The Club for anti-theft car -- when key doesn't work, what then?

by Fatfreek 14 Replies latest jw friends

• 

  Fatfreek

  I had a scary experience this weekend in Dallas. When we returned to the car, I put the key into my anti-theft device (not The Club, but similar) and it wouldn't turn. It took some 10 minutes of jiggling and hitting and bumping till it finally turned and unlocked it.

  I told my wife that we're going to get a name brand, meaning The Club. She said, "suppose the key doesn't work in that one?"

  She's right. Keys and locks aren't perfect.

  I've since read where those devices are easy to bypass by simply cutting the steering wheel since it is mostly plastic. I suppose we could carry a hack saw in the trunk just in case it happens again.

  What's your take?
  Len Miller
• 

  james_woods

  You just cut it off with a big bolt cutter, like any self respecting car chopper would do. One of my sports car sites had a funny picture of the cops raiding a chop shop - in the corner of one room was a pile of THE CLUBs cut apart about 5 feet wide and 5 feet high.

  If you are that concerned about this issue, why not get a Lojack? - it silently tracks the car with GPS. Undamaged recovery rate is reportedly pretty high with this.
• 

  Fatfreek

  Hmmm ... that doesn't bode too well for these devices, does it James? Maybe I'm being paranoid about all this. We're going to be some 3 weeks on an upcoming road trip and we'd hate to have something like this happen -- luggage, laptop, cameras.

  We have a 2007 Toyota Avalon. It does have some type of security system. Easily thwarted?

  Len
• 

  james_woods

  I don't know much about the one on your car, but I suppose it as probably as good as most of them from Japan nowadays - which are probably equal or better than what anybody else in the world makes.

  My Porsche and Corvettes all have a pretty strong factory system, as they are thought to be "target cars". On the old Ferrari, I have a primitive electronic system that I have not used in some time, because I don't trust it to not lock me out. I keep that car locked inside and only drive it on club events or to the secured underground parking here at work once a month or so.

  I think I would pretty much trust the security on the car you have, not leave your stuff in the car when parking, and be careful where I parked.
• 

  wha happened?

  I watched a program on TV that showed how lame those locks are. The "thief" sprayed the club with freon and when it got really cold, it broke very easily
• 

  cameo-d

  Hopefully, the problem is simple and maybe this will work.

  If the key turns but only with effort, lubricate the lock mechanism with graphite powder or silicone spray by injecting the lubricant into the keyway. Work the key or thumb latch back and forth to distribute the lubricant.

  If it's more complicated than this, here is a good reference source for troubleshooting:

  http://www.ehow.com/how_114582_troubleshoot-lock-problems.html

  Graphite puffer always works for me. (so far)
• 

  Fatfreek

  Well, it's not Armageddon if it does happen.

  Hey, I just noticed you're from Texas, James. I hope we can meet at the fest on November 1, after our road trip, assuming we still have the Avalon intact.

  Last year we were in my sister-in-law's LeSabre going 50 mph, just north of the Grand Canyon, when a buck mule deer tried to cross the road. For a split second, we felt and heard the large thud, I saw the head and antlers make their brief appearance in front, then disappear. I saw, through my mirror, that he was tumbling into the driver's side ditch. We stopped and went back to see if we could put him out of his misery but he must've somehow crawled into the adjacent woods.

  Len
• 

  Fatfreek

  That was a great common-sense link, cameo-d. Thanks. I'll soak the mechanism with a good heavy oil and by the time of our trip, it will have drained the excess.

  Len
• 

  james_woods

  Maybe we can - I was planning to drop by for a while at least.
• 

  John Doe

  The only good things like "the club" do are to lock the owners out. They might make you feel more secure, but besides that secure feeling they're a bad idea.