Date: Wed, 24 Jul 2013 11:18:23 -0400
Reply-To: David Beierl <dbeierl@ATTGLOBAL.NET>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: David Beierl <dbeierl@ATTGLOBAL.NET>
Subject: Re: Disabling a Westy for Theft Deterring
In-Reply-To: <57DF0862-0D9F-4B20-9201-02C26DB7691D@EricWunrow.com>
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At 05:44 PM 7/23/2013, Eric Wunrow wrote:
>Anyone have quick-to-do ideas on how to disable an '84 Westy on the
>road?
Carborundum powder in the oil is a time-honored ploy, though modern
full-flow oil filtration takes a lot of the sting out of it.
>I'm thinking:
>1) Remove coil wire;
If you do be sure to ground it with a clip lead or summat, unless you
like replacing the electronics.
>2) Remove fuel injector relays;
There aren't any. But assuming you mean the ECU and fuel pump relays
in the little box over the ignition coil, it's not really
practical. For a start, you have to unpack the back to get to
them. They're very tight in the sockets and not meant to be cycled
in and out routinely.
The fuel pump wire on the '84 has a single-position connector at the
right-front of the engine. Pretty sure it's just a male-to-female
1/4" Faston spade terminal. You could make up a harness next time
you get to a FLAPS with a toggle switch on a suitably long pigtail
and bring that switch to a convenient location. Remember if you do
that you're working with unfused power straight off the battery --
fusing the small red B+ lead coming off the supply post inside the
connection box on the firewall *before* your engine harness smokes is
a prudent thing to do.
At the other end of the bus, the typical thing is to add a concealed
toggle switch in the wire going back to the ignition coil + terminal,
something you can reach from the driving position without being obvious.
Getting slightly fancier, you could install a relay back in the
connection box that would supply B+ to the engine harness only if
alternator D+ were active, same way the fridge is controlled. To
start the engine you'd have to press a concealed pushbutton up front
while cranking. That would eliminate having to remember to flip the switch.
>3) Hire a bad-ass dog with really bad breath. ;-)
There is much to be said for dogs, even little ones.
There's also discretion, and local knowledge. Some places the best
protection is an unlocked door, since a locked one will only get you
a smashed window.
Truly the social contract is a wonderful thing.
Yours,
David
