Please remind me

[Psybbo]

what it is you can easily take out of a car engine to avoid the car being stolen

[Psybbo]

Is it the rotor arm?

[Zacs-Master]

It was, about 20 years ago.

[tonyav]

Not many cars have rotor arms these days, sibo. If it has got a rotor arm then yes if you remove it the car will not start.

[TWR]

Its not out of the engine Sib, its out of the Distributor that fits on the engine, I'm not nit picking, but you are right

[Psybbo]

Hi, somebody tried to steal daughter's car from outside her house, opened the bonnet, having sprayed it with white lubricant and left some sort of tool in it. It's a 1.8 Vauxhall Astra Bertone coupe 2004. What would easily disable it?

[MantaRay]

The modern day equivalent of removing the rotor arm might be removing a fuse from the fuel pump or ignition circuit. Thus, in the event of someone getting hold of your ignition key they would still not be able to start the vehicle.

[Psybbo]

Thank you MantaRay, that is what she thought, I'm obviously completely out of date
Thanks also to Zacs, Tony and TWR

[tonyav]

sibo, you will have to get rid of that Moggy Minor lol.

[Psybbo]

Tony, I'll have you know it's a beautiful Hona Civic 2009, and I own the two scratches on the passenger side!

[tonyav]

LOL have emailed you.

[TWR]

As stupid as this may sound Sib, you have 2 options, wheel clamps, or remove one wheel. that would give the thief 2nd thoughts.

[Psybbo]

Funnily enough, TWR, she had a completely flat tyre, and, in fact, still has. I think he/they were disturbed. She thinks she will remove the two fuses MantaRay mentioned. Alternatively, she could get her landlord to clear his old furniture out of the garage and use it.

[TWR]

Just a point on the flat tyres, don't keep that way for long otherwise it will bugger the tyres up.

[joko]

what about a steering wheel lock?

[Psybbo]

Thank joko, but she says it takes them seconds to remove them

[Hopkirk]

The trick these days to not having your car stolen is to make sure the thief can't get the key.

[TWR]

As you know Hop, you dont need the key.

[beso]

Removing the rotor arm (in cars that still have them) is not a good idea. It stresses the insulation in the coil and may lead to premature failure if the engine is cranked.

A locked clamp that fits between the brake pedal and the steeling wheel or across the steering wheel is pretty effective. Decent ones have advanced locks that can't easily be picked. The key has small indentations in the flat side rather than along the edge.

Mr Bean removed the steering wheel in his Mini. ;)

[Bazile]

How about keeping this chappy in the car ?

http://media.beta.photobucket.com/user/psychodave79/media/Churchill-dog.jpg.html?filters[term]=churchill%20dog&filters[primary]=images&filters[secondary]=videos&sort=1&o=0#/user/psychodave79/media/Churchill-dog.jpg.html?filters%5Bterm%5D=churchill%20dog&filters%5Bprimary%5D=images&filters%5Bsecondary%5D=videos&sort=1&o=0&_suid=135394053645805034313613946919