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Auto Theft Prevention/Prolock
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QUESTION: I have a 97 mitsu mirage DE. Car all of a sudden died out on me while driving. I found out i had no spark replaced thee distributor/coil and still just cranks with no fire. It has a prolock box underdash and never had a key for it. Could a prolock block out spark? If not any suggestions on my issue?
ANSWER: Hello,
Under normal conditions I would say it is only a starter interrupt; however who knows what anyone had done with this junk. company has been out of business for years. Usually to give you an idea what a pos it was, someone would lose a key, the correction was to put a quarter across all the terminals in the socket.
For anyone considering buying an after market alarm, junk like this, vin etching with a new car, the dealer is the middle man ripping your eyeballs out; Prolock, Stargard/window etching-dealer cost less than $10 installed their cost. Financed at as high as $2,000. Alarm might cost them $100 and they will finance in for up to a grand. Tracking units are another over priced ripoff. Why do you think the mega-dealers happened?
As for your situation, all I can tell you is you are going to have to get under the dash and find out where the wires lead.
No one in their right mind is going to shut of fuel or spark, but then again, I have seen scary stuff! If wired into the start circuit at the column, cut the wire the same color leading in two directions and put the factory wiring back together. Cut the power and ground and throw the Prolock out.
If some dummy wired this into spark or fuel, put the factorry wiring back after following the wiring.
Good luck!
http://www.autotheftexpert.com
---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------
QUESTION: Yeah when i was running a shop in town i came across one that cut out fuel before i am just very wary of these systems and dont wanna cause myself more work in the long run but thanks for the advice ill cut the prolock out and see how it works from there. Thanks.
ANSWER: Hello,
As I said in a caveat; who knows what some idiot will do.
Shutting off fuel or spark spells one word--LIABILITY
If one shuts off the starter, there is not a liability issue because the engine never ran.
Here is an example of something a cop did back in the 90's with a carburated engine who thought he was an expert in auto theft matters. He installed a fuel shut off. Well the car would go as long as their was gasoline in the bowl. Car quit running for the thief in the middle of an intersection when a family hit the stalled car in the middle of the intersection. I seem to remember a little girl in the family car getting killed. Anyway, insurance company covered the theft of the vehicle, but the cop was left hanging with the liability because he had altered the car. The argument was that the engine would not have stalled with his intervention.
Now, when ever there is a switch that controls shutting down the engine through spark or fuel, there are too many things that can't be controlled. What if the key falls out of the prolock or stargard while driving. What if the wiring fails and causes the car to stall? What if a switch is accidently employed?
The stalling of an engine can cause panic to the driver losing power assist to the brakes and steering. This is why manufactures NEVER employ such measures once the engine is running, only on the time of starting.
I remember the stupid commercials from Prolock with the tattooed prison guy saying how he could not steal a car with the product and the CES demonstrations showing the wiring going to the starter wiring and having to cut that over-priced ineffective junk out of cars, so the engine would crank.
The prolock and stargard were basically the same junk. You would see one red wire, a blue wire, and about 6 black wires (only 3 used-1 ground and one leading to start wire and one from start wire)with a relay and the rest of the black wires with a yellow colored eyelet leading to ground. It all depended on which two terminals in the socket corresponded with the so-called computer key.
Let me know what you find.
http://www.autotheftexpert.com
---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------
QUESTION: Thanks for all the help it was only a 4 wire system wasn't my problem but I cut it out anyways to avoid a future problem. Thanks for the guidence and advice.
Hello,
Thats not much for wiring. I wish I could find the videos and ads from this systems. Very laughable and they were trying to instill fear that a thief image like this would steal your car if prolock was not installed.
Well at least we know that is not the reason car is not starting.
http://www.autotheftexpert.com
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Answers by Expert:
Rob Painter, ASE, CFL, CFEI
Expertise
My background in auto theft is extensive. I have been directly involved in the repair of over 10,000 theft recovered vehicles. I also do insurance investigation as to how a vehicle was last operated. My clients are insurance companies and attorneys. Was featured in the A & E auto theft documentary "Stealing Wheels" July 26, 2000. Has consulted with Daimler Chrysler steering column engineers to make their steering columns harder to defeat. Holds patent # 6,039,140 for 8 different variations to protect air bags from theft.
Experience
ROB PAINTER, ASE, CFL, CFEI Forensic Vehicle Component Analyst Diplomate, Board Certified Forensic Examiner ASE Certified Auto, Collision, Med/Hvy/Duty Truck Technician Certified Forensic Locksmith Certified Fire and Explosion Investigator Certified Vehicle Fire Investigator Certified Forensic Auto Theft Examiner Certified Auto Theft and Fraud Expert http://www.autotheftexpert.com Email-rpainter@wi.rr.com P.O. Box 190 Big Bend, WI 53103 Phone (414) 698-9696 Fax (262) 662-1352 As per federal court rules of evidence (702) (Daubert) my testimony has qualified me as: Auto Theft and Fraud Expert Forensic Vehicle Analyst Fire Origin and Cause Expert In the trial transcript of Holiday vs Progressive Insurance Company (March 12, 2002?Eugene, Oregon) with Holiday being my client-named ?the expert for experts.? BUSINESS EXPERIENCE Founder of the ?Forensic Institute of Auto Theft Analysis? (January 2002). This is the training school that will set the standards in determining the last operation of a reported stolen vehicle-burned or unburned. Much of my testing and procedures have been accepted as the guide for the forensic community. 1986 opened Auto Recovery Specialists Inc., providing exclusive repair of theft recovered and vandalized vehicles. The initial concept of the business was to return vehicles to their original shape before the theft, vandalism or fire. In 1987 bought the rights to the theft deterrent known as the ?Chicago Collar?. Duties include complete component replacement: dash, stereo system, interior, locks and coding, rebuilding steering columns, repairing and installing vehicle security system components (factory and after market), engine components, body repair, glass replacement, repair and service of air conditioning components, brake and suspension repair, and replacement, wiring harnesses etc. to return vehicle to pre-theft condition Complete reconstruction. During the past 17 years directly involved in the repair of over 10,000 theft-recovered and fire damaged Personally examined and rebuilt thousands of steering columns on both import and domestic vehicles Internationally acknowledged as expert in auto theft including court, consulting with insurance companies, attorneys and law enforcement. Consultant on steering columns, locks, stereo systems and vehicle security for Special Investigation Units for many large insurance carriers during the past eight years. Consulting services include but not limited to: How a vehicle was last operated (with or without keys in burned or unburned vehicles), Origin and Cause of vehicle fires, and vehicle defects. Provides services as a consultant and researcher to attorneys and insurance companies, and private industry throughout the US in cases related to vehicles. Has worked with crime prevention officers throughout the US establishing training programs designed to protect the public from becoming victims of auto theft. PATENT: 3/21/00 issued patent# 6,039,140 for 8 different variations of airbag anti-theft devices. PUBLICATIONS Currently authors articles and test reports on an ongoing basis for SIUs and the forensic/vehicle fire industry. Published author: (1,297 slide training course) Auto Theft/ Fraud Training Course) ?The Modern Forensic Approach to Auto Theft Investigation.? (January, 2001) Author: ?Variables to Be Considered In Vehicle Fire Investigation after Suppression.? (Insurance publication-November 2001) Author: ?Ford Magnesium Steering Columns and the Results to Ignition Components after a Fire?. Article for peer review from the fire and forensic community. (November 2001) Author: ?The Truth About GM VATS.? (Article) (November 2001) Author: ?The Truth About GM PASSLOCK TM? (Article) (November 2001) Author:? Auto Theft Investigation: Hollywood vs. Reality? (Article) (February 2001) For the John Cooke Fraud Report. Published author: (Manual) ?Forensic Vehicle Fire/ Arson and Auto Theft Investigation? (October 2000) Published author: (Article) ?Petty Claims? for the John Cooke Fraud Report (October, 1998) Published author (Manual) ?AUTO THEFT: LET THE TRUTH BE KNOWN!? (1998) (Previously distributed by Barnes & Nobel) Co-authored the investigation manual, ?Surreptitious Entry & Auto Theft & Burn & the Investigator.? (1999) Authored test questions on the subject of steering columns and vehicle security for CFL designation to be given by the International Association of Investigative Locksmiths. January, 2000 Published author: (Manual) ?Saginaw Steering Columns-What Has Not Been Told? Training manual for fire investigators. (March 2000) Published (Article) ?Beyond The Lock? (May 2000) Published Author: (Article) Fraud Defense Network-August, 2000 Edition-?Melting Steering Column Tests.? http://www.fraudreport.com/index.cfm?month=08&year=2000 Published author: (Test Report) ?Burned Toyota Steering Column Testing to Determine How Last Operated?. Tool marks and procedures. (December 1999) Currently at the FBI Crime Lab in Washington DC and the US Army Crime Lab in Atlanta, GA for peer review. ACCOMPLISHMENTS Defeated the ?unstealable? Ford Securilock transponder system for a court case 10/10/00. They said it could not be done! Primary designer of a state of the art ?bait? car for a police department to catch car thieves. Worked with The National Highway Safety Transportation Administration and discovered a potential fire hazard on a vehicle and determined origin and cause of under hood fires on this type of vehicle. Featured as ?Auto Theft Expert? in the A & E auto theft documentary ?Stealing Wheels? that aired July 26, 2000. Contacted by Sears and Edelman Marketing to be a national spokesman for an anti theft device for vehicles. (November 1999) Invited to provide evaluation and consulting to steering column engineers at Daimler Chrysler Corporation in Auburn Hills, MI (10/19/99-10/22/99). The purpose of this project was to demonstrate how steering column locking mechanisms could be defeated without the use of a key and how to reinforce the columns against theft. Court Qualified as an Auto Theft Expert and my videos of defeating columns were also accepted by a Cleveland, Ohio Court in October 1999 as a valid piece of evidence. Contacted by Disney Touchstone Pictures for technical assistance in making the movie ?Gone in 60 Seconds? (March 1999) CONSULTANT FOR FOLLOWING ORGANIZATIONS ? Former contributor for The Insurance News Network (Auto theft and prevention) includes heading a forum for the public on how to protect their vehicles for 3+ years. ? Former editor and consultant for the public on matters involving auto theft and prevention 2000-2001 on the web at http://www.autotheft_forum.com. ? The Insurance Career Center (Auto theft and fraud). ? National Association of Investigative Specialists (Auto theft and fraud) ? Expert Find (Auto theft and fraud} TECHNICAL EXPERIENCE ? ASE (National Institute of Automotive Service Excellence) Certified in Auto: brakes, steering and suspension, engine repair, manual drive train and axles, air conditioning. Med/Heavy duty truck: gasoline engine repair, electrical/electronic components. Collision: elec.....
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