Howdy,

I've already heard a couple of car thefts in my area at work. The only security I know of in the 96 960 is it'll panic if you lock yourself in the car and then turn the ignition.

otherwise, i'm considering getting this steering lock: http://www.autosportcatalog.com/index.cfm?fa=p&pid=2304&cid=86

for 40bucks it seems like a good investment and it'll also 'steer' away air bag thieves (which I hear is $1000)

I'd be interested in hearing what the word is on the 'brick' road, and any other suggestions...

Thanks again,
Al

decent alarm with microwave claoking..bleeps as someone APPROACHES the car...too late once they have smashed a window to rifle you glove box...

also extra blinking lighs attached to the alarm installed next to the lock buttons on the doors...REALLY effective as it looks like a seriously expensive security system...

imobaliser on the ignition goes without saying....

what your trying to do is scream to the crooks 'im mad, bad, dangerous and going to make lots of noise if you so much as look at me'

steering locks are kids stuff and most esily removed...

decent alarm with microwave claoking..bleeps as someone APPROACHES the car...too late once they have smashed a window to rifle you glove box...

also extra blinking lighs attached to the alarm installed next to the lock buttons on the doors...REALLY effective as it looks like a seriously expensive security system...

imobaliser on the ignition goes without saying....

what your trying to do is scream to the crooks 'im mad, bad, dangerous and going to make lots of noise if you so much as look at me'

steering locks are kids stuff and most esily removed...

I wish I had a blinking light. I live out in the country so I've only had a problem once: I was in columbus for a conference. as I have a wagon, a good portion of my belongings were colecting in the back (here this means anywhere something can fall after being pitched rearward from the driver's seat). I didn't feel like sifting through the trash for the valuable stuff to take into the hotel, so I left everything. I then parked in a downtown, open lot and came back one night to a smashed right/rear window and about $1000 of stuff missing.

Moral-Don't leave *anything* in plain sight. No one would steal a Volvo for joy-riding or parts, but it is reasonable to assume that a Volvo owner has some valuable property that *might* be left in the car. Put everything in the truck or get a cargo cover for the wagon. This kind of theft can be detered with a blinking light, as long as you make it look like an alarm and park in a safe place(lots of light, lots of people).

I like the idea of switching some critical fuse, but if you switch it with the fog lights, don't you have to drive around with the lights on all the time. Maybe you could get an extra switch and put in a blank in the same row.

--Aubrey
'89 745GLE 16v

sorry to hear about your story. it's unfortunate that there are people that will do such as thing.

Consider that no model of a Volvo has ever shown up on an insurance companies' list of high theft risk cars like a Toyota or BMW. The door lock system is almost undefeatable as the release is a cable and not a bar. The car comes standard with a very good anti-theft system and evidence of it is the blinking LEDs on the Radio and on the right side speaker in the dash. There seems to be no market for stolen Volvo parts.

I would think as long as you don't leave anything tempting in the car you should be OK. The only thing that has ever happened to my car is someone "keying" the side just after I polished it. I guess some punk couldn't stand having someone around with a good looking car.
--
'96 965, 16' wheels, rear 18mm bar & Koni + 204HP cams at 124K. Had '85 745 Turbo Diesel for 200K.

i agree, i too have never heard of volvos being stolen.

I do love the 'chunk' when you lock/unlock the car.

I did what Kane suggested years ago in a series of 245s - I used a single LED in the dash that was always on. In fact, I have one near the door of my garage now. But I have been toying with the idea of installing switches on critical circuits to disable the car. For example, #1 fuse, FI relay, crank position sensor, or even a trunk mounted switch that kills the main fuel pump. I like the last idea, because the engine (I think) might fire, but wouldn't be driveable. ... Probably just some random late night thoughts, but I wonder if anyone has done anything like this...

Jim Weiss
83 245T/M46, 90 744T/M46, 90 760T, 93 945T, want more ...

Jim
Thats exactly what I did to our 240. I have a fog light switch in the dash that interupts the signal from the computer to the fuel pump, ignition and injector relays. With it switched off the car will crank but no spark. Hidden in plain sight.

These are all very interesting suggestions... but way over my head, too advanced... There is however a blinking light already installed in my 964. right front speaker... There is an alarm in the car, but it'll only go off as I mentioned.

I try not to leave anything valuable in the car, but I bet a steering lock will probably be one extra thing a thief won't want to deal with.

If anyone is interested in my opinion after i've taken a real look at the master lock, I'll be happy to share it.

Thanks once again folks,
Al

Certainly better than the Club, but a steering lock is just a deterrant to taking the entire car. That won't prevent them from breaking in trying to find something else, though. For that, a simple blinking LED in an easily visible location that turns on when you turn off the car works pretty well if you don't want to go full out with an alarm.

-- Kane ... given the choices, thieves will target the easiest ... and no alarm is easier than questioning whether there is an alarm or if it's just a spoof.
--

While I would never deliberately mislead anyone, take into consideration that any information and advice provided was at no cost to you.