anyone add any security features?

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autotransgression
Posts: 95
Joined: Mon Jan 12, 2015 3:01 pm
Your car is a: 1980 spider 2000
Location: seattle

anyone add any security features?

Post by autotransgression »

the backstory:

i bought a 1978 porsche 911sc exactly one week before my then-wife told me she was pregnant. there is no way (in our financial situation at the time) that i could have justified buying it (even at the fairytale price i did) one week later. well, almost exactly one year later, as i walked out to the car to drive to work one morning, i found an empty spot where the 911 used to be. the officer who came and took my report told me not to worry, that it was just being joyridden, and would be found in a couple days. incredulously, i looked at him and said, 'what? you think this is an accord?' well, i was right. about five weeks later, the passenger compartment of the car was found dumped in a ditch out in the countryside, and the sheriff of that county found me via the VIN. all the tasty bits (front and rear suspension/brakes, engine, and transaxle) had been cut away with a sawsall and cutting torch.

well, i know that a fiat spider is not as high-value a target, but i am still a bit nervous about ever parking it outside. and btw, being divorced, having way more income, and owning a mazda3, i had no difficulty in justifying my spider purchase. :)

my question:

have any of you installed any type of ignition interrupt or something that requires one to press a hidden button in order to start the car? i have seen it done on a couple of porsches and one old ferrari, but don't know the best way to go about it on a spider. if anyone has some advice, i am all ears.

as for recovering the car if it does ever get stolen, i don't want to go into any details about location and wiring, but my old iphone 4s, a dirt-cheap data-only plan via ting wireless, and the 'find my iphone' app on my new phone will give me almost all the info i need. i mean, i certainly have gangster-movie type fantasies of calling up the boys and converging on the garage where my stolen car is, but in reality i would just call the police and meet them there.
- mik
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azruss
Posts: 3659
Joined: Sun May 30, 2010 12:24 pm
Your car is a: 80 Fiat 2000 FI

Re: anyone add any security features?

Post by azruss »

I have two. a battery switch in the trunk and a switch spliced into the electric fuel pump power tucked away in the interior. the fuel pump switch i use anytime i leave the car in a parking lot or at a car show. I'm always forgetting to turn it back on. the car runs for about 10 sec. before dying.
autotransgression
Posts: 95
Joined: Mon Jan 12, 2015 3:01 pm
Your car is a: 1980 spider 2000
Location: seattle

Re: anyone add any security features?

Post by autotransgression »

azruss wrote:I have two. a battery switch in the trunk and a switch spliced into the electric fuel pump power tucked away in the interior. the fuel pump switch i use anytime i leave the car in a parking lot or at a car show. I'm always forgetting to turn it back on. the car runs for about 10 sec. before dying.
awesome. thank you. that is exactly the type of thing i was looking for. fuel pump makes perfect sense.

this weekend's project is chosen.
- mik
CajunMike
Posts: 313
Joined: Sat Dec 27, 2008 12:44 am
Your car is a: 1979 Fiat Spider

Re: anyone add any security features?

Post by CajunMike »

I used to leave the doors unlocked and the keys on the seat and carried extra insurance and low deductible. :) No takers.
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81SPIDERMATT
Posts: 1239
Joined: Mon Oct 11, 2010 5:10 pm
Your car is a: 1981 spider 2000
Location: FORT COLLINS, CO

Re: anyone add any security features?

Post by 81SPIDERMATT »

there are devices now available if you are hiding a phone you can hook up to it and shut the car down from your other phone .... pretty cool
wetminkey
Patron 2018
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Posts: 1199
Joined: Tue Jul 15, 2014 4:57 pm
Your car is a: 1979 2000 Spider
Location: Ault, Colorado

Re: anyone add any security features?

Post by wetminkey »

Mine also has a switch for the electric fuel pump. Works just as azruss describes. Nice for security in a convertible.
Todd.
1988 Mazda RX-7
1979 Fiat Spider 2000
1978 3/4 ton Chev 4x4 P/U "FRANKENTRUCK"
1976 Camaro
1972 VW Superbeetle
1969 Ford F100
1968 Mustang coupe
DieselSpider
Posts: 2130
Joined: Wed Dec 24, 2014 10:21 pm
Your car is a: 1978 124 Spider with Isuzu Turbo Diesel

Re: anyone add any security features?

Post by DieselSpider »

Being a diesel with all manual starting controls even if you find them you will probably run the battery dead before you figure out how to use them and start it. I have been thinking of adding a hidden switch for the fuel valve on the injector pump as an added measure of security.
baltobernie
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Posts: 3466
Joined: Sun Nov 25, 2007 6:00 pm
Your car is a: 1973 Spider [sold]
Location: Baltimore, MD

Re: anyone add any security features?

Post by baltobernie »

User avatar
btoran
Posts: 630
Joined: Thu Aug 29, 2013 8:26 am
Your car is a: 1975 Fiat 124 Sport Spider
Location: Northport, NY

Re: anyone add any security features?

Post by btoran »

i hid a fuel pump switch in plain view. i used a button with a light symbol on it and put it right on the radio console. if you don't pull it out, the car isn't going anywhere. I also removed the tag that said lights under the actual light switch, so no one would wonder. the actual switch is so small and black, it's hardly noticeable anyway. it may not stop a professional thief, but a kid looking for a joy ride, sure. it's stopped me a few times and i installed it. you can see the switch just under the radio and to the top left of a center speaker in the radio console.

Image
1975 Fiat 124 Spider
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4uall
Posts: 4145
Joined: Mon Sep 26, 2011 12:09 pm
Your car is a: 1980 Fiat Pininfarina Spider 2000 F.I.
Location: Ottawa, Ontario, Canada

Re: anyone add any security features?

Post by 4uall »

I just use personal security measures :wink:

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Jay

Fiona
1980 FI 2000 Spider
ITZEBTZE

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FINN (FN-2187)
2014 Jeep Wrangler Sport
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Frog2Spider
Patron 2018
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Posts: 387
Joined: Thu Jun 19, 2014 6:48 pm
Your car is a: 1981 2000 Spider
Location: Vancouver, Washington

Re: anyone add any security features?

Post by Frog2Spider »

Dem very nice features!

And I could see the gun coming in handy as well ...
Always looking for curves under blue skies!
Frog2Spider

'81 - 2000 Spider
autotransgression
Posts: 95
Joined: Mon Jan 12, 2015 3:01 pm
Your car is a: 1980 spider 2000
Location: seattle

Re: anyone add any security features?

Post by autotransgression »

thanks, all of you. exactly the kind of wonderful ideas I was hoping for. and btoran, great-looking car.
- mik
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