OK, here’s the situation… My friend asked me the best way to disable a car. The reason is to keep one person in the house from taking the car. This person has a key to the car. The car is a 2004 Honda Accord. He thought disconnect the battery and I suggested he not do that. The computer would have to boot up every time it’s hooked back up and the re-learn the engine idle, run, etc. I thought hook up a switch through the neutral safety switch. He asked if there is a relay or fuse that could be removed. I’m not up on Honda. Any ideas? Can a relay or fust be removed? Any other ideas? Any help would be great. The idea is so when the unauthorized person would try and take the car it would just act like something is not working with the car…
Pull the fuel pump relay.
Whats the story? Whats really going on?
Thanks. Good idea. Any help on where it is and perhaps a relay number?
The story ? A good friend has a problem with his kid taking his car. Sometimes for a couple of days. I’m hoping I can help him.
The wiring schematic shows that if Fuse Number 4 (10 amp) is pulled there will be no power to the fuel injectors. That should stop it in its tracks; instantly.
JMHO, but the problem may be far worse than disabling a car. There’s a major issue here with the kid taking something that is not his and disappearing for several days.
If something bad happens the owner of that car will be on the hook in a civil sense for sure and possibly a criminal one.
I agree @cargu7766 that disconnecting the battery is a bad idea. Old school a chain around the axle with a padlock wrapped around a big tree could work also, but when in a similar situation I found it better to come to an understanding, talk it out but do not be afraid to mention car theft is a felony and you will be calling in a car theft if necessary, and make sure you are in the right…
Why not just physically take the key from the guy that’s not supposed to be driving the car?
Is the guy that’s not supposed to be driving bigger and stronger than the rest of you?
Pull the fuel pump fuse, the EFI fuse, and/or the ignition fuse.
Pulling a fuse is a good idea. But, let’s assume this kid is clever and he/she might just find the missing fuse, replace it and off to the races - or whatever. Therefore I would intentionally blow a fuse of the same color as the one to be pulled and replace the good fuse with the bad one. Much more time consuming to track down the problem.
Do they still sell “The Club”? That is a gizmo that locks to the steering wheel making the car impossible (or at least very difficult) to drive. It also makes a statement that “you are not allowed to take the car” which seems to be in order for this situation. Having a key doesn’t mean ownership and you can go anywhere you want for as long as you want. The key comes with boundaries and if the “kid” isn’t respecting the boundaries then take the key, or club the car.
If my kid stole my car and disappeared for 2 days, I’d call the cops, personally, and report him as a runaway. If for whatever reason your friend is unwilling to do this, then he needs to keep both sets of keys locked up or on his person at all times.
Take the keys away? Any “solution” that involves altering the car is stupid.
Uncle Turbo’s suggestion to replace a critical fuse with one that is burned out seems like a great suggestion. I don’t really know what I would do if facing that problem but then I am not aware of the specifics of the situation here. On a few occasions I have been forced to draw that mental “line in the sand” and when crossed take drastic actions that resulted in a great deal of turmoil. I rarely regretted drawing the line and often regretted waiting too long and being complacent much too long.
I hope your friend can get this settled without a great deal of turmoil, @carguy.
Id say take the key away, unless we think Jr. has extra keys. Sounds like a bad situation.
If I would have stolen my parents car and vanished for a few days, I wouldn’t be posting here because Id still be getting my butt whipped.
I understand that was a different time, different place though.
Sounds like some consoling is needed. Lets be honest, when Jr. takes off for two days its not likely he is spending time at the library.
EDIT I see OK4450 gave you a specific fuse, I missed that. I didn’t catch it until I typed this.
Back to the original question though, pulling the fuel pump relay/fuse is a good easy way to go, Unplugging the ECM fuse works too. Not sure of a relay number, but look under the underhood fuse center, thats where they are located on most cars, there is usually a diagram of the relays and fuses on the underside of the cover for the fuse/relay center.
If he has an owners manual, check that, it will have a list of the fuses. If someone here has an accord of that era maybe they can help.
A fuse may be easier to pull than a relay, some relays are a bit tough to pull out.
Look for a fuse labled ECM, FUEL, IGN There will be a fuse or relay that will disable the car, That is for sure.
PGM-FI relay would do it, look for a relay that says FUEL, EFI
Good luck to your friend.
I would definitely disable the starter. If the fuel pump, for example, is disabled, anyone who tries to start it will likely burn out the starter and/or run down the battery.
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You find the wire that goes from the ignition switch to the neutral/park safety switch and put a hidden switch in that wire. With the switch off, the starter will not engage and it will act like the starter motor has gone bad.
Personally, if the kid took the car without permission, I’d call the cops and let him get a taste of the real world.
While in most instances I think steering wheel locks (like the Club) are pretty useless (real thieves can disable them reasonably easy) this might be a case where one is justified. Its a big statement that use of this car is unauthorized.
I dunno, as a parent myself, I might be tempted to use the Club on the kid …
I agree, there is a larger issue here, but the OP doesn’t have any control over that - it’s not his kid. If it were my kid he/she would be grounded, long-term - which means no cell phone, no unsupervised computer (and that only for necessary homework WHILE I WATCH), no TV, and full house arrest. Actually if it were my kid it would never have gotten to this point (and in fact never did) … anyway …
Does removing the distributor cap not work anymore? Or is that something else that used to be easy that has become a huge pain … how about an alarm on the door to the garage? How about locking the door to the garage - install a 2-sided deadbolt and don’t give him/her a key … Take a wheel off and chain it to something unmovable … who cares if it’s obviously disabled, that’s just sending a message to the kid that you’re serious about not letting him/her drive.
We had to do this for my mother-in-law. We took her key away…but she just used my father-in-law’s key. We couldn’t do anything too drastic because my father still needed to drive and he wasn’t very mechanical. So we had a security switch added. It was just a small red switch under the dash that my mother-in-law didn’t know about. That switch had to be in the on position for the car the start.
Don’t know if they still make them or not, but the use of a “club” would lock the steering wheel making the car unsteerable and useless (atleast by the novice). If it was me, I’d get the key back and possibly change the ignition incase they made another copy of the key. I’d ask a cop to scare the living daylights out of the kid. Unless your friend reports the car stolen, if his child was to hit someone or possibly kill someone, your friend would be held liable for any and all damage. My kids get mad at me because I won’t let them drive the car with their friends in the car. As long as I pay the insurance, they play by my rules, because I’m the one who would be held responsible. Don’t like it, get your own plan…
@Mayday >>While in most instances I think steering wheel locks (like the Club) are pretty useless (real thieves can disable them reasonably easy) this might be a case where one is justified.
Really? Real thieves can disable them reasonably easy? Oh, really?