kill switches car security

Looking to install some security in my car. I have done a-halot of research all day today about security and came across a lot of products.

I'm looking to install some kill switches, particularly the kind that you have do certain things before the car will start, like a sequence of window up/door unlock/wipers on sort of thing.

1) Is this possible? Couldn't a thief see extra wires to the ignition and trace the wires to find a regular kill switch?
2) Can it be set up to have multiple kill switches (i.e. do the sequence above to turn "off" 1 kill switch, then when turning the key you have to hold down another button for another kill switch)
3) Would it be (astronomically) more expensive to have the sequence built in?
4) Should I just get the Ravelco and a regular $10 kill switch, or JUST invest in a siren alarm system and 2-way pager?

I would do a decent name brand alarm.  Why inconvenience yourself with a sequence setup?  Chances are, unless you drive a 90s Honda Civic if someone is going to steal your car it will be on a flatbed, they won't drive off in it.  Some good visual deterrents (like a flashing LED) will be more effective in the long run then an inconvenient sequence you have to do EVERY time you start the car.

Wow, and think of the issues if you ever have to valet the car......

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Kevin Pierson

I'm thinking the sequenced kill switch would be a lot more effective. When was the last time you heard a car alarm and looked out the window to see what it was?

When was the last time you "misplaced" your keys and someone used them to steal your car?

If a thief is trying to steal your car and they don't have keys they will most likely be able to quickly bypass your "sequence".  The only way I see it being effective is if you have a kid (or in my case a spouse) you don't want driving your car - they have access to the keys so a "tradional" alarm won't work. 

I know little things like putting my seat belt on and pushing "OK" on my navigation system every time I start the car is annoying - much less a sequence of events I must do everytime I want the thing to start up.

Does someone make a product to achieve what you are trying to do?  I've never seen one.  I've heard of people rewiring the car so that one switch has to be pushed (like the window up switch) but I've never heard of anyone doing a sequence.

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Kevin Pierson

I would be interested to hear what you think about Ravelco, if you know of them (they claim that after 32 years and 4 million installs, not ONE car has been stolen)

Thanks for your input - because of what you said, I started doing more (agh) research on car alarms, and came across (again) the Viper brand from DEI, and found good reviews on the "Viper 791 XV" and then found the Viper 5901.

What my concern is, is that I buy this alarm and a thief is still able to steal it, where a kill switch, or an equally priced Ravelco, could have prevented the theft.

4thephil wrote:

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I would be interested to hear what you think about Ravelco, if you know of them (they claim that after 32 years and 4 million installs, not ONE car has been stolen)

Thanks for your input - because of what you said, I started doing more (agh) research on car alarms, and came across (again) the Viper brand from DEI, and found good reviews on the "Viper 791 XV" and then found the Viper 5901.

What my concern is, is that I buy this alarm and a thief is still able to steal it, where a kill switch, or an equally priced Ravelco, could have prevented the theft.

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Actually, they claim that after 32 years and 4 million installs, not ONE car has been stolen "by defeating a properly installed and utilized Ravelco".

They never mention anything about how many have been towed away. 

If you are that worried about the car I would suggest you look in to GPS based systems with back up batteries.  If the car is stolen you'll know exactly where it is.

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Kevin Pierson

I'm looking for statistics on stolen cars, how many are towed versus hotwired...do you know that stat?

No, I have no idea.  As factory security increases the trend will move towards towing.  If you look at a list of "10 most stolen cars" do some research on what kind of OEM security they have.  That may give you some insight in to how many cars are being hotwired vs towed. 

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Kevin Pierson