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Car Forum / Dodge / Dodge Trucks / October 2005how to disable a Dodge RAM 1500 van
I'm about to head out on a 10 week trip round the USA in my conversion van, and as it will be my home for most of that time I wanted to ensure that it will be as secure as possible from thieves. I don't really have much confidence in regular alarm systems - when was the last time you saw an alarm go off and heard someone say 'Quick, call the police"? As I have a padlocked strong box under the bed inside I figured I might be able to quicky detach a key component from the engine and stash it in the locked box while I'm away from the vehicle, but I don't know what would be most suitable. In the old days I could have simply removed the distributer cap, but with computer managed fuel systems now that isn't an option. Any ideas? I saw an interesting suggestion elsewhere about putting a switch on the line to the fuel pump and hiding it somewhere under the dash, but I don't know how easy that would be to do or whether it would cost me a couple of hundred dollars to get an auto electrician to put it in for me. Is there a key and unique fuse somewhere on board that I could take out? One last point. When I say a strong box I mean just that. It's similar to the tool boxes on the back of many pickup trucks, and it's actually bolted to the floor from the inside, so that the only way you could take it out of the vehicle is to break open the lid or padlocks. Any advice on the matter would be much appreciated. Thanks > I'm about to head out on a 10 week trip round the USA in my conversion > van, and as it will be my home for most of that time I wanted to ensure [quoted text clipped - 26 lines] > > Thanks What year is the van? The older ones with a distributor can be disabled by swapping the center wire from the coil with one of the plug wires at the cap. Hard to see, and it sounds like it is almost going to start. Al Hi Big Al, It's a 1999 Dodge conversion Van with the 5.9 litre engine, if that helps. Could you clarify the process you're talking about - there's a lot of things I know, but finding my way around motors is not one of them. I'm familiar with the bare basics, and that's about it, sad but true. I wish I knew more about what's under the bonnet, but I've just never had the time to devote to the subject. Tim > I'm about to head out on a 10 week trip round the USA in my conversion > van, and as it will be my home for most of that time I wanted to ensure [quoted text clipped - 10 lines] > removed the distributer cap, but with computer managed fuel systems now > that isn't an option. Any ideas? Sometimes paranoia takes over and normally sane people let their neurosis' take control of their day to day lives. I'd suggest you make sure your insurance premiums are paid up...maybe drop your deductable to $100 or even $0 for this trip; get towing coverage and motel / car rental coverage and simply forget the silly strong box. Everything is replacable except for family heirlooms...so don't travel with them. Buy yourself a "The Club" to lock your steering wheel...they are about $40. Now take a deep breath and try to have fun on your trip. > Buy yourself a "The Club" to > lock your steering wheel...they are about $40. Surely you jest. >>Buy yourself a "The Club" to >>lock your steering wheel...they are about $40. > > Surely you jest. Buy a battery-powered Dremel tool with grit blade to remove "The Club" in less than ten seconds . . . they are about $40. Rick Gee Lance, Heard of overstating the bleeding obvious? Of being an insufferably patronizing twit? I should check my insurance - wow, now there's something I would never have considered! And oh my God, I'd never have thought to make sure our AAA coverage was up to date! Thankyou! The trip relates to a photo trip for a book I'm writing. As well as being my home the van will also contain about $10,000 worth of camera equipment, computers, etc, much of which will have to stay in the van while I'm out each day doing my field work - hence the secured steel box inside. Losing the vehicle is not the central issue, losing the gear inside is. Disabling the vehicle makes it that much more difficult to steal the equipment in the strong box, as they would have to drive off to a private place to make the necessary racket to smash into it - that or pull out oxy gear. Insurance won't replace the camera equipment overnight (it would take at least a month to replace all the components) nor can it hold the seasons back, and all the autumn colors I'm after, while I'm waiting for insurance payouts and new gear. Any other pearls of wisdom Lance? Brushing my teeth before going to bed will help keep down tooth decay? Driving on the right side of the road, instead of the left, will prevent head-on collissions? Remember to pull the rip-cord next time I go skydiving so that I don't hit the ground hard? You're obviously a font of everything inane. PS - do some homework on 'the club'. > As I have a padlocked strong box under the bed inside I figured I might > be able to quicky detach a key component from the engine and stash it Assuming from the 'RAM 1500' name that it's at least a '94, remove the starter, fuel pump, and ASD relays from the Power Distribution Center. They're all the same, so you don't have to worry about which is which, and they only plug in one way. Why do people have to complicate simple stuff. Just take out the battery. Cost = $0. John John, Actually, that's probably not a bad point, especially when I can lock it up in the box. A bit of weight work, but what the heck, how many thieves carry around their own battery? Still, the would-be thief could get annoyed, decide he's not going to be beaten, and go to a neigbouring car and steal its battery to shove in my van - now THAT would be a thief doing it in style! Cheers.....Tim This thread reminds me of the stupid "anti-theft" device on my 01. Chip that is insertied under the dash. Pretty much just serves as a "second key" that has to be used in conjunction with the main one. On a long trip I pulled over for a nap and kicked it loose. Took a while till I realized what was wrong. On top of that irritation the salesman tried to charge me an additial 2 or 3 hundered dollars for i when I bought the truckt. I said take it out! He did not charge me for it but I never got back to the shop to have it disabled. Anyone know how? John or a battery disconnect switch mounted under dash or under hood? used to use a disconnect switch on the FD trucks was mounted in the cab. > This thread reminds me of the stupid "anti-theft" device on my 01. Chip > that is insertied under the dash. Pretty much just serves as a "second [quoted text clipped - 8 lines] > > John How about disconnecting the battery cables too. I don't think a thief wil be willing to spend that much time. John Why no just pull the ignition fuse? beekeep >I'm about to head out on a 10 week trip round the USA in my conversion >van, and as it will be my home for most of that time I wanted to ensure [quoted text clipped - 26 lines] > >Thanks I'm thinking the poster with the three relays had the best solution. You could just throw them in your pocket, they aren't heavy like the battery, no thief is going to have a spare set, much less even know they are missing. What thief is going to break into a second vehicle, looking for relays to start your vehicle. If you remove the battery, you'll reset the ECU, and the van may run rough for a few days. I'd also use the "club" as a visual deterent. Might save the cost of a window. > Why no just pull the ignition fuse? > [quoted text clipped - 30 lines] > > > >Thanks > I'm thinking the poster with the three relays had the best solution. You > could just throw them in your pocket, they aren't heavy like the battery, [quoted text clipped - 5 lines] > I'd also use the "club" as a visual deterent. Might save the cost of a > window. I'm down for the relays. As for the club, waste of money even for a deterent. I'd opt for a alarm decal of some sort, at least the thief won't know what he has to defeat imho. Roy >> Why no just pull the ignition fuse? >> [quoted text clipped - 30 lines] >> > >> >Thanks >> I'm thinking the poster with the three relays had the best solution. You >> could just throw them in your pocket, they aren't heavy like the battery, [quoted text clipped - 11 lines] > >Roy Like anyone's going to steal a dodge. beekeep > >> I'm thinking the poster with the three relays had the best solution. You > >> could just throw them in your pocket, they aren't heavy like the battery, [quoted text clipped - 15 lines] > > beekeep True, but in our area, it proves to be basic transportation to the next drug fix. These thieves just steal the easiest vehicle available. They don't carry tools, to defeat the club. Hell, why not just remove the ignition fuse/relay from the main distro center? >> >> I'm thinking the poster with the three relays had the best solution. > You [quoted text clipped - 26 lines] > fix. These thieves just steal the easiest vehicle available. They don't > carry tools, to defeat the club. > Hell, why not just remove the ignition fuse/relay from the main distro > center? Now why didn't I think of that? :) I'm sure you did Tom, you're just being polite. :) >> Hell, why not just remove the ignition fuse/relay from the main distro >> center? > > Now why didn't I think of that? :) >> Hell, why not just remove the ignition fuse/relay from the main distro >> center? > >Now why didn't I think of that? :) Because you can't agree with me? ' didn't read my response to the question, did ya? beekeep >> Like anyone's going to steal a dodge. >> [quoted text clipped - 3 lines] >fix. These thieves just steal the easiest vehicle available. They don't >carry tools, to defeat the club. Then you are probably better off leaving the key in the ignition and installing a secret switch under the dash in they yellow wire that leads to the starter. That way they won't distroy a $100.00 switch assembly when trying to steal it. beekeep How about having a small sticker made that says: "Warning: this vehicle equipped with a hidden GPS tracking device." I agree a thief may end up doing damage only to find out he can't get your vehicle. Then you have to fix it...which in the grand scheme of things fixing is better than replacing. But my philosophy is that if someone is going to steal a car.....I'd rather it be someone else's.  Signature_________________________ Laszlo Almasi Carolina Watercraft Works, Inc. "In the battle between money and love, money will always triumph" I may have to change my signature......on second thought, I was right the first time. > >>> Like anyone's going to steal a dodge. [quoted text clipped - 12 lines] > > beekeep > I'm about to head out on a 10 week trip round the USA in my conversion > van, and as it will be my home for most of that time I wanted to ensure > that it will be as secure as possible from thieves. Pretty easy, actually. Simnply remove the fuel pump fuse or relay, that keeps it from being started. And that will prevent the vast majority of car thefts. Vehicles can also be towed away by any pickup with a tow boom in it. They would generally lift of the back end and tow it to the chop shop with the front wheels on the ground. You can buy a btire boot just like the police use. It's expensive and bulky, but just about as "theft proof" as it gets. Signature.boB 1997 HD FXDWG - Turbocharged! 2001 Dodge Dakota QC 5.9/4x4/3.92 1966 Mustang Coupe - Daily Driver 1965 FFR Cobra - Finally on the Road! Chrysler products are self-disabling. There is nothing you need to do. > Chrysler products are self-disabling. There is nothing you need to do. This coming from a Webtv idiot. |
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