Some of you guys might know this others may not. It is soooo easy to hot-wire an A2. All it takes is to rip off the plastic cover from the bottom of the steering wheel column, unplug the wires that go into the ignition, snip and strip the wire ends and presto the car starts.
Now your probably thinking... "I have an alarm, how are they going to start my car". EASY! Most alarms have an easy to find "Hidden" VALET SWITCH, which is usually a 2 position toggle switch (ON or OFF). The main purpose of the valet switch is to disarm the alarm incase you have to give your car to the Valet or a methanic (or program the alarm). The valet switch can only disable the alarm when the ignition is in the ON position (otherwise it is useless). Well, if a thief hot-wire's your car, the alarm thinks there is a key in the ignition and with a flip of the VALET switch the alarm is disabeled and they can start the car with the wires they clipped. Some Higher-End Alarms have a "CODED VALET SWITCH" which is a very good option to have. A coded valet switch is a keypad and the correct code must be keyed-in to put the alarm in VALET MODE. Also, not all alarms have an Ignition Kill. Most alarms have a Starter Kill, which won't allow the car to be started by means of the starter. BUT our cars are all manual transmision which means that they can be push started, even if the alarm is armed and starter kill on. An Ignition Kill won't allow the car to start PEROID (unless they flip the Toggle valet switch). Did you guys notice that if you have a 90-92 A2 you can slide your hands in the gap in the underside of the steering wheel column (behind the ignition) and pull the plug that leads into the ignition. If a thief wants to he can rip the plastic cover off, clip the wires and drive away. There has got to be a better way to protect the wires in that area. Also, if you don't have an alarm get some kind of ignition kill. Most alarm shops will have a key-pad ignition-kill, which is sililar to the coded valet switch. You have to type in a code to Enable the ignition (car) to start. And it could be a theft deturent aswell, thiefs will think you have some fancy alarm or won't bother to break in. Or you can make your own really cool ignition kill with info at http://www.autospeed.com/A_0059/page1.html I know I didn't cover all the bases there is to alarms. Mark Reda. _____________ List Sponsor: http://www.netsville.com To remove yourself from this list, send mail to [email protected] with 'unsubscribe a2_16v' in the body of your message See us on the web at http://www.a2-16v.com Visit the 16V Homepage at http://www.gti16v.org
