44 replies to this topic

[Guess-Works.com]

Just a thought, but every so often we get a thread on tricks to help prevent some nicking off with your beloved... not not the misses... the mini..

Well here's my contribution... Some may know this, but Saabs can only be started while in reverse gear... this is a very simple trick which can be transferred over to the mini ( well those with a rod change mechanism in at least )

The rod change unit has a switch for the reversing lights in the unit... which obviously switches the lights on, but could also be used to trip a relay which intersects the starter circuit.

This is only a simple solution, and will not prevent hot wiring or bump starting the car, but will only let you fire the starter motor when reverse gear is engaged, potentially enough to deter the adhoc scumbag.

I'm probably going to put one in mine, while I think about it.. if anyone else is interested I'll put a wiring diagram together or may even a little kit...

[biggav]

make a kit and i'll buy it!!!!!

Will it be thatcham approved????? and will i be covered if mrs biggav tries to start the car and ends up in the living room????

[minivanman]

the way I'm planning on doing on for my van is a well hidden battery cuttoff switch with a fused jumper wire - if someone tries to start it then it blows the fuse, but you keep all your clock settings and memory in your stereo. Another thing is a disguised electric fuel pump switch - if it aint got fuel it aint going anywhere!

[transtrack]

the way we done it was a removable battery isolator switch the one with the red key,then a valve solenoid on the fuel line, which in our case runs inside the car from centre fuel tank.the live for the radio run straight to the bty via a fuse.no steering lock but a combination of flip switches and button start and then fitted cat 1 toad alarm the wiring is a nightmare.we went ott

[Sammy D]

I've got a MK2.

What do I do?

No reversing lights

[Bungle]

sounds good but do we want to keep the info to pm's or post it up on a public forum ?

[sqweaka]

i always used to take the battery out of the car and carry it with me

[Jordie]

lol, trust you....

[Guess-Works.com]

But that's not because of them nicking the mini, it's the lead in the battery they're after

[binge]

My mini used to be an Auto. Then I Swaped to a Manual engine.

There were two wires running to the gear selector on the Auto, These had to be connected (Car in "PARK") for the engine to start.

As it wasnt auto anymore, I had no real use for the wires, So I wired them up to a Brake test switch, and Put it among my other switches.
You had to hold this switch in to allow the engine to crank over. Once fired, You could let go of the switch.

Worked a treat, Especial when ive been out to meets etc, and a mate has jumped in my car to have a go and cant start it!

[Xiao_Bin]

and will i be covered if mrs biggav tries to start the car and ends up in the living room????

to prevent that you could install a switch on the clutch (similar to the brake one), so you could only start with reverse in and cluth disengaged

and if you have too much time you can also wire it so the wipers, the ventilation, and the horn have to be on to be able to start
I did something else, but not really willing to expose that

Edited by Xiao_Bin, 02 February 2007 - 12:07 PM.

[chairchild]

As a mate of mine accidently found out, after he forgot to turn on his 'leccy fuel pump - theres enough fuel in the float bowl, on a warm engine, to get you at least a mile away. Which is more than enough to drive around the corner, and either tow it away, or loaded onto a recovery flatbed

secondary starter solonoid is also a good one, a strange one to wire up (which I'm NOT posting on an open forum) but basically, you turn the ignition on, then press a small hidden switch to turn on the power. The instant the key is removed, the solonoid turns off - which will then do the same job as a battery cutoff switch, but you cant buy a spare key from Motorworld for £3 for this one!

hidden switch which goes inline to the power to the coil is always a classic, but will only deter the most simple of thieves

A good one I've heard of, is to have a hidden switch for the starter motor, then wire up position 3 of the ignition barrell, to the horn





Very tempted to try an idea my mate had - which is to have a removeable flywheel lock. You drill a hole into the flywheel casing, and have something wedge into the teeth of the flywheel to prevent it from turning (like a hardened pin or something) Because if you get one of those security things which clamp onto the handbrake and the gearknob, forcing it to stay in gear - it will effectively lock up the front wheels, making it impossible to start, and bloody difficult to even tow away!

Even better, it would only cost pennies to do

[Xiao_Bin]

A good one I've heard of, is to have a hidden switch for the starter motor, then wire up position 3 of the ignition barrell, to the horn

love that one

[Ollie]

could anyone give me any info on how to wire up the brake test button so that the engine will only start when thats pressed?

cheers

[Ollie180]

i have a facet fuel pump and a switch hidden so i can turn it on and off so whn i leave car i switch pump off, try starting the car it will start but you want get very far! hardly any power in it as no fuel pres and you cant even go to end of my road