[louiedepalma]

I am seeing alot on the news about these cars being stolen. I watched a video and apparently it is really easy to do.

I was thinking about wrapping a chain around the assembly behind the steering wheel and putting a small lock there.
Putting some epoxy in the one screw at the bottom that takes the assembly apart. I know this would be ugly but it would make it much harder for anyone to get it quickly.

Even with an $800 price tag stereo shops here said they can't keep any gps in stock because of this problem, and they are installing alot of kill switches.

Anyone have ideas?

 

[Darkthefox]

Id recommend a kill switch. The kids doing this are just looking for easy targets. You won't be able to stop them from breaking a window or tampering with the steering column but when they try to start the car a few times and nothing happens they will give up. Just make sure the switch isn't in plain view.

 

[bwdz75]

I watched the BS video that had someone plugging a phone into it or something by the ignition switch which is a bunch of BS as that is completely useless and does nothing. If you have a SMK (smart key, push button start) the car has an immobilizer that is not easy to bypass at all. If your car has a blade key and a turn ignition then you don't need any phones or anything and can just break the ignition and drive the car away.
Since this news story came out and those videos have been posted I have had to repair more than a handful of broken ignitions, broken windows and other poor, unsuccessful attempts of thieves to steal these cars. All this news story did is encourage idiots to try and steal these cars which is super easy to do. I can steal one in 20 seconds with a hammer and a punch and not even cause damage to it but thieves are imbecils and just bust things up and not even get the car in the 5 or so cases I have had to repair in the last 6 weeks or so.

 

[GeoSoul]

I am seeing alot on the news about these cars being stolen. I watched a video and apparently it is really easy to do.

Anyone have ideas?

If you scroll way down to the bottom of this page you'll see something called "Recommended Reading." There you'll find similar threads talking about this topic and see what other members have already said. Some good stuff!

 

[Hammerhead]

Thieves used to use dent pullers, screw it in the switch and pull it out, then start it with a screw driver.

 

[GeoSoul]

Woman falls victim to TikTok’s ‘Kia challenge’ trend

 

[rhysoul]

Woman falls victim to TikTok’s ‘Kia challenge’ trend
View attachment 140183

People that steal (or try to steal) cars for a stupid TikTok challenge should be charged with a felony and locked up for 25 to life. Or worse, which I would choose, it would save a lot of time and paperwork.

 

[TosenR]

....I was thinking about wrapping a chain around the assembly behind the steering wheel and putting a small lock there.
Putting some epoxy in the one screw at the bottom that takes the assembly apart. I know this would be ugly but it would make it much harder for anyone to get it quickly.....

Anyone have ideas?

I use a steering wheel lock (combination type) which is readily seen by any would be thief.

Not fullproof but maybe the less skilled thieves will decide to pass on by. And hopefully I'll avoid a broken window and ruined ignition switch.

Next is to add an audible alarrm as a second line of deterence.

 

[louiedepalma]

I use a steering wheel lock (combination type) which is readily seen by any would be thief.

Not fullproof but maybe the less skilled thieves will decide to pass on by. And hopefully I'll avoid a broken window and ruined ignition switch.

Next is to add an audible alarrm as a second line of deterence.

I also seen those steering wheel locks on my local news channel. They then mentioned how easy it was to pick the lock on them too. But I do agree with you it is much better than nothing.

 

[louiedepalma]

So I am leaning towards a kill switch. I am not real familiar with these cars but the high pressure fuel pump is right there under the hood yes? And there is a wiring harness right there that plugs into it.

I was going to cut around it and put a switch right there under the drivers speaker on the dash so it will open and close easily. I don't like the seatbelt chime that is coming from that speaker anyways.(I never wear my seatbelt)

 

[GeoSoul]

You could try an interactive security system:

 

[barnabas1969]

I watched the BS video that had someone plugging a phone into it or something by the ignition switch which is a bunch of BS as that is completely useless and does nothing. If you have a SMK (smart key, push button start) the car has an immobilizer that is not easy to bypass at all. If your car has a blade key and a turn ignition then you don't need any phones or anything and can just break the ignition and drive the car away.
Since this news story came out and those videos have been posted I have had to repair more than a handful of broken ignitions, broken windows and other poor, unsuccessful attempts of thieves to steal these cars. All this news story did is encourage idiots to try and steal these cars which is super easy to do. I can steal one in 20 seconds with a hammer and a punch and not even cause damage to it but thieves are imbecils and just bust things up and not even get the car in the 5 or so cases I have had to repair in the last 6 weeks or so.

Back before cars had a "chip" in the key, all you needed to do was use a hammer to drive a flat blade screw driver into the lock, and then you could start the car.

I have done it!

So, Hyundai/Kia kept making cars without the "chip" as recently as 2021?

 

[barnabas1969]

Back before cars had a "chip" in the key, all you needed to do was use a hammer to drive a flat blade screw driver into the lock, and then you could start the car.

I have done it!

So, Hyundai/Kia kept making cars without the "chip" as recently as 2021?

@rhysoul was apparently surprised.

Yes, you can defeat a car lock cylinder by simply driving a flat-head screwdriver into it, and then twist the screwdriver to unlock the "lock".

 

[barnabas1969]

@rhysoul was apparently surprised.

Yes, you can defeat a car lock cylinder by simply driving a flat-head screwdriver into it, and then twist the screwdriver to unlock the "lock".

My Soul has push button start, which has other vulnerabilities, if the thief has any brains.

Aside from the push-to-start vulnerabilities, how can I inform a would-be thief that he can't steal my Kia with a USB cable, and dissuade him from breaking my window?

 

[barnabas1969]

@rhysoul

I've performed this on cars in junkyards. (Driven flat-head screwdrivers into locks)

I'm not going provide details about how to defeat push-to-start ignition systems for obvious reasons.

 

[rhysoul]

My Soul has push button start, which has other vulnerabilities, if the thief has any brains.

Aside from the push-to-start vulnerabilities, how can I inform a would-be thief that he can't steal my Kia with a USB cable, and dissuade him from breaking my window?

GeoSouls suggestion would work. I’m not sure the animal rights activists would approve of it though, except peta. 🤭

Kias Being Stolen

I am seeing alot on the news about these cars being stolen. I watched a video and apparently it is really easy to do. I was thinking about wrapping a chain around the assembly behind the steering wheel and putting a small lock there. Putting some epoxy in the one screw at the bottom that takes...

www.kiasoulforums.com

If someone is stupid enough to try playing grand theft auto with you car, all you can do is use a deterrent. A steering wheel lock like “the club” might help. An aftermarket car alarm maybe. Comprehensive insurance with a low deductible is a must if you live in these type of “cities”.

 

[rhysoul]

@rhysoul

I've performed this on cars in junkyards. (Driven flat-head screwdrivers into locks)

I'm not going provide details about how to defeat push-to-start ignition systems for obvious reasons.

That’s nice.

 

[barnabas1969]

It's just amazing to me that Hyundai/Kia decided to make the "immobilizer", aka "chip key" optional as late as 2021.

The "Kia Boyz" don't even need a USB cable. All they need is a hammer and a flat screwdriver!

So, I'm trying to figure out how to inform a would-be thief that my car doesn't have an ignition switch.

"Please don't break my window. This car is equipped with an immobilizer."

???

 

[barnabas1969]

If the thief is smart enough to defeat the push-to-start ignition system, a kill switch might help.

But for the other dummies, how do I stop them from breaking my windows in the first place?

 

[bwdz75]

My Soul has push button start, which has other vulnerabilities, if the thief has any brains.

Aside from the push-to-start vulnerabilities, how can I inform a would-be thief that he can't steal my Kia with a USB cable, and dissuade him from breaking my window?

Thieves don't have brains. The push button is not that easy to defeat. The amplifier devices that they use near your keys are not so good like they make them out to be on the news.
Keys or any security system are just there to keep honest people honest. Anyone who has half a brain can take down a bank or hold a company for ransom by hacking their computers. Even our brightest government systems constantly get hacked by foreign hackers. A car is too easy to steal for anyone with some wit and it doesn't matter what brand or what other system is on it. Back in the 90s I did some towing and repos, I remember one time I located a semi truck a company was looking for and I was in my car so I didn't have any special tools so I used 2 paper clips to jump the back of the ignition switch and drive it away.