Theft is [upsetting]

Well, Im lucky to still have a car as I had been having an electrical issue with the car that was causing issues.

Anyhow, went out to the car to grab a tool I had left in it to find my doors open, hood popped, amps gone, stereo gone, valentine 1 gone, and steering column F@#$ED.

What I would like to know is how hard is it to replace a steering column?

Here are pics of the damage: http://community.webshots.com/album/291082066iaqRWG

Thank god the car didn't run :)

impossible to steal a 4th gen by "hot wiring" it like they tried to do

prolly some punk kids

That looks like they knew what they were doing. The column got jacked pretty good. Now you know to either not put a stereo in or to cover the amp rack...Or get the custom one that mounts onto the back under the hatch so you can't see it.

Man that really sucks.

Is it possible to steal a 3rd gen with hot wiring?

Replacing the column is easy. Just get a new one and go from there. I've had mine out to fix the dreaded "tilt column play" problem. Tearing it all apart to fix it was not a picnic. Getting it out and in was no problem, though.

impossible to steal a 4th gen by "hot wiring" it like they tried to do

prolly some punk kids

So how are these cars stolen without the keys? From what I see here it looks like they were trying like a mofo. I though if you cut the VATS wire, and connected it to a battery it bypassed.

So how are these cars stolen without the keys? From what I see here it looks like they were trying like a mofo. I though if you cut the VATS wire, and connected it to a battery it bypassed.

No. cutting the VATS wire and connecting it to a battery will not bypass it.

Typically a tow truck is used to steal our cars. If you are not in a hurry, you can try all the different resistances until you eventually find the correct one. I've heard of a tool that plugs into the vats harness and allows the user to select different values with a knob. This method could be time consuming.

if i recall correctly, there are 26 different resister combo's

times this by the timeout period, which is something like 3 - 5 minuites per bad resister, and you've got a long long long wait.

only way your getting an f-body is via flatbed or by having the key.

Man, sorry to hear that. I learned something tho....that our cars are hard to steal!!!

but easy to get into an jack the steering column. bastards! like i said before, i should be happy to still have a car. Thx for the input.

only way your getting an f-body is via flatbed or by having the key.

I dont think it is that hard at all. Instead of trying to find the right resistance to get the car to start you could just bypass the whole vats system by grounding out the vats wire on the relay in the glovebox.

Not that I have ever to steal a car but I am sure if the guy wants your car bad enough he will find a way to steal it.

Jeez.......what happened to the steering wheel?

Is that fire damage?

Jeez.......what happened to the steering wheel?

Is that fire damage?
No, I think thats the powder for the finger prints. Although I thought it was white?

No, I think thats the powder for the finger prints. Although I thought it was white?

It can be black too, but I'm not sure the color of the powder matters to much.

I dont think it is that hard at all. Instead of trying to find the right resistance to get the car to start you could just bypass the whole vats system by grounding out the vats wire on the relay in the glovebox.

Not that I have ever to steal a car but I am sure if the guy wants your car bad enough he will find a way to steal it.

all that does is allow it to crank, still won't start, the vats module sends a signal to the PCM to let it fire the injectors

all that does is allow it to crank, still won't start, the vats module sends a signal to the PCM to let it fire the injectors
that is good info, i appricate it. the funniest thing is it had no fuse in the ignition system.

Im not gonna go into detail for obvious reasons, but therews a fairly easy way around vats if you know what your doing. You will get 1 attempt at starting though, if it dont start your fugged. Kid i used to work with used to steal cars park em 2 blocks away and take anything worth anything out at that point. Usually from kmart parking lots and other large lots of that sort. Watch your stuff people! This kid was so good you woulda thought he had keys and was just fumblinga round for a couple seconds with em. Scary to watch.

dude, that is Fu#@d up! now I am worried because if you're in Denver, that isn't too far from me in Aurora. :(

I dont think it is that hard at all. Instead of trying to find the right resistance to get the car to start you could just bypass the whole vats system by grounding out the vats wire on the relay in the glovebox.

Not that I have ever to steal a car but I am sure if the guy wants your car bad enough he will find a way to steal it.


Have you tried hot wiring the VATS relay? what did you do to bypass the VATS module, if you don't have the VATS disabled in the Chip, the ECM is expecting an enabling signal to fire the injectors It'll crank, but won't start without fuel.

How about carrying a spare computer that its been programmed out of. Sure its alot of work, but that could work too. Doubt most theives would know what to do though.

I've bypassed VATS on a ton of customer cars. You still need the key to start it. Sure, you can jump the starter, but that still won't work to well if there is no power to the accessories or ECM :)

-Shannon