my '84 Tercel4wd stolen today!
- irowiki
- Highest Ranking Member
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- Location: Farmington, NM
Re: my '84 Tercel4wd stolen today!
Still curious, how did he get in, how did he start it?
Former Tercel Enthusiast (not a practical family car anymore but they still have a place in my heart)
Site administrator, if something is broken, PM me!
87 Corolla FX16, 105k
94 Jamboree RV (Ford E-350), 90k
95 Camry Wagon, 170k
97 4runner, 275k
Site administrator, if something is broken, PM me!
87 Corolla FX16, 105k
94 Jamboree RV (Ford E-350), 90k
95 Camry Wagon, 170k
97 4runner, 275k
- Petros
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- Posts: 11933
- Joined: Sun Jan 28, 2007 6:31 pm
- My tercel:: '84 Tercel4wd w/extensive mods
- Location: Arlington WA USA
Re: my '84 Tercel4wd stolen today!
I do not know, I am certain it was locked. the driver's door key looked a bit buggered, but everything looked normal, and it operated normal once I got a battery and new terminal in it.
I noticed something else over the weekend, the jack-ass tried to pull off the inclinometer by pulling on it hard. he bent the mounts so it stand clear of the dash by 1/4" and the leading edge of the vinyl dash is pulled up from the supporting metal about 3/4". The moron even had my tools and could have unscrewed it. No idea why he wanted the inclinometer, perhaps a souvenir. if he broke it off it would have had no value.
I have to dismantle the dash to bend all the mounts back into shape so it will lay flat again. I should glue some razor blades on to the back of the housing to sabotage any future attempts, and "leave a mark".
I noticed something else over the weekend, the jack-ass tried to pull off the inclinometer by pulling on it hard. he bent the mounts so it stand clear of the dash by 1/4" and the leading edge of the vinyl dash is pulled up from the supporting metal about 3/4". The moron even had my tools and could have unscrewed it. No idea why he wanted the inclinometer, perhaps a souvenir. if he broke it off it would have had no value.
I have to dismantle the dash to bend all the mounts back into shape so it will lay flat again. I should glue some razor blades on to the back of the housing to sabotage any future attempts, and "leave a mark".
'87 Tercel 4wd SR5 (current engine swap project)
'84 Tercel 4wd (daily driver, with on going mods)
'92 Mazda MPV 4wd (wife's daily driver)
'85 Tercel 4wd DLX auto(daughter's daily driver)
'01 Honda Civic (other daughter's daily driver)
'84 Tercel 4wd (daily driver, with on going mods)
'92 Mazda MPV 4wd (wife's daily driver)
'85 Tercel 4wd DLX auto(daughter's daily driver)
'01 Honda Civic (other daughter's daily driver)
- ARCHINSTL
- Goldie Forever
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- My tercel:: Goldie is a 1986 SR5 attualmente con Weber/also owned the first T4WD in STL in late '82
- Location: Kirkwood, a 'burb of St. Louis
Re: my '84 Tercel4wd stolen today!
PROPS!Petros wrote: I should glue some razor blades on to the back of the housing to sabotage any future attempts, and "leave a mark".
A HS friend who was a newly-minted teacher at a "challenging" high school back in the later-'60's also had a problem. He tired of his Renault Dauphine (Yes, a real POS beyond even a Yugo, but he loved it, having even owned a 4CV!!!) being lifted and moved into various schoolrooms.
He used an epoxy (J-B Weld?) to secure razor blades under his bumpers - Presto! - no more problems!
Tom M.
EDIT!
GEEZ - and to think I actually entertained a notion to buy a 4CV instead of my first Morris Minor back in '59!!!
T4WD augury?
"Oh, do not ask, 'What is it?' Let us go and make our visit."
T.S. Eliot - "The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock"
"Now and then we had a hope that, if we lived and were good, God would permit us to be pirates."
Mark Twain
"Oh, do not ask, 'What is it?' Let us go and make our visit."
T.S. Eliot - "The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock"
"Now and then we had a hope that, if we lived and were good, God would permit us to be pirates."
Mark Twain
- splatterdog
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- Location: Minnesota, USA
Re: my '84 Tercel4wd stolen today!
Unfortunately booby traps will only make the perp a victim these days.
Perhaps car thieves would think twice if we treated them like horse thieves not so long ago..
Perhaps car thieves would think twice if we treated them like horse thieves not so long ago..
- marlinh
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- My tercel:: 'Everett' Blue 87 4WD Wagon (Rocky 86, recently retired)
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Re: my '84 Tercel4wd stolen today!
Glad you got your car back Petros.
That trick axle of yours could have been a great anti-theft device. That would be the last thing a thief would expect!
That trick axle of yours could have been a great anti-theft device. That would be the last thing a thief would expect!
- Petros
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- Joined: Sun Jan 28, 2007 6:31 pm
- My tercel:: '84 Tercel4wd w/extensive mods
- Location: Arlington WA USA
Re: my '84 Tercel4wd stolen today!
I have heard that our state is the car theft capital of the USA, there is almost nothing that happens to car thieves. So if the state will not put these miscreants in Jail, than booby traps are the only way to go.
I am considering a hidden kill switch, easy to rig. wont prevent break-ins, but will not allow them to inconvenience me so much. And I let the booby traps take care of the rest.
I am considering a hidden kill switch, easy to rig. wont prevent break-ins, but will not allow them to inconvenience me so much. And I let the booby traps take care of the rest.
'87 Tercel 4wd SR5 (current engine swap project)
'84 Tercel 4wd (daily driver, with on going mods)
'92 Mazda MPV 4wd (wife's daily driver)
'85 Tercel 4wd DLX auto(daughter's daily driver)
'01 Honda Civic (other daughter's daily driver)
'84 Tercel 4wd (daily driver, with on going mods)
'92 Mazda MPV 4wd (wife's daily driver)
'85 Tercel 4wd DLX auto(daughter's daily driver)
'01 Honda Civic (other daughter's daily driver)
- dlb
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- My tercel:: '87 sr5, '83 dlx parts car
- Location: bc, canada
Re: my '84 Tercel4wd stolen today!
barto moved the clutch safety switch to lower dash so that you'd have to hold it with your left hand while starting the car. i think he did it so he could bump the car forward with the starter if the engine died, but it also doubles as a good "how the hell do i start this thing" theft deterrent.
- BaileySims
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- My tercel:: 1983 Tercel SR5 4WD
- Location: Texas
- Contact:
Re: my '84 Tercel4wd stolen today!
Hmm... makes me want to look at mine. I don't even use the clutch to start it.dlb wrote:barto moved the clutch safety switch to lower dash so that you'd have to hold it with your left hand while starting the car. i think he did it so he could bump the car forward with the starter if the engine died, but it also doubles as a good "how the hell do i start this thing" theft deterrent.
WAGON MAFIA.
Blood, sweat and beers.
Blood, sweat and beers.
- irowiki
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- Joined: Tue Apr 02, 2013 10:02 am
- Location: Farmington, NM
Re: my '84 Tercel4wd stolen today!
Only the 85 and up have the clutch safety switch!
Former Tercel Enthusiast (not a practical family car anymore but they still have a place in my heart)
Site administrator, if something is broken, PM me!
87 Corolla FX16, 105k
94 Jamboree RV (Ford E-350), 90k
95 Camry Wagon, 170k
97 4runner, 275k
Site administrator, if something is broken, PM me!
87 Corolla FX16, 105k
94 Jamboree RV (Ford E-350), 90k
95 Camry Wagon, 170k
97 4runner, 275k
- Petros
- Highest Ranking Member
- Posts: 11933
- Joined: Sun Jan 28, 2007 6:31 pm
- My tercel:: '84 Tercel4wd w/extensive mods
- Location: Arlington WA USA
Re: my '84 Tercel4wd stolen today!
my '84 does not have a clutch safety switch, it came on the '85 and newer models. I have found those a nuisance, good idea for the '85 project car I have in the garage.
I was thinking the solenoid wire off the wire bundle at the ignition, rig it to a button under the instrument cluster I can reach with my index finger while I turn the key. One hand operation. If you turn the key, no starter without also pushing the button in.
I was thinking the solenoid wire off the wire bundle at the ignition, rig it to a button under the instrument cluster I can reach with my index finger while I turn the key. One hand operation. If you turn the key, no starter without also pushing the button in.
'87 Tercel 4wd SR5 (current engine swap project)
'84 Tercel 4wd (daily driver, with on going mods)
'92 Mazda MPV 4wd (wife's daily driver)
'85 Tercel 4wd DLX auto(daughter's daily driver)
'01 Honda Civic (other daughter's daily driver)
'84 Tercel 4wd (daily driver, with on going mods)
'92 Mazda MPV 4wd (wife's daily driver)
'85 Tercel 4wd DLX auto(daughter's daily driver)
'01 Honda Civic (other daughter's daily driver)
- lannvouivre
- Top Notch Member
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- Joined: Fri Apr 17, 2015 7:18 pm
- My tercel:: 2006 Pontiac Vibe
- Location: Odessa, TX
Re: my '84 Tercel4wd stolen today!
I verified that Zach's Tercel is an 85, but I can start it without pressing the clutch...
But...did you try hitting it with a hammer?
Re: my '84 Tercel4wd stolen today!
My '85 works the same way- think the clutch interlock started with the '86 model year.
if it aint there, there's a good chance it won't break!
83 SR5 Silver/Blue (Snowmobile/work beater)-totaled but drivable
85 SR5 Blue
88 SR5 White (the 'good' one)-not anymore-totaled
87 fwd silver wagon a/t
87 4wd dx Cream (a/t- not anymore- now m/t)
83 SR5 Silver/Blue (Snowmobile/work beater)-totaled but drivable
85 SR5 Blue
88 SR5 White (the 'good' one)-not anymore-totaled
87 fwd silver wagon a/t
87 4wd dx Cream (a/t- not anymore- now m/t)
-
- Newbie
- Posts: 13
- Joined: Thu Sep 24, 2015 4:34 pm
- My tercel:: 85 SR5 4WD Wagon
- Location: Fairbanks AK
Re: my '84 Tercel4wd stolen today!
They probably just used another toyota key. I used the key for my '93 toyota pickup to start an '84 tercel a couple months ago.
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- Top Notch Member
- Posts: 465
- Joined: Thu Dec 23, 2010 1:44 pm
- My tercel:: 1983 4wd Wagon
Re: my '84 Tercel4wd stolen today!
Last year when I drove my 83 up to a gas station I overheard some kids talking about stealing a car. I looked up and they were looking right at my wagon! I finished filling up and got the heck out of there. They were in a newer silver dodge ram. I went up to tractor supply and as I was walking out here they come pulling into the parking lot. I knew it was them, cause they had the windows down. Ive always been pretty paranoid about my car, especially when I take the doors off, but that was nuts. Def adding a kill switch.
Ive tried all my other yota keys in my wagon and non of em work, so thats good for me.
Ive tried all my other yota keys in my wagon and non of em work, so thats good for me.
- ARCHINSTL
- Goldie Forever
- Posts: 6369
- Joined: Sat Apr 30, 2005 1:52 pm
- My tercel:: Goldie is a 1986 SR5 attualmente con Weber/also owned the first T4WD in STL in late '82
- Location: Kirkwood, a 'burb of St. Louis
Re: my '84 Tercel4wd stolen today!
@ Tercel_jon:
Well, at least the kids had a discerning and sophisticated taste!
Tom M.
Well, at least the kids had a discerning and sophisticated taste!
Tom M.
T4WD augury?
"Oh, do not ask, 'What is it?' Let us go and make our visit."
T.S. Eliot - "The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock"
"Now and then we had a hope that, if we lived and were good, God would permit us to be pirates."
Mark Twain
"Oh, do not ask, 'What is it?' Let us go and make our visit."
T.S. Eliot - "The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock"
"Now and then we had a hope that, if we lived and were good, God would permit us to be pirates."
Mark Twain