Best way to install a kill switch

[mikedubayoo]

What's up peeps. I just wanted to ask if anyone has installed a kill switch somewhere in the interior of they're vw.
I have a 64 vert and I am always worried someone is gonna steal it. It's an appealing ride. I was thinking of putting something under the seat. Maybe something that can switch off and be removed. Like a key. Any ideas?

Thanks

[flyboy161]

Put a fuse inline on the coil wire. Remove the fuse when you park. Car no start.
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My father's 1970 Beetle-
http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=603879

The 1964...Diamond in the rough
http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=612776

My 1958 Morocco Bug-
http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=611483

[mukluk]

[panicman]

Any switch or simple by-pass for fuel or electric can be quickly circumvented by a talented and knowledgable thief.

It seems like keeping the vehicle secured in a structure is the surest bet. Second to that are the mechanical, more obvious means of locking the steering wheel, gear shift, wheels, or pedals.
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Plate of shrimp

[Bug-nut]

If I'm parked somewhere I'm worried about thieves (almost everywhere, actually) I just discreetly pop off the distributor cap and take the rotor out and put it in my pocket. It would be pretty hard to steal the car then unless the thief is very very smart and has a well stocked auto parts store nearby. (Or a VW tow bar, which would actually work for him very well! ) But then I imagine he would steal my snowflake tail lights and smash my windows in revenge or something...
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1959 Fjord Blue Volkswagen Beetle
http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=6...highlight=

1962 Austin-Healey Sprite

[Old n' slow]

I've always though one of the best methods was a fuel shut off somewhere in the passenger compartment. The thief can steal the car but only drive so far before it runs out of gas. The idea is that no thief will now have the nerve to start working on the car in plain view.
The problem as I see it, cutting into the tunnel and hiding the switch would be no easy task. ( electric pump with a hidden kill switch would accomplish the same thing )
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Currently own : 1969 Beetle w/ 1600cc, Single Port, Solex 30 PICT 2, Dist. 113 905 205 T, stock exhaust.
All my daily drivers gone but not forgotten;

1964(sunroof)1967 & (2)1968 Beetles , 1968 Squareback , 1963 (23 window )Deluxe Sunroof Bus , 1969 Westphalia camper, 1974 Dasher , 1985 Vanagon , (2) 1981 Rabbit Diesels & a 1991 Jetta Diesel .

[Glenn]

Take the rotor.
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Glenn
74 Beetle Specs | 74 Beetle Restoration | 2180cc Engine
"You may not get what you pay for, but you always pay for what you get"

Member #1009

#BlueSquare

[VOLKSWAGNUT]

If a thief wants your car... its as good as gone.. rollback or a chain and another car and done..
Theft deterrent is the first option.. simply make them move on..
Blinking security light, shift lock, steering lock, deck lock, etc..

Pulling the rotor is cheap.. and works fine.

Below is a link to some some good battery disconnect options.
Even a few that are remote and electronic. Some even have a remote to control it.

https://www.ronfrancis.com/products.asp?dept=301

If we start to get into how we disable our cars.. the thieves trolling these forums will gain additional valuable information..

"Nawmsayin".. ..

.
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Its your vehicle- stop askin' for approval-do what YOU like for cryin' out loud
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[grandpa pete]

Professional thief will get your car .
My method stops the amateur BEFORE he breaks your vent window or cuts your convertible top .
BIG ORANGE CHAIN .....

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63 two fold rag
66 sedan delivery Type 6

http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=569619&highlight=sedan+delivery

[Glenn]

Doesn't that scratch up the steering wheel?
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Glenn
74 Beetle Specs | 74 Beetle Restoration | 2180cc Engine
"You may not get what you pay for, but you always pay for what you get"

Member #1009

#BlueSquare

[catahoula lou]

In all my air-cooled VWs, I use the following three things:

1) Hella battery shut-off switch installed on battery/starter loop, using removable red key, usually somewhere hidden behind the rear seat on driver's side.

2) Coil shut-off toggle switch, located within driver's reach.

3) Small, keyed Master lock installed on E-brake ratchet mechanism. Pull E-handle up and you'll see an arc-shaped slot beneath it that will accept the lock. With properly adjusted brakes, should be able to barely get lock into slot beneath handle. Make sure you use two nuts on the ends of the E-brake cables as lock nuts. If you're not particular about the E-brake boot, you'll be OK with this one.

Remember, you're using the "lazy factor" of most thieves (they're too lazy to earn their keep) to drive them away or slow them down from stealing your car, but a determined thief can literally steal anything...

Best,

Thom
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1 great wife
2 Catahoula Leopard Dogs (Mahogany Star and Spartan) - RIP Lucy, Braveheart, & Dusty!
1 1959 mango green Ragtop Bug (the "Mango")
1 1958 pantina red Lowlight Ghia (the "Chili Pepper")

Still looking for:
(1) My Dad's 1955 356 (he raced it amateur-class at Riverside and other courses during 1950s),
(2) My parent's black 1955 hardtop bug (CA license plate FWC 201 or FWG 201), and
(3) My parent's agave green 1957 ragtop bug (CA license plate LFK 734).

[Mos6502]

A determined thief with the right resources can steal any car. But most thieves are stupid and lazy and will give up if jamming a screwdriver into the ignition lock doesn't get them what they want.

"The Club" is not very good deterrent on a modern car with a steering wheel made out of stale cheese that can be sawed through in about 3 seconds, but it's a little better on an old car with hard, solid steering wheel (although I doubt a thief would realize this before trying to cut it, because lack of functioning brain matter).

Taking the rotor would frustrate and stop most thieves. An ignition kill switch might deter the laziest and most clueless thief, but anyone with knowledge of how cars work would probably bypass it, assuming they brought along some wire of their own. An electric fuel pump with its own switch would be a little more confusing still, particularly if the thief makes it a block or two before running out of gas. They'd have to have a lot of nerve to keep tinkering then.

[KTPhil]

[grandpa pete]

[Digger89L]

How about just installing a bad battery?? Recently watched a Jay Leno's Garage episode where he and a 'not familiar to me and IMO not-very-funny' comedian took the comedian's restored 21-window bus for a test drive through what might be termed a 'sketchy' neighborhood (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yEC7jTF47EM). They stopped for some fast-food with never a mention of the likelihood that the bus might not be in the parking lot when they got back. It appears that the only active 'security' system he had was a battery that kept going dead. On another issue, the fellow spent a LOT of time complaining about how completely unreliable the VW was. Someone should clue him in: reliability is measured in direct proportion to the amount the care / attention / maintenance done.
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"If you can't fix it with pop rivets, crazy glue and duct tape, or hold it together with zip ties, velcro or magnets, it REALLY is broken."

[KTPhil]

The last thing I want when stopped in a bad neighborhood is a car that won't start! My life is worth more to me than my car.

[Bryan67]

Install a locking decklid latch. Unplug the coil wire and lock the decklid. Pretty simple.
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If you`re going to do something, do it right.

[TinCanFab]

[runamoc]

I have this under the rear seat. Total low current power disconnect. Just twist the red key and take it with you.

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[Cusser]