Ok so I happen to be moving to a not so good area soon, and I wanted to prepare myself for the worst. What i was thinking of doing was just taking out my ECU every time I got home, and I wanted to know if anyone else does this or has done this and still had their car stolen. I understand all the thief would have to do is just bring another ECU, but does that happen often? I'm just trying to get an idea of how successful this is, thanks.

 

Yes, it does happen often. A good bit of Honda theft is being watched and followed for a few days prior to attack, and near any Honda ECU will work (car would just run like crap).

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Here is a list of car security strategies that can't be relied upon for various reasons. Some of these strategies are viable visual deterrents, but if they're inconvenient, high in cost, or simply ineffective, they made the list. If I keep coming across posts that say "help, my car got stolen even though I ---.", that --- made the list.

Removing ECU
Removing Fuses/Relays
Removing plug wires/distributor cap</TD></TR></TABLE>
https://honda-tech.com/zerothread/1794938

The ECU remove got top of list. It's fine as a layer, but a hidden kill switch would be a better option.

 

Hmm, what exactly is a kill switch?

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by MaiSi &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Hmm, what exactly is a kill switch?</TD></TR></TABLE>

a switch that is able to "kill" a part of your car that is essential for making it run(i.e. fuel pump kill switch)

 

How exactly does it work, is there a remote device or something that works from a distance?

 

Sort of, yes - most modern alarms have a type kill switch built in. But I mean "$10 of parts" kill switch mostly. Over in the Security forum, members have about 2 kill switches on average paired with a stealth-installed car alarm.

If you are interested in adding a cheap, functional kill switch to your vehicle, you'll learn some stuff about wiring in the process. ;-) There are a few write-ups on killswitches on H-T and other sites (such as "Cause for Security" (google)). Want to take this route in conjunction to removing ECU?

 

Yeah that does sound like a better alternative, thanks a lot for educating me .

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Davus &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Yes, it does happen often. A good bit of Honda theft is being watched and followed for a few days prior to attack, and near any Honda ECU will work (car would just run like crap).


https://honda-tech.com/zerothread/1794938

The ECU remove got top of list. It's fine as a layer, but a hidden kill switch would be a better option.</TD></TR></TABLE>


I came up on two great ecu's thanks to theives trying to swap them real quick because the car does not start. And They also landed in the pokie because of a well preppared alarm set up. And most of the time a thief will see that there is no ecu and just run around the block and grab one out a diffrent car to take yours. I seen this happen. Read the thread above and ask questions and we will help you get your car well protected.

 

If you need help installing a kill switch on your main relay let me know. I live in MD and would be willing to install one for you for a reasonable price if you bring your car to me. PM if interested.

 

Was never a huge fan of removing the ECU...

First, what happens when you're tired after a long day at work, and you reach down to pull the ECU, but in your haste to get to bed, you aren't as careful as you should be, and inadvertently yank a pin free from the connector? Then, the next day, your car won't start or runs like **** because you've depinned an injector wire or something?

Also, whenever you reconnect the ECU, aren't you supposed to let the car idle for a few mintues so it can "relearn" all of the sensors in the system?

Probably talking out my ***, but just the things that ran through my mind when I read that thread title...

 

It is unlikely that a pin will come out of the plug. I was just playing around with that, and the pins are stuck in there pretty good.

 

Never say never, or you may end up saying never again.

The plug(s) on an ECU/ECM are made to be disconnected and reconnected, but not two or more times a day, day in and day out.

A much bigger problem then a bent pin or a pin popping out is that pin shorting out the ECU/ECM, pins can be re-pinned and/or straightened, a shorted out ECU/ECM is just a box of junk. 94