rvieceli said:
[member=44099]Cheese[/member] from reading that article, it seems that with continuous use of the fancy lock to open and lock with the special key all the time, the actual lock mechanism wears to the point that the key won’t work the lock anymore.
The solution is to use de the key fob and the solenoids to lock and unlock the van. Eliminating the wear on the keyed lock mechanism. If your key fob doesn’t operate the solenoids or there is a problem with them folks will use the special lock and key. The caution is get the locking system fixed.
Kind of like what I did a while back, had to get a new lock for the shop and had them key it to my house key. Unfortunately the house key I had with me was worn and now the copies of the house key that aren’t worn down won’t open the door. [eek]
Ron
I use the key fob and nothing else - plus I have a spare in case the fob battery goes bad. The mechanical wear problem happens because owners don't follow the lock manufacturer's instructions to lubricate them once every coupla months if they plan to actually lock and unlock the vehicle with the key. The locksmith who fitted mine was very, very specific about this, and actually gave me a huge can of aerosol PTFE lock lubricant.
The deadlocks on the rear and side cargo doors are purely mechanical, and combat the most common form of break-in - something known as 'peel and steal'. The metal on modern vehicles is wafer-thin. Criminals discovered that if you put a crowbar into the gap between the top of the door and the van roof, you can just bend the door in half. These deadlocks are therefore mounted right at the top of each door, and they get the PTFE treatment once a month. 5 years in, locked and unlocked multiple times a day, no problems at all.
The Ghost immobilizer requires a PIN code to be entered by pressing a sequence of buttons on the radio, heater, steering wheel etc. in the right order, otherwise the engine won't start. And even if they get past the deadlocks and the Ghost, they still have to find the hidden killswitch which cuts power to the fuel pump. Nothing's infallible obviously - but my son (a police officer) has repeatedly told me that these people just want to be in & out as quickly as possible. If they see something which looks difficult or has visible security, they'll walk on by and choose an alternative, easier target.
It all probably sounds totally excessive - the extra locks & stuff added almost £2k to the cost of the van. But tool theft is an epidemic in the UK with dozens of vans being broken into every month, and I carry well over £20k in the back. You can no longer get insurance against this - companies just won't take the risk any more. I'd add that this is full-scale organised crime, not some lowlife looking to make a few bucks. Just three months ago, Border Control at the port of Felixstowe seized three 60-foot shipping containers packed with stolen power tools, all on their way out to Eastern Europe.
It's sad that guys like me have to go to such lengths to protect our livelihoods - but that's the world we live in.
