, or fuel pump would only cost 20 bucks.
 
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Kill switch is a great idea, just make sure to use large enough gauge wiring when you make the run to your switch, I stupidly downsized (it's what I had on the shelf.. 'yeah, this will work..') and it gave me all sorts of gray hair making me think my starting system was whacked.. On my old '83 4x I used an old-school GM floor high beam switch. Mounted it under the carpet so you don't even know it's there, and can just tap it on and off with your foot so no one will know you're setting it.
 
An old F250 I had required the shift lever to be pushed hard towards park in order to start it. No one could start it until I told them how to do it. Kill switches are a great idea, but they need to be well done so that Hotwire methods don't bypass them.
 
You all seen "Mad Max Fury Road" and the setup "Furiosa" had in the war rig. I think it had 6 switches. I guess that's necessary in the world we have inherited. Stay positive,Bro!
 
I always wanted a use a DPDT kill switch with the kill side set to short to ground. That way, if the kill switch is enabled and they try to hot wire the ignition, their hot wire will be shorted and get (very) hot. Might scare off the weaklings.
 
We had a 62 stolen 12 years ago (time flies)

We recovered it 10 days latter in very good shape, matter of fact the wheels were polished.

My local toyota parts guy found it on his way home from work one day...which was amazing, but just shows what a relationship with your parts guy is worth.

We then LoJack ed all the cruisers as well as other measures.

Now those poor car thiefs that stole the 62 did not have a good time, in the end 50+ people were rounded up, 1/2 chop shops were raided,....they stole from the wrong people.....hahahaha.....
 
cruiserpilot said:
This is the best system available from what I've researched. It has failed in Canada, no longer available.
But the technology is the best. If it was available for me in BC I'd have it.
I'm really sorry about this stolen rig, I hope like heck you get it back!

LoJack - Recovery System for Cars, Trucks, Motorcycles, Equipment, Cargo & Laptops - LoJack
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Landpimp said:
We then LoJack ed all the cruisers as well as other measures.
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Hopefully they have gotten better. Back in January 04 we had LoJack early alert installed in our 4Runner when we bought it. Back then the early alert would be set off when the vehicle was moved without the keyfob that came with the system was inside the vehicle. When the battery in the keyfob went dead it would send a message letting you the vehicle had been moved without the fob. Only problem this was about twenty minutes later. At that time at least it only worked in major cities. Live in the Phoenix area and in twenty minutes could be out of the metro and headed south to the border. On the trip to our cabin my left foot was bothered by a hump at the base of the foot rest. Pulled the carpeting to find a black box with LoJack on it. For your protection in case of being carjacked they won't tell where it installed. I called the company to get it moved. I was told the the tech installed it somewhere. When I said the box had LoJack on it her story changed and say they would have it installed somewhere else. I told her not to send the same tech as he was a liar and just mounted the easiest way he could. Of coarse that's tech they sent out. Refuse to have him work on vehicle and made them send someone else. The real kicker was it was sold as a one time cost. After a number of years got a letter trying to get us to buy a service policy. Funny we didn't buy it and even though we have never changed the batteries after that it has never sent a alert again.:hmm: I should give them a call and say I moved my vehicle without the fob and it not sending a alert. Don't think they count someone owning a vehicle this long and having the same phone numbers. The system has been a complete failure and sorry I ever bought it.
 
IBFJ62 said:
"IMO, the best tech you can get for your desirable vehicle is a cell network based tracking device that is hidden in the vehicle. It needs to alert you when the vehicle is on the move so you know when it's stolen and then you can track it online. I'm working on my own build of such a system for my 80, there is a small monthly cost for a data connection dedicated to the vehicle, but at least if it gets stolen, I have a very good chance of recovering it."

Let us know more about this... Very interesting. Thanks!
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Not a bad idea. Living in the Southwest and only a few hours from the Mexican border important find as soon as possible. US Customs is only there to inspect what coming into the country not leaving. I keep my FJ62 in a locked garage now. A kill switch and steering wheel club would help slow someone down. Prior to getting mine into a garage I was looking into getting a shifter from a newer Toyota that require the key be in the ignition and turned on, plus the brake pedal pushed toshift it. Figure since I would doing it for thief reasons would be sure the bypass bottom wouldn't be easy to get to. The shifter in the third generation 2WD 4Runner looks pretty close might be able to modify the lock solenoid into the FJ62 shifter. Even having the wheels turned sharp to one side with a club could help slow someone down. Try to lift the back and tow it away the wheels need to be straight. Removing the club takes more time. On a kill switch I only wire it to prevent the engine from running and let the starter work. Again figure someone might figure something is wrong with the engine and waste some time trying figure that out before searching for a kill switch. Even relocating the hood release isn't a bad idea. But that doesn't take to long to get around. Back in the nineties I was doing some work on my FJ62. Closed the hood with the engine running and went to the driver's door to turn it off. Force of habit I locked the door when I got out. Wife was away with the second set of keys. Without damaging anything I got the hood open and killed the engine and disconnected the battery until my wife got home. Modern vehicles have locking shifters, keys with a chip in them and do not allow you lock you vehicle with the key in the ignition.:doh:
 
cruiserpilot said:
^^bummer, too bad.
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Just one of life's lessons, At the time we only had a two garage with project vehicles in it. DDs were parked in the driveway. That's changed and nothing I have is parked where it's exposed to anyone getting to it. Would have been pissed if it had been stolen. If anything this might help someone ask the right questions to be sure it's capable of doing what they think it will. I figured this would have worked off a satellite. May have been cell towers which had poor coverage twelve years ago compared to today.:meh: GM has had On Star for a long time. Any type of security I would expect to do the same and use satellites and find it anywhere.
 
So I'm wondering, any updates on your truck? Sorry we got off topic with all the security stuff.
I sure hope you get it back in one piece.
 
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