Just to introduce myself, my name is Dave and I recently purchased my third Vette.(last December). My first was a 1959 black convertible 4 speed that I bought used in 1965 which I kept for about three years until Uncle Sam said he wanted my body. I had to give. After returning from Vietnam, I bought a bigger car since I was now married and the kids were on their way. The next time I got the "bug" was ;in 2004 when I bought a used 1998 white automatic convertible. I kept that one until 2010 when I needed a pickup more than a sports car. Hated to get rid of it but sometimes precedence comes first. Then now I have purchased a 2016 dark grey Z51 Stingray automatic convertible. As you can probably guess, I like convertibles. Each one was a superb car. Now that my wife of 53 years has passed, there's no major reason I can't have my fun again. Now I just have one question. Has anyone ever put in a kill switch so the car won't start if some criminal tries to drive away with it? I'm trying to figure what to cut into without having the computer give me a code because it won't start. I easily did it to my 1959 by cutting the ignition coil wire but there were no computers back then so it was easy. Now, just about any change you make, the computer puts a code in it. That's what I'm trying to avoid. Thanks in advance for any info.
Dave

 

While I can’t answer your question, I can say a few things. Welcome home! Sorry for your loss. And thank you for your service during a thankless time.

 

Welcome and congrats on your C7, and moving this over to C7 Tech for some recommendations.

 

Welcome

 

Welcome!

 

Dear Dave:

Welcome back to the world of Corvettes.

My question is, "Is this really a problem?"

Like you I have owned several Corvettes. C3, C4, C5, and now a C7. I've never had a Corvette stolen. I've never had any of the many cars that I have owned stolen. Perhaps I am just lucky.

I have installed battery disconnect switches in vehicles that I've owned that I would leave parked in some remote areas for long periods of time, but this was with cars that did not have late model computer systems. This would work. But you also might induce reset issues upon reconnection. I disconnect my negative lead of the battery on my C7 when I get ready to seasonally park it. I have had no issues (so far) reconnecting the battery cable for the past seven years doing this. Your experience may be different.

Have you had "bad guys" try to or successfully steal your car before? Maybe it was easier with your 1959 and 1998 Corvette models.

Your current C7 should have push button electric start and comes with a electronic key fob. I would suspect these cars are fairly difficult to steal without access to a valid key fob. See all the problems people have just reprogramming them to get them to work even when they are the owner of the car and the key fob!

Also, you have resources available through OnStar, such as location monitoring, and antitheft detection through them, for the price of a subscription. Someone jacks you up and asks for the key fob or else, please just give them the fob. That's why we have insurance. Sucks but not worth your life.

I would recommend sticking with the available resources thru OnStar that I mentioned above and avoid any potential computer hiccups that might be introduced with a "kill switch".

Jim
AF Vietnam era Vet

 

;Thanks for the reply Jim. I've had no problems with theft...yet and really don't foresee any either but I just wanted to feel safe when driving to a secluded restaurant for instance. It's usually garaged and out of sight so I feel safe at home. It's just other places. Computers are great except for when they're not such as this case.

 

welcome, I mean you could install some sort of cutoff switch going to the starter i would assume and tuck it in some sort of hard to reach area. I wouldnt keep just pulling / cutting the power to the battery just because of the constant resetting the ecu is going take and you will need to keep relearning parameters...
other than cutting a starting option / cranking /fuel / spark option on the car or them towing it away nothing else is worth it since if they can start it up somehow they will drive it away unless you have physical blocking on the car itself.
basically i have insurance and if a thief wants it they can have it. hopefully the chevy gods rain down huge bad karma on them.
alarms only do so much and they are stealing some fairly quickly by breaking the window and "rekeying"

 

Well said...

 

I have IGLA in my jeep Trackhawk. Works great. Not sure if works on a C7