Ravelco anti-theft device, does this work?, Does this device seem like a good idea? Options

[rabbit]

Hello Everyone,
I just bought my very first Celica a few weeks ago, a 1995 GT convertible. In fact it's my first new car in 18 years. Yeah I know, I probably ancient by most of your standards, but I hope you don't mind if I stop by from time to time, as you all really seem to know alot about Celicas. I've learned alot already from reading the posts here. Well, anyway I really love this car. In fact as I was telling my friends recently, if this car were a woman I'd marry her. Since I have to park on the street during work I'm interested in installing some kind of anti-theft system. I've already read all the posts about car alarms on the forum, but I'm wondering about other anti-theft devices, in particular the Ravelco anti-theft device.

http://www.ravelco.com

Has anyone tried this yet? Does it look like a good idea? I'd love to get your advice before I make a decision. Thanks in advance for your help.

[Coomer]

How does it work? I looked at their website but it's horribly designed so I can't click the links to get product information.

[rabbit]

How does it work? I looked at their website but it's horribly designed so I can't click the links to get product information.
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Ok here is their description of how it works from their website:

"The Ravelco Anti-Theft Device is installed in an easily accessible place under or flush mounted in the dashboard. A removable 16 pin male plug (which when not in use connects to your key chain) makes all the electronic connections. A hidden armored steel cable protects the wires from the rear of the RAVELCO base on through to the engine compartment where all the connections are made and camouflaged. When the plug is removed from the RAVELCO, it is impossible to start the vehicle.

The circuits interrupted by the RAVELCO may vary from application to application. Typically, they would include the electronic fuel pump, the ignition circuit, the starter circuit or even the computer.

All electrical connections are made in the engine compartment of the vehicle and are connected in and through the factory wiring harnesses. Since there are no exposed wires, a properly-installed RAVELCO is virtually impossible to detect and very time consuming to trace because all the wires are the same color (black).
There are more than 100,000 different combinations. NO MASTER PLUGS."

[Andason]

id suggest just getting a 200 dollar aftermarket alarm/starter kill if you are that worried. i bet that this probably runs around a grand. our cars aren't worth that much, especially a 1995... someone who knows how to kill alarms isnt going to be targeting a car that is 10 years old.

[rabbit]

id suggest just getting a 200 dollar aftermarket alarm/starter kill if you are that worried. i bet that this probably runs around a grand. our cars aren't worth that much, especially a 1995... someone who knows how to kill alarms isnt going to be targeting a car that is 10 years old.
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Depends on the car, but I think the price for a Ravelco is around $400. Good point about the professionals not beng interested in a 10 year old car.

[Coomer]

You could do approximately the same thing with some relays and a well hidden switch(or alarm)...kill your fuel pump, starter, clutch safety switch, ECU power, etc. Total cost might be $10 or so.

[rabbit]

You could do approximately the same thing with some relays and a well hidden switch(or alarm)...kill your fuel pump, starter, clutch safety switch, ECU power, etc. Total cost might be $10 or so.
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Good idea. I'll think about what I want to kill and the best way to trigger it. Thanks.

[mark_426]

I doubt you really need the switch, relays or alarm. by the way it looks, you could do it with a simple PCB box and a harness/connector pair, and interrupt whatever connections you so please.

If they charge $400 for that...

[Andason]

or just take your car battery wherever you go

[rabbit]

I doubt you really need the switch, relays or alarm.  by the way it looks, you could do it with a simple PCB box and a harness/connector pair, and interrupt whatever connections you so please.

If they charge $400 for that...
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Another good idea, thanks.

[Coomer]

or just take your car battery wherever you go
[right][snapback]307737[/snapback][/right]

It's easy to bring an extra battery. You're better off taking your steering wheel with you. Some of the Honda guys take their ECUs as well.

[creis]

gata remember that if you do something like that, when someone goes to take it there gana be real pissed and probilby fudge up your car because they cant take it.

An easy thing to do is add a push button into the cluch wire, so that you have to push the button and the clutch to start it. but I'm not sure if that would affect hot wireing it or not.

Just take the starter fuse and some other fuses wen you leave it.