hood locks... keep them out of the vitals

[gjcivic]

A hood lock can be a great thing... Its hard to kill a siren if you can't get to the battery or the horn...

its like a dead bolt for your hood... here is a link (not recommending a brand or store, just found this with a quick google...)

http://www.truckpartsproshop.com/hood_lock_starter_cut_out_systems.html


these are fairly cheap, and do wonders for keeping bad guys out of the engine bay... If the brain for your alarm system is well hidden in the car, it can be very hard to kill power or cut the siren wires without getting under the hood... combine this with a few extra sirens and it will help!

[Mario]

Sorry man, but look at the key... I have one of those for my computer. :D

[gjcivic]

like I said, not recommending any brand or vendor... there are good ones and bad ones... I'm betting that the one you have for your computer isn't the same thing... solex locks are the same locks they use on vending machines, and if your computer key can open those, you could be a pretty wealty man... and do you really think that vending machines are all keyed the same??? that would be WAY too easy...

sorry, try again.......

[gjcivic]

on a side note, most cars are pretty easy to get the hood to pop from outside the car... with out going into a lot of detail, pulling hard on the realease cable will take up the slack and pull the release just like if you where in the car...

the key is to tie the cable up so there is no slack... zip ties will work pretty good, but small pipe clamp are even better...

just try to get it so there isn't any slack available...

[Weston]

Reroute your hood cable through the engine bay so that they can't get to it from outside. It's pretty easy to reroute it on a 3rd gen Integra and I'm told that most Hondas are pretty similar. There's still a vulnerability in some cases, but it'll at least be more secure than it was.

As for the hood lock, has anyone found anything electric that works well?

[gjcivic]

I installed a couple of electric locks, but didn't like them... most recommend that they are connected to lock when the siren triggers... there are cases I can think of when that would be too late. Or the can be connected to lock when the alram is armed...but I don't trust a selinoid that has been turned on and off repeatedly daily for very long... electronics go bad, mechanical locks are more reliable...

I also had a "situation" with my cable lock... I somehow missplaced the keys, and left my lights on... lets just say that it works a little too good sometimes...:(

[Mario]

Originally posted by gjcivic
like I said, not recommending any brand or vendor... there are good ones and bad ones... I'm betting that the one you have for your computer isn't the same thing... solex locks are the same locks they use on vending machines, and if your computer key can open those, you could be a pretty wealty man... and do you really think that vending machines are all keyed the same??? that would be WAY too easy...

sorry, try again.......

Well, the link you gave us.. it has the same set of keys my comptuer does - look REALLY close and you'll see it's nothing more than just a 1 little tiny pin lock. Not trying to down, but I don't want people expecting much out of this. :)

[gjcivic]

actually, it is a seven pin tubular lock... and yes, there are ways to pick it like every other lock in the world, but once again, the idea is to delay and make lots of racket... the lock on your computer is probably a single pin lock, that can be opened with just about any other single pin key... that lock is there to help people prevent other people from using the computer... not a very high security operation... not the same lock that is used on elevators, pay phones, vending machines, arcade games, etc.
yes, they look the same, but are VERY different... with seven pins that must be pushed in at different depths while under tension, not one pin that is pushed in all the way with a paperclip :rolleyes:

[Mario]

I know my computer is a 1 pin lock - and it loooks just like that one - that's all I am saying... if it is more than that, then I take back what I said. :)

[gjcivic]

here is a pic of the same type of key... this one is actualy from a comercial alarm panel (used to install home and business systems to...) notice the difference in depth from the pins (the green arrow points to one, the red to another)...
http://home.bresnan.net/~joryf/key.jpg

little higher security then a 1 pin lock... they actually sell full kits to convert all of your cars locks to tubular locks.. just search for solex locks... they are big in europe, cause they are harder to force.... again, not wanting to go into a lot of detail :)

[Mario]

Ok, I gotcha now - thanks for hte clarification - picture is hard to see, so I made a judgement based on past experience. Cool mod then. :)

[Maverick]

Harley Davidson's use solex locks for the ignition switch.

[black97civicsi]

i have hood locks on my car they are like hood pins but you need a key to open it i love them

[Kwando]

i have hood locks on my car they are like hood pins but you need a key to open it i love them

I'm thinking about getting a set like that...

[CXhatchboy520]

On a side note: If you get an alarm system, go electronic siren, but if you can find a mechanical where you cant jam something into the rotor, go mechanical, mechanical are always louder.

[gjcivic]

mech sirens are sick..... just watch the ears :)