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Pulling EFI fuse to deter theft?

Discussion in '2nd Gen. Tacomas (2005-2015)' started by TacoGlenn, Nov 2, 2014.

  1. Nov 2, 2014 at 4:41 PM
    #1
    TacoGlenn

    TacoGlenn [OP] Nobody Makes a Monkey Outta Me!

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    Firstly, I've searched TW and haven't been able to find anything discussing this, if anyone knows of an existing thread, please direct me.

    I was wondering if pulling the EFI fuse would be a good method of deterring theft, especially in situations were the Taco would be left unattended for extended periods of time (like remote trail heads). One forum suggests that while this might be possible, one poster also notes "..the thief knows about it they don't need to carry extra fuses, the fuse box is full of fuses they could swap in."
    http://www.yotatech.com/f2/poor-mans-theft-protection-what-fuse-do-i-pull-74085/

    This guy has a neat trick to possibly disguise the pulled fuse idea: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GolUQCblm0I

    A poster on another site states- "Take into consideration the harm done to the contacts in the fuse box,they need to maintain tension on the fuse, they are not made to have there fuses removed several times a day, I have repaired fuse boxes when the failure was poor contact due loss of tension." http://community.cartalk.com/discussion/1976809/which-fuse-to-remove

    Someone else suggested pulling some fuses would cause a problem with the ECMs memory loss: Anyone try this or have opinions?

    I realize I could install a hidden fuel pump kill switch (is there a mod for this on TW? I couldn't find one), but I thought pulling the fuse would be easier.
     
    Last edited: Nov 2, 2014
  2. Nov 2, 2014 at 5:00 PM
    #2
    egres

    egres Well-Known Member

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    you probably want a kill switch.
     
  3. Nov 2, 2014 at 5:14 PM
    #3
    el tardo

    el tardo Well-Known Member

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    my two cents-
    if someone wants your truck let them have it,thats why we have ins.what will happen is they will destroy your truck cause they couldnt steal it.
     
    outlawtacoma likes this.
  4. Nov 2, 2014 at 6:01 PM
    #4
    nd4spdbh

    nd4spdbh Well-Known Member

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    I like this idea!
     
  5. Nov 2, 2014 at 6:02 PM
    #5
    anotherreject

    anotherreject Well-Known Member

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    +1 for a hidden kill switch, it will turn into a pita to pop the hood and take out/replace the fuse every time you use the truck.
    the majority of car thieves would pass over your car with a visual deterrent, like a old style steering wheel lock.
     
  6. Nov 2, 2014 at 7:03 PM
    #6
    Bucc5207

    Bucc5207 Well-Known Member

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    What about the immobilizer? Or does it not actually work? :confused:
     
  7. Nov 2, 2014 at 8:19 PM
    #7
    TacoGlenn

    TacoGlenn [OP] Nobody Makes a Monkey Outta Me!

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    Honestly, this is the first vehicle I've owned in 20 years, so I'm not familiar with how the immobilizer works or how effective it is. Can thieves bypass it?

    (My last truck was a '74 Chevy; I could remove the rotor from the distributor in a similar long-term unattended scenario)
     
    Last edited: Nov 2, 2014
  8. Nov 2, 2014 at 8:32 PM
    #8
    nd4spdbh

    nd4spdbh Well-Known Member

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    nothing wrong with an added layer of protection if the truck is sitting for a while.
     
  9. Nov 2, 2014 at 8:36 PM
    #9
    TacoGlenn

    TacoGlenn [OP] Nobody Makes a Monkey Outta Me!

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  10. Nov 2, 2014 at 11:34 PM
    #10
    Bucc5207

    Bucc5207 Well-Known Member

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  11. Nov 3, 2014 at 2:02 AM
    #11
    savedone

    savedone Well-Known Member

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    No disrespect to the gentleman in the video but that seems a little over kill. If you are going to all the trouble to raise the hood, open the box, short out a fuse, and switch fuses with one that does not work, why not just remove the one good fuse and leave it out?
     
  12. Nov 3, 2014 at 2:16 AM
    #12
    DEEVON911

    DEEVON911 Semi-Pro

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    I don't know if pulling the fuse will do any damage, besides maybe the suggested loosening of the tension.

    Personally, I'd use a deterrent rather than this. If a pro wants it, they'd Ofigure it out or more than likely tow it. The average thief won't mess with a steering will lock. Takes to much time. But hear is a kill switch write up if you want to.go that route too.
    http://www.tacomaworld.com/forum/2nd-gen-tacomas/88252-kill-switch-mod-write-up.html
    I personally wouldn't feel comfortable pulling the fuse constantly.
     
  13. Nov 3, 2014 at 2:39 AM
    #13
    TheMuffinMan

    TheMuffinMan Banana Nut

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    Wheel the truck and bang it up a little. 's the best way to deter theft. That or park next to a truck that's nicer then yours. :cool:

    I do that all the time on my motorcycle. People aren't going to steal my ratty dual sport over the chromed out Harley I'm parked next to.
     
    agunday21 likes this.
  14. Nov 3, 2014 at 3:27 AM
    #14
    Ga tacoguy

    Ga tacoguy Well-Known Member

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    A Tacoma with the 2.7 litre or 4 cylinder engine DOES NOT have the engine immobilizer. Toyota in their infinite wisdom decided to save money and not have an immobilizer system for the 4 cylinder model. ONLY the V6 equipped Tacoma will have the immobilizer system.
    It is a bit of good and bad for a 4 cylinder Tacoma owner, you can replace an ignition key real cheap, but your truck has no theft protection.
     
    Last edited: Nov 3, 2014
  15. Nov 3, 2014 at 4:38 AM
    #15
    super_white

    super_white Well-Known Member

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    What you could do is install a SPDT relay with the starter wire connected to the normally open contacts. You would then activate a switch (high beam, turn signal, etc.) in the vehicle to activate the relay allowing the truck to start.
    I did this to my friends Honda Accord and a week later someone tried stealing it and couldn't. They did mess up the ignition cylinder tough.
     
  16. Nov 3, 2014 at 8:39 AM
    #16
    TacoGlenn

    TacoGlenn [OP] Nobody Makes a Monkey Outta Me!

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    I think his reasoning is having the bad fuse in position might be less obvious to a thief than no fuse in position.

    I wasn't considering this on a regular basis, just those few times a year when I go back county for a few days at remote trailheads. Thanks for the heads up on the mod!


    I didn't know that! I have the 2.7.

    Yes, I did see this suggestion on other forums, thanks.

    Thanks all for the responses!
     
  17. Nov 3, 2014 at 9:48 AM
    #17
    Bucc5207

    Bucc5207 Well-Known Member

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    I did not know that!

    It's easy to tell, anyway. If you have a flashing red light on your dash (mine is under the radio, next to the clock), that stops when you insert your key, you have the immobilizer system.
     
  18. Nov 8, 2014 at 12:35 PM
    #18
    Idaholandho

    Idaholandho The other white meat

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    I have no blinking light. My 2011 did.
     
  19. Nov 8, 2014 at 1:15 PM
    #19
    vssman

    vssman Rocket Engineer

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    Hide a toggle switch with an inline fuse socket. Put two blade terminals on the end of the wires. Pull the fuse, plug in the blade terminals, and plug the fuse into the inline socket. Flip the switch to disconnect the juice withou having to pull fuses. For the really creative types, a stock looking switch in one of the blank panels would hide the cutoff in plain sight...
     
  20. Nov 9, 2014 at 7:28 PM
    #20
    TacoGlenn

    TacoGlenn [OP] Nobody Makes a Monkey Outta Me!

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    Still can't find a DIY hidden fuel pump kill switch mod on TW; strange, with all you mod-happy folks out there I thought there would surely be one.
     

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