1995 Q45 Stolen then recovered - Advice needed - Rekey, Kill Switch, or other??
Hello Folks:
The car was stolen and later recovered. An original master key and keyfob are still missing.
Repairs on the car are finished. I am left with a Salvage Title......
Before I take the car back, I would like some enhanced security. The key and fob are likely long lost by the thief, but you never know.
I realize a rekey and new fob would be pricey, though I do not actually know the full cost.
A steering wheel Club and / or Brake Pedal Club do not seem very appealing from what I have found on the net. Several postings about how easy these are to defeat.
I did find some interesting ideas regarding killswitches. However, not exactly sure how to implement one that would be both practical and effective.
Here is a posting about killswitches:
http://www.instructables.com/id/Killswi ... the-cheap/
There is an old posting from here, but the thread is closed after being dormant for 10 years. Basically, it said a rekey and redo of the fob would be required:
need-to-have-car-rekeyed-t186488.html
I am in New Orleans and plan to contact the local dealer - but that would broadcast my dilemma to someone who has my address. Any suggestions appreciated.
Thx all
1995 Q45 Stolen then recovered - Advice needed - Rekey, Kill Switch, or other??
Re: 1995 Q45 Stolen then recovered - Advice needed - Rekey, Kill Switch, or other??
Sorry about the fiasco you've had to endure. I would also go the rekey route. By that I mean just going to a junkyard and getting all the pertinent lock cylinders and keys from a Q over there.
Seems like the cheapest and most secure way with the lenses I have on. One catch might be the ignition cylinder, as those are most times riveted or otherwise permanently secured to the steering column. Since 95 hadn't brought the transponder keys out yet, just take the steering column from the donor as well...if that's the case.
If I may ask, how would contacting a dealership broadcast your dilemma?
Seems like the cheapest and most secure way with the lenses I have on. One catch might be the ignition cylinder, as those are most times riveted or otherwise permanently secured to the steering column. Since 95 hadn't brought the transponder keys out yet, just take the steering column from the donor as well...if that's the case.
If I may ask, how would contacting a dealership broadcast your dilemma?
Re: 1995 Q45 Stolen then recovered - Advice needed - Rekey, Kill Switch, or other??
why not disable the factory keyless receiver and install a aftermarket full alarm system with its own keyless entry system? Should be a few hundred bux.
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Q451990
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Re: 1995 Q45 Stolen then recovered - Advice needed - Rekey, Kill Switch, or other??
Some locksmiths can rekey wafer locks... I had one rekey my door lock to fit a replace ignition switch. You'd just need a different key to have them set the code to.
In terms of a kill switch, I'd say wire up something under the dash for the fuel pump fuse. You could probably make it out of a couple of spade connectors, a fuse holder, and a switch.
In terms of a kill switch, I'd say wire up something under the dash for the fuel pump fuse. You could probably make it out of a couple of spade connectors, a fuse holder, and a switch.
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Skibane
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Re: 1995 Q45 Stolen then recovered - Advice needed - Rekey, Kill Switch, or other??
Another vote for a hidden kill switch.
The switch itself can be installed just about anywhere inside the vehicle. Ideally, you want it located where you can operate it without being seen doing so from outside - Otherwise, someone who watches you turn it off might be able to guess its location.
If you connect the switch through the coil on the fuel pump relay, almost no current will be flowing through it - which allows you to use a miniature or microminiature toggle switch. If you connect it through the contacts on the fuel pump relay instead, it'll be carrying considerable current - perhaps more than a mini or micromini toggle switch can safely handle.
The switch itself can be installed just about anywhere inside the vehicle. Ideally, you want it located where you can operate it without being seen doing so from outside - Otherwise, someone who watches you turn it off might be able to guess its location.
If you connect the switch through the coil on the fuel pump relay, almost no current will be flowing through it - which allows you to use a miniature or microminiature toggle switch. If you connect it through the contacts on the fuel pump relay instead, it'll be carrying considerable current - perhaps more than a mini or micromini toggle switch can safely handle.
Re: 1995 Q45 Stolen then recovered - Advice needed - Rekey, Kill Switch, or other??
Thx for the suggestions.
I am not certain that I know enough about the engine and proper wiring for the above mentioned coil or fuel pump fuse kill switch. However, I am always willing to learn. I think that I would also prefer to stay with some trick within the passenger area. Maybe use some rarely used control like the rear passenger window button, etc as the on / off switch. On the net, there are several notices of how the bad guys know where to look even for these, such as the cigarette lighter, feeling around under the dash, etc.
Comments I found on the net: "...pull the ignition relay and starter relay and take them with you. It’ll take a fairly knowledgeable thief to make off with your car without those two parts, and if the thief is that good, he was going to steal it anyway."
" I’m very keen on the idea of pulling relays, but beware that the sockets can’t take such abuse and may leave you inadvertently stranded at an inopportune moment (explain that to the missus). For kill switches, be certain to wire a DPxT switch (I do not know what this means) with the contacts in parallel to each other should a set of terminals get an errant case of intermittents. Confuses the heck out of the ECM and your mechanic alike."
Someone else suggested a third party separate alarm. A Lojack or GPS might not be of any use to me, as I am often travelling and these products seem quite pricey for a car that has almost no book value at this point.
But my issues are quite different from most cases. The thief - who may or may not still be in jail - has or had the key and the fob. I cannot readily take the risk that he or an associate still has them someplace. Simply replacing a door key might still allow the car to be stolen by smashing a window if the ignition key is not changed. And apparently that is not easy to do in my 20 yr old Q45. (If I am wrong about this, please let me know. Our moderator's idea does sound good.) Perhaps the reason for a third party alarm system is to work around someone having a good key and fob. qship's idea sounds good. But where to go for such an alarm? As for removing the coil and starter relay - actually not a bad idea, if practical, as I am away quite often. I might risk keeping them in place under the hood for the few days every month that I home.
I am not certain that I know enough about the engine and proper wiring for the above mentioned coil or fuel pump fuse kill switch. However, I am always willing to learn. I think that I would also prefer to stay with some trick within the passenger area. Maybe use some rarely used control like the rear passenger window button, etc as the on / off switch. On the net, there are several notices of how the bad guys know where to look even for these, such as the cigarette lighter, feeling around under the dash, etc.
Comments I found on the net: "...pull the ignition relay and starter relay and take them with you. It’ll take a fairly knowledgeable thief to make off with your car without those two parts, and if the thief is that good, he was going to steal it anyway."
" I’m very keen on the idea of pulling relays, but beware that the sockets can’t take such abuse and may leave you inadvertently stranded at an inopportune moment (explain that to the missus). For kill switches, be certain to wire a DPxT switch (I do not know what this means) with the contacts in parallel to each other should a set of terminals get an errant case of intermittents. Confuses the heck out of the ECM and your mechanic alike."
Someone else suggested a third party separate alarm. A Lojack or GPS might not be of any use to me, as I am often travelling and these products seem quite pricey for a car that has almost no book value at this point.
But my issues are quite different from most cases. The thief - who may or may not still be in jail - has or had the key and the fob. I cannot readily take the risk that he or an associate still has them someplace. Simply replacing a door key might still allow the car to be stolen by smashing a window if the ignition key is not changed. And apparently that is not easy to do in my 20 yr old Q45. (If I am wrong about this, please let me know. Our moderator's idea does sound good.) Perhaps the reason for a third party alarm system is to work around someone having a good key and fob. qship's idea sounds good. But where to go for such an alarm? As for removing the coil and starter relay - actually not a bad idea, if practical, as I am away quite often. I might risk keeping them in place under the hood for the few days every month that I home.
Re: 1995 Q45 Stolen then recovered - Advice needed - Rekey, Kill Switch, or other??
Those 2 points were the basis of my lock change suggestion - to prevent easy entry into the car and flipping switches here and there until something worked.brx wrote:Thx for the suggestions.
...coil or fuel pump fuse kill switch. ...On the net, there are several notices of how the bad guys know where to look even for these, such as the cigarette lighter, feeling around under the dash, etc.
But my issues are quite different from most cases. The thief - who may or may not still be in jail - has or had the key and the fob. I cannot readily take the risk that he or an associate still has them someplace. Simply replacing a door key might still allow the car to be stolen by smashing a window if the ignition key is not changed...
But with the simplicity of the 95's security system, I'm sure you could set up a very fancy aftermarket alarm rather cheaply.
Re: 1995 Q45 Stolen then recovered - Advice needed - Rekey, Kill Switch, or other??
I called Sewell Infiniti in Houston. A service advisor said I would have to find someone to cut a new key for with some difference in the depth of the grooves - they cannot do that for my 1995 car (huh....).
Given the rarity of the key, I rather doubt I would have much luck at anything beyond making a copy. In Houston, about 15 yrs ago, a single copy of the master key cost me $25.00, and I think only 1 company in the region could do it !!
So, I think she was smoking some magic fairy dust. After the I present them with the "changed key" they would change pins in the steering column lock cylinder to match the new key. Not sure if they would have to do anything else. Price, about $350-375 - just for their part, and no guarantee that they would get it right. Sounds like I will go the after market alarm route rather than some form of kill switch. Any suggestions as to which alarm maker or kit?
Thx
Given the rarity of the key, I rather doubt I would have much luck at anything beyond making a copy. In Houston, about 15 yrs ago, a single copy of the master key cost me $25.00, and I think only 1 company in the region could do it !!
So, I think she was smoking some magic fairy dust. After the I present them with the "changed key" they would change pins in the steering column lock cylinder to match the new key. Not sure if they would have to do anything else. Price, about $350-375 - just for their part, and no guarantee that they would get it right. Sounds like I will go the after market alarm route rather than some form of kill switch. Any suggestions as to which alarm maker or kit?
Thx