My car (with keyless entry system) was broken into last night

[Drago]

Anyway, kind of going back to topic, I use a Disklok on the car I actually own, and the OBD port has been relocated elsewhere and a dummy one left in its place with the live supply on the wroing pins so it'll fry their equipment. Not bothered about the Kia as that's a lease (I'd rather it wasn't nicked, but I'm not spending my own money protecting someone else's car)

I also have permineter alams on my land so Johnny Lightfinger and Saddam the Burglar can't even get within 10 feet of my car without me knowing.

Does anyone else take any steps to protect their vehicles, or to they reply on the factory kit?

 

[NorthernDave]

I remember the chap in the Renault dealers getting the hump when I used the word "mechanic" . ..... apparently they are technicians

That's interesting, because the technicians prefer being called mechanics.

As the old motor trade joke goes, what's the difference between a mechanic and a technician? About £25 an hour...

Anyway, kind of going back to topic, I use a Disklok on the car I actually own, and the OBD port has been relocated elsewhere and a dummy one left in its place with the live supply on the wroing pins so it'll fry their equipment. Not bothered about the Kia as that's a lease (I'd rather it wasn't nicked, but I'm not spending my own money protecting someone else's car)

I also have permineter alams on my land so Johnny Lightfinger and Saddam the Burglar can't even get within 10 feet of my car without me knowing.

Does anyone else take any steps to protect their vehicles, or to they reply on the factory kit?

Yes - I've still got an old school ignition key, but have also added a steering wheel lock as well. Plus, who'd want to nick a Citroen?

 

[screenman]

Modern mechanic are utterly reliant on computers to tell them what the problem is otherwise they are f*****d. And even then, they don't fix parts anymore, just replace them with brand new ones,hence the enormous price tag. My local mechanic can strip a gearbox or an engine and rebuild it, he can tell what the problem is just by listening to the car or a short drive. Modern mechanics can't do that anymore. Shame.

I know some old mechanics that are useless and young one's that are great, I work amongst them every day. As for telling what the problem is just by listening, absolute rubbish, a lot of problems make no noise at all.

Ask him how he would diagnose a phonic wheel fault or even correct it.

 

[midlife]

I remember my first car. It was a 1965 Mini with i think,an 850cc engine. It had a kind of washing line to pull the doors shut,a rubber button near the pedals to ignite the engine, windows that pulled open,like the old bus drivers cab ones and the windscreen washer didn't work,so i copied the idea from the Butterflies tv comedy of the time of using a washing up liquid bottle with a fish tank air pipe directed at the screen. All very basic but very little to go wrong. Except the gearbox went kaput and i had to scrap it.
Kids today wouldn't be seen dead in such a thing. I offered to let my daughter drive my newly acquired Suzuki,if/when she passes her test. "Pfft,i'm not driving that pensioner car",she replied. We were grateful of anything that was going for a few hundred quid. Now it has to cost at least 5 grand or it's not worthy of being seen in,to them,
Kids eh! They don't know they're born t'day!

View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I2AcJSkUw6M

My first car was an 850 cc mini Van, Reg MBT 135F whatever year that was. Handpainted brown by me and my dad

 

[Drago]

Plus, who'd want to nick a Citroen?

A blind, drunk, patriotic, French car thief?

 

[smokeysmoo]

A blind, drunk, patriotic, French car thief?

Will half blind suffice?

 

[smokeysmoo]

My first car was an 850 cc mini Van, Reg MBT 135F whatever year that was.

01/08/1967 - 31/07/1968

[edited for typo]

 

[Profpointy]

I know some old mechanics that are useless and young one's that are great, I work amongst them every day. As for telling what the problem is just by listening, absolute rubbish, a lot of problems make no noise at all.

Ask him how he would diagnose a phonic wheel fault or even correct it.

The "diagnose by listening" point is perfectly reasonable and I don't understand why you are poo pooing it. Anyone with even a smidgin of car knowledge could diagnose slipping drive belt, worn brakes (down to rivets), knackered prop shaft bearings, blown exhaust, big ends knocking, over-fueling, pinking and doubtless a lot else just by listening. I remember in Das Boot the mechanic listening to the the engine by holding a screwdriver on it and placing his ear on the handle. I've even seen special mechanic's stethoscopes sold. But apart from that, what did the Romans ever do for us he?

That said, until I just googled it I didn't know what a phonic wheel is, let alone what faults in might have. However I dare say if it was rubbing against something I guess I could hear it.

 

[Drago]

I have an engine stethoscope. It has proven useful over the years.

 

[Dan B]

Surely a phonic wheel should be spelled "fonic weel"

 

[screenman]

The "diagnose by listening" point is perfectly reasonable and I don't understand why you are poo pooing it. Anyone with even a smidgin of car knowledge could diagnose slipping drive belt, worn brakes (down to rivets), knackered prop shaft bearings, blown exhaust, big ends knocking, over-fueling, pinking and doubtless a lot else just by listening. I remember in Das Boot the mechanic listening to the the engine by holding a screwdriver on it and placing his ear on the handle. I've even seen special mechanic's stethoscopes sold. But apart from that, what did the Romans ever do for us he?

That said, until I just googled it I didn't know what a phonic wheel is, let alone what faults in might have. However I dare say if it was rubbing against something I guess I could hear it.

Those are seldom the problems we come across nowadays.

 

[screenman]

Surely a phonic wheel should be spelled "fonic weel"

That one went straight over my bald bit, could you explain please.

 

[DaveReading]

That one went straight over my bald bit, could you explain please.

It relies on you being English, possibly even from the Home Counties, and therefore pronouncing "wheel" to sound like "weal".

Scots need not apply.

 

[classic33]

01/08/1967 - 37/07/1968

August, not July then?

 

[Racing roadkill]

There have been a few cases of gangs with access to bits of software and a very rudimentary transmitter, robbing modern cars, without needing keys, lately. I'm glad my car is old school, with an ignition key, that is used to start the car, with little input from any sort of hackable computer system.