Security System
 

Trying to figure out what is the best security system to install. Kill switch sounds good but wondering what systems you all have done to yours. I've seen a kill switch under the shift boot which seems like a pretty easy install. But not sure if that is a common thing or not. Any thoughts here.

Thanks,
ElzWhere

The car already has an immobilizer so not sure a kill switch is helping much (unless someone stole your keys).

Immobilizer plus the stick shift are powerful devices against theft of the whole car short of a rollback truck. Assuming you garage the car and don't park on the street or an apartment parking lot overnight. If you're have to park in a lot use a different parking spot frequently that's not visible from the road. Find a secure parking place. LoJack is always an option but Seattle doesn't think a police force is necessary and what's left of it is unlikely any spare resources to put emphasis on recovering an old Honda. Also keep in mind everyone has a small friend who can easily open a convertible -- "Stanley the Knife."

When in doubt park near more desirable cars. :)

-- Chuck

If they can beat the immobilizer they can definitely beat a relay and switch.

Only reason to install a system would be for two way remotes so you know it's being messed with IMO.

Yep, that is really about it or one that actually tracks and sends location. But these days, good luck getting cops in most cities to go after a stolen car.

One thing I dont do is lock the doors. Nothing they steal inside the car is worth as much as the soft top they will cut open to get in there!

Used to be that people stole the seats all the time as they will bolt into lots of other hondas and they were very expensive, but less of a thing these days. Previous owner put the locking bolts on mine.

But any serious thief is going to just tow it off anyways, lots more of that going around. Mine is garaged, even though I live in a super low crime area outside the city limits. And I have Hagerty insurance so I at least know I will get a good payout if it is stolen! Honestly, an agreed upon value insurance policy like that is probably a better investment than an alarm these days.

Have you ever heard of a situation where alarm prevented a theft? Few and far between.

Have you ever heard od a situation where false alarms so annoying, forced to stop using alarm? Plentiful.

Alarms aren't especially effective for the hassle they create.

If someone does take the car, there is no tracking to get it back. Bypass alarm, or car jack you, etc.

LoJack isn't a tracking system. More like apple tag, that only works if a cop with LoJack reader droves close enough to stolen vehicle to pickup its alert. Then they have to be willing to take action right then.

I prefer a self installed tracking system, with a self contained backup power source. That lets you track vehicle location with an app. Many of these systems also have remote killswitch ability.

Wait until you're close, and car is exposed location, kill it, retrieve it.

Carjack, let them get down the road, kill it. They'll disperse, retrieve car.

These systems either require a monthly monitoring fee, or a cell sim chip. I prefer the cell chip, as you can control monthly costs, not tied to specific vendor, no worries their service sucks or they go under.

These systems don't have to integrate as tightly with so many parts of the vehicle to be effective. No nest of wires.

Just needs a power source, which is easy on our cars, a good hiding spot, which we have plenty, and if using kill switch capabilities, a tap into, say, fuel pump wiring. One simple splice.

I'd also put a decoy apple tag or tile in easy to find place, so they stop looking further.

Remember you're not trying to make the kill switch impossible to find and bypass, you'll only trigger it when they don't have time to look for it.

If they car jacked you, Police will have more incentive to be involved in the takedown. So less worry about confronting armed bandits when car dies.

LOL this reminded me of when I lived in a dorm years ago. The dorm was U shaped and there was no parking inside that area as it was for access for trash trucks and cafeteria deliveries. Some d bag kept parking his car in there right by the back door and pretty much half on the sidewalk. And had a super touchy alarm that kept going off over and over. One night, I hear the alarm as usual then I start hearing pop pop pop pop ..... I look out the window to see paintballs splattering all over the car. Someone on the 3rd floor just rained paintball hell down on it from hood to trunk. Oddly enough, never saw him park there again

At work, there was this car whose alarm was so sensitive that a motorcycle passing by could activate it. At the start of the shift, I heard this loud alarm (at 98dB) continuously blaring. Twelve hours later, when heading home, I heard the same alarm, like at 50dB, still going off.

Guess it was AAA time for that owner. :)

I parked next to a new car in a mall parking lot and as I walked by it the horn started tooting and an automated voice notified me to "stand away" from the car. Got back in my car and parked it closer...

-- Chuck

yeah I remember when the talking viper alarms were all the rage in the early 90's. People set them super sensitive cause they thought it was a flex for people to hear them. I just drove old worn out cars in HS so that was my alarm ... no one wanted to steal it. Kinda like the Chameleon XLE from SNL :D