dcbailey

I'm traveling to Big Bend National Park this month and would like to be able to quickly disable my car so that it can't be started (due to its proximity to Mexico). I've considered removing the starter relay, but is it easily accessible (my understanding is that it's under the passenger seat from what I've read)? Is there an easy way to disable your car that can be rectified quickly? I thought about installing a hidden switch, but would prefer not to cut any wires.

Thoughts?

dnz996

just remove loads of relays and fuses

lost27

Not sure the last time you've been out that way but I wouldn't worry too much about the car especially if you're in the national park. I'd worry much more about the quality and availability of the gas in the area. I've at least on one occasion been the last person to be able to fill up at the station in Terlingua. IIRC most of the gas out there is ~91 octane and the stations are pretty spread out.

theprf

The start lock relay is on the relay panel on the rear shelf, passenger side. Need to remove the Bose subwoofer, pull up the carpet, unbolt three M6 nuts, flip the panel over to get to it.
The immobilizer should be a decent theft deterrent against a drive-away theft, I think.
A tow-away theft, not much to do about that.
The fuel pump relay is in spot#13 under the dash, might be easier to get to. Or the fuel pump fuse is #C4.

Carlo_Carrera

Pull the DME relay. I think it’s number 13 or 16 in the kick panel on the left side of the drivers compartment.

powdrhound

LexVan

It's probably a manual trans, right? Don't worry, most people don't know how to drive those anymore.

911 Rod

What car?

kamlung

doesn't the car have an immobilizer anyway? short of the thief cloning the key they wouldn't be able to drive it off.

or you can put in an inline hidden switch on the clutch switch...

LexVan

993GT

relay/fuse always easy
disconnect clutch switch? pull the connector off the fuel pump? disconnect engine bay harnesses?

cdk4219

More than likely the contents of the car are going to be targeted, or the possibility of higher value contents from a Porsche owner in out of sight areas.

Disabling a car is easy, but the damage the theives do is an issue within itself. What I have learned through years of getting things broken into and stolen/ damaged is if you would like to keep it, keep it out of sight from other people who would like to have it.

As many visible deterrents as you can get will deter theives, but their brazen nature always surprises the victim. The more visible deterrents, the more likely the theives will move on to an easier target. At this point they may jack the car up and steal the catalytic converters for the $800 or more they’re worth, causing many thousands in damage.

If you’re worried about the car getting stolen from someone attempting to “Hotwire” it, this requires lots of effort and programming transponder chips to the car. If they don’t know that and break in and attempt to steal it it it will cause lots of damage as well. It would be easier to tow the car away, but that’s not as likely as other break ins and collateral damage.

racer959

Take a different car

leftlane

Had zero issues when we went to Big Bend and never even thought about worrying that my car would disappear across the border. Plenty of places in Texas where it would be easier to make that happen anyway - if someone wants your car that bad, they are gonna get it.

s65e90

Mexicans ain't stealing your Porsche. How many can they fit in it? They're stealing new Super Duties every day it seems.