my '84 Tercel4wd stolen today!

General discussion about our beloved Tercel 4WD cars
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irowiki
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Re: my '84 Tercel4wd stolen today!

Post by irowiki »

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)

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87 Corolla FX16, 105k
94 Jamboree RV (Ford E-350), 90k
95 Camry Wagon, 170k
97 4runner, 275k
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Petros
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My tercel:: '84 Tercel4wd w/extensive mods
Location: Arlington WA USA

Re: my '84 Tercel4wd stolen today!

Post by Petros »

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".
'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)
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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!

Post by ARCHINSTL »

Petros wrote: I should glue some razor blades on to the back of the housing to sabotage any future attempts, and "leave a mark".
PROPS!
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!!! :shock: :roll:
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
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splatterdog
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Re: my '84 Tercel4wd stolen today!

Post by splatterdog »

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..
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marlinh
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My tercel:: 'Everett' Blue 87 4WD Wagon (Rocky 86, recently retired)
Location: Kootenays

Re: my '84 Tercel4wd stolen today!

Post by marlinh »

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!
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Petros
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My tercel:: '84 Tercel4wd w/extensive mods
Location: Arlington WA USA

Re: my '84 Tercel4wd stolen today!

Post by Petros »

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.
'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)
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dlb
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My tercel:: '87 sr5, '83 dlx parts car
Location: bc, canada

Re: my '84 Tercel4wd stolen today!

Post by dlb »

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.
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BaileySims
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My tercel:: 1983 Tercel SR5 4WD
Location: Texas
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Re: my '84 Tercel4wd stolen today!

Post by BaileySims »

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.
Hmm... makes me want to look at mine. I don't even use the clutch to start it.
WAGON MAFIA.
Blood, sweat and beers.
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irowiki
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Re: my '84 Tercel4wd stolen today!

Post by irowiki »

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
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Petros
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My tercel:: '84 Tercel4wd w/extensive mods
Location: Arlington WA USA

Re: my '84 Tercel4wd stolen today!

Post by Petros »

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.
'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)
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lannvouivre
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My tercel:: 2006 Pontiac Vibe
Location: Odessa, TX

Re: my '84 Tercel4wd stolen today!

Post by lannvouivre »

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?
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rer233
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My tercel:: Multiple

Re: my '84 Tercel4wd stolen today!

Post by rer233 »

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)
Mason
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My tercel:: 85 SR5 4WD Wagon
Location: Fairbanks AK

Re: my '84 Tercel4wd stolen today!

Post by Mason »

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.
Tercel__jon
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My tercel:: 1983 4wd Wagon

Re: my '84 Tercel4wd stolen today!

Post by Tercel__jon »

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.
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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!

Post by ARCHINSTL »

@ Tercel_jon:
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
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