security issues - Toyota Nation Forum : Toyota Car and Truck Forums

angelox · 06-05-2003, 10:43 AM

as we all know, the amount of car audio thefts is growing, what have you guys done to further secure your equipment besides the ovbious (alarm, locking doors)

has anyone bolted their subs? or even their amp?
anyone heard of using bolts with keys just like for rims....

let me know.

prophesized · 06-05-2003, 01:14 PM

alarm and a good insurance policy.

Xenon · 06-06-2003, 01:31 PM

Considering that I have a sound system, and fold down rear seats. I'm really glad I have the ability to lock the seats from the trunk, there's fore I disconnected my trunk release cable and locked the seats. The only way to get into the trunk is either to brake the lock of the trunk or to rip apart the whole interior. I also have my battery in the trunk. Also thinking of buy the new CompuSTAR SS to keep me in touch with my car 24/7

Rico_S · 06-06-2003, 03:15 PM

my friend screwed his sub and amp down. I dotn know what he screwed into though. then he put a drop of solder in the screws so that the theives wouldnt be able to simply unscrew them.

If a theif wants to melt the solder and then unscrew all the screws to jack my sh1t, well damnit he can have it.

Camry9294 · 06-06-2003, 09:21 PM

I lock the rear seats and lock the trunk from the outside. It can't be opened from the pull tab when done like that. When I do my alarms, I hook the horns with or inconjunction with the sirens. I can tell my cars apart from the corny "6 tone sirens" DEI sirens are also programable so you pick any of the 6 tones you want for custom sound.

Xenon · 06-06-2003, 09:53 PM

you can install ear bleeders if you want. There are very small sirens that are meant to be intalled inside the cars, these sirens trigger with the alarm but have built-in batteries. The sirens have a very high frequency that makes it unbearable to sit inside the car. I was thinking of installing one in the trunk and two inside the car

The Wolf · 06-18-2003, 09:31 PM

I've got a DEI with the mini siren under the dash; it's loud, but not ear-piercing when sitting in the car, just annoying. However, if you want to get under the dash to disable the alarm, you'll suffer some hearing loss for sure. I'd also recommend a mercury switch for your hood & trunk, along with securing the rear sit fold-down locks like others have said.

Camry9294 · 06-18-2003, 09:40 PM

Do gen4s have rear seat locks like the gen3s???

rezzle · 06-18-2003, 11:34 PM

I'm too much of a family guy for that stuff now but .. back in the day I was one of the first in town to have a sub, built it myself along with the crossover which at the time was unheard of. I had my crap stolen monthly, even with an alarm They could still get crap out using the grip and rip method before I got out of the house .

Eventually I fitted bands of sheet metal around the wood boxes and screwed and glued the metal strips, about 14 guage and 3 inches wide to the boxes (lotsa screws) and welded the sub to the bottom of the trunk. I also tacked the amp and radio to the car under the dash.

All they kept taking after that was my radio knobs. and they'd just rip up some wire because there was no way anything could be taken before I woke up got dressed and turned on the back light.

Taking it out wasn't that bad I switched the system to three cars. A 76 alfetta, a Corona Mk4 and a 240Z. I just had to use a pair of tin snips and then grind down the welds and a spot of paint oh and retack a new piece of angle that I cut off for mounting.

Now though i think they'd just take the whole friggin car or slash the seats out of frustration so nothing is truely safe.

Nick · 06-18-2003, 11:46 PM

my friend bolted his subs to the seat belt brackets, screwed in his amps with different head screws, allen, torx, robertson...

woshiagni · 06-24-2003, 08:28 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Camry9294
Do gen4s have rear seat locks like the gen3s???

Yep, If you look at the seatback, there's a small metal latch. Flip up to disable the pull, or flip down to engage it. (Could be the other way around, I don't remember).

I keep my trunk locked all the the time (disabled at the trunk key cylinder) and just release it with my remote. Seats are also locked now. (Learned my lesson after my subs were stolen from my trunk).

If you have an alarm and you didn't install it yourself, I encourage you to try all your doors to make sure they trigger. The installer that did my car only covered the driver's door for some reason, and left my other doors unprotected. Thieves might have guessed this because they broke in through the passenger side door.

Best prevention is just not to be too flashy of a target -- turn your subs down when you get close to your destination, and don't leave valuables in sight...

Camry9294 · 06-24-2003, 02:23 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by woshiagni

Yep, If you look at the seatback, there's a small metal latch. Flip up to disable the pull, or flip down to engage it. (Could be the other way around, I don't remember).

I keep my trunk locked all the the time (disabled at the trunk key cylinder) and just release it with my remote. Seats are also locked now. (Learned my lesson after my subs were stolen from my trunk).

If you have an alarm and you didn't install it yourself, I encourage you to try all your doors to make sure they trigger. The installer that did my car only covered the driver's door for some reason, and left my other doors unprotected. Thieves might have guessed this because they broke in through the passenger side door.

Best prevention is just not to be too flashy of a target -- turn your subs down when you get close to your destination, and don't leave valuables in sight...

Thanks!!, I'm going to start looking @ some cars tommorrow. It's always a good idea to lock out the trunk. It makes it more hectic for the potential thieves to get in there. Those pain generators are a bitch on the ear too. I tried cleaning the pinswitches to ensure good trigger to no avail. I ended up just replacing them @ $15 a piece @ the dealer, a small investment for security

bosttman · 05-07-2005, 10:18 PM

You can use security screws, here is a random link from google : http://www.hudsonfasteners.com/security.htm

Also you can use a combination of screws/ bolts ie: regular bolt/nut, philips screw, and flathead screw.

For my subwoofer I trilled a hole through the box, bolted an eye bolt to the box, and attatched a chain w/lock to my spare tire holder. This also works as a visual detterant. I some crack head looks in your car and sees a subwoofer with a 2" chain on it he is likely to move to the next vehicle.

One more tip for car audio and anything other expensive things you own(ie: computer, TV, PDA etc) is to engrave your driver's license # or Social Security # on the item. If the Police ever recover the item this is most likely the only way they could track it back to the owner.

klaymen333 · 05-07-2005, 11:17 PM

install amps under seats...i had two amps under the back bench seat of my old F-150...somebody would have to take the seat out to get the amps
it took a good 2-4 hours to take the seat out and work on them but it was worth the extra security

and what bosttman said is right, if you etch/engrave your licence # on your stuff you are more likely to get it back if its stolen

***Knailgun*** · 05-09-2005, 10:03 AM

well, I did a bucnh of custom install on my car, good insurance coverage and a viper 791, but the rule is this...if someone wants it bad enough...there is nothing you can do to stop him, shy of shooting them (I keep the desert eagle .5 in the house with hollow points in it)