Hilux 4x4 Forum

Hi there
I am aware that this topic was under discussion some time ago.
As I am "new'' I would like to raise it again.
I am looking for a "DIY" immobilizer for my Hilux (2011 3.0 D4D)
Something i can put together hidden somewhere for the day some skelm wants
to borrow my Hilux.
I am not an electronic specialist but is willing to try if i need to build
a gadget.
Or maybe where to purchase something other than the factory fitted system.

Regards
Duck

There are lots of ideas. From very basic to quite advanced. A simple suggestion is a hidden switch activating a relay on the starter solenoid.

Can still be push started with a relay on the starter. Rather put the relay on the coil. Otherwise fit a fuel cut-off solenoid that's activated by a hidden switch.

He has a D4D. He will struggle a little with the coil.

The relay on the starter is simply part of a few measures one needs to put in place. One can also break the power to the ignition switch but you would have to hide it very nicely as this is the area they rip open to see if there are immobilisers etc. connected.

One needs to understand their frame of mind when they are stealing the car. They try to get in and out as quickly as possible. They have been trained on which steps to follow to bypass the security systems in the car and how to quickly find any tracking devices. The moment they have done everything they have been taught and it still does not work they must try and troubleshoot the issue. Now they start doubting if they did everything right and they are working under extreme pressure. They do not have time to troubleshoot so often abandon the vehicle at that stage. It happened to both mine and a colleagues.

My bad ... what can I say, ... I'm a petrol head.
Maybe a relay switch on the diesel pump.

P.S. It's my understanding that you don't need the glow plugs to start a diesel that's already been warmed up.

Don't know that they will all do it, but my MIL had a diesel Golf some years back and the glow plug relay failed. A replacement was special order and very pricey so I just bypassed it with a push button on the dash. It wasn't necessary to heat the plugs if the car had been used in the past hour or more, would just start up.

Something worth considering in your decision on how to immobilise.

if the diesel has good compression a lot will start without glow plugs.My father in law was in Balito he did not even Know that he was to wait for glow plug light to go off before starting until a cold morning up here.

I spoke to an expert that told me to stay away from the electrics as you can mess up the ECU and will then need Toyota to fix it.

Will a inline fuel cut-off solenoid installed in the fuel line from the tank with a hidden switch work?

Hello Jacques
I have also been told by auto electricians to stay away from electronics because of those reasons. They don’t provide a good enough answer though. Will installing relays and a switch damage it or only an incorrect installation may damage it?

Yes, an inline fuel cut-off solenoid installed in the fuel line from the tank with a hidden switch will work. Use an anti-hijack type switch so it can be hidden or concealed properly.

One can also break many circuit from behind the fuse box with a relay and a switch. Behind the fuse box to conceal it and wires running to the relay must be concealed as well. The ignition, the computer box, etc. can be done there. Same thing as pulling out a fuse.

I've invested in a Huge Steering lock for now,
Yellow
Can be seen from Mars
Hope to slow the ouens a bit if they want to hotwire my Hilux

I have been with this idea for a long time, since it is so easy to steal a Hilux. My idea hinges around a fuel cut-off solenoid (normally closed) with a hidden switch somewhere in the cab. (I will use a magnetic reed switch and you carry the magnet on your key - the reed switch could then be placed anywhere behind the dash, as long as the magnet can activate it)

I did find a good supplier the other day (nogal in South Africa) when I bought water shut-off solenoids, I saw the fuel solenoids on their product list but the brain did not make the connection at the time. Price was around R400 bucks each. https://www.mantech.co.za/Stock.aspx?Qu ... olenoidand

The fuel cut-off solenoid is certainly one of the better options, electrical cut-offs are easily bypassed. However the fuel cut-off must also be well hidden because if they see it they will just bypass it as well, either physically or electrically with a jumper.

Hide it in plain sight. Label the relay "spotlights" or similar.

Montie wrote: ↑Thu Dec 31, 2020 5:07 pm JH22-06-1.2L-12V_SGT.pdf I have been with this idea for a long time, since it is so easy to steal a Hilux. My idea hinges around a fuel cut-off solenoid (normally closed) with a hidden switch somewhere in the cab. (I will use a magnetic reed switch and you carry the magnet on your key - the reed switch could then be placed anywhere behind the dash, as long as the magnet can activate it)

I did find a good supplier the other day (nogal in South Africa) when I bought water shut-off solenoids, I saw the fuel solenoids on their product list but the brain did not make the connection at the time. Price was around R400 bucks each. https://www.mantech.co.za/Stock.aspx?Qu ... olenoidand

What about a normally open solenoid (if it is available)? This way when switch is activated and as soon as the ignition is switched on, the fuel is cut off (it will close the fuel supply.) You have to then deactivate the switch and the solenoid will return to the normally open state and restore fuel supply.

My reason for this is to not supply the solenoid with power the entire time the vehicle is running preventing it from overheating and increasing its life.

Your thoughts?

Choppies wrote: ↑Mon Jan 04, 2021 8:14 am

Montie wrote: ↑Thu Dec 31, 2020 5:07 pm JH22-06-1.2L-12V_SGT.pdf I have been with this idea for a long time, since it is so easy to steal a Hilux. My idea hinges around a fuel cut-off solenoid (normally closed) with a hidden switch somewhere in the cab. (I will use a magnetic reed switch and you carry the magnet on your key - the reed switch could then be placed anywhere behind the dash, as long as the magnet can activate it)

I did find a good supplier the other day (nogal in South Africa) when I bought water shut-off solenoids, I saw the fuel solenoids on their product list but the brain did not make the connection at the time. Price was around R400 bucks each. https://www.mantech.co.za/Stock.aspx?Qu ... olenoidand

What about a normally open solenoid (if it is available)? This way when switch is activated and as soon as the ignition is switched on, the fuel is cut off (it will close the fuel supply.) You have to then deactivate the switch and the solenoid will return to the normally open state and restore fuel supply.

My reason for this is to not supply the solenoid with power the entire time the vehicle is running preventing it from overheating and increasing its life.

Your thoughts?

Excellent idea! Now what switch should be used for this, for if it is a toggle, you would also have to deactivate the toggle when shutting down the engine every time?

Montie wrote: ↑Thu Jan 07, 2021 1:32 pm

Choppies wrote: ↑Mon Jan 04, 2021 8:14 am

Montie wrote: ↑Thu Dec 31, 2020 5:07 pm JH22-06-1.2L-12V_SGT.pdf I have been with this idea for a long time, since it is so easy to steal a Hilux. My idea hinges around a fuel cut-off solenoid (normally closed) with a hidden switch somewhere in the cab. (I will use a magnetic reed switch and you carry the magnet on your key - the reed switch could then be placed anywhere behind the dash, as long as the magnet can activate it)

I did find a good supplier the other day (nogal in South Africa) when I bought water shut-off solenoids, I saw the fuel solenoids on their product list but the brain did not make the connection at the time. Price was around R400 bucks each. https://www.mantech.co.za/Stock.aspx?Qu ... olenoidand

What about a normally open solenoid (if it is available)? This way when switch is activated and as soon as the ignition is switched on, the fuel is cut off (it will close the fuel supply.) You have to then deactivate the switch and the solenoid will return to the normally open state and restore fuel supply.

My reason for this is to not supply the solenoid with power the entire time the vehicle is running preventing it from overheating and increasing its life.

Your thoughts?

Excellent idea! Now what switch should be used for this, for if it is a toggle, you would also have to deactivate the toggle when shutting down the engine every time?

No you don't have to use a toggle switch. Any switch will work. All it needs to do is complete the circuit.

And you only have to use it when you want to. Like when you are leaving your vehicle alone.

The problem will be finding the correct normally open solenoid.

Hi Guys
There was an attempted theft on my Hilux two weeks back in Pretoria, Zambezi Drive at Galito’s. They broke the door lock and opened the door but the alarm triggered so they abandoned my truck and got away.
I have a gear lock and a clutch pedal lock as well but was looking at further ways to secure my truck.
Looking at installing a fuel shut off solenoid by dropping the fuel tank and mounting it on top of the tank. Reading the posts on opened or closed solenoids. The both have advantages and disadvantages. I am not sure which one I want as yet.
Anyway I have located a normally open solenoid for about R800.00 if any is interested. I made up a latching 5 pin relay setup for using an open solenoid using an anti-highjack type switch which can easily be hidden.
As soon as the ignition is switched on power is given to the solenoid and shuts it off. Only when the secret switch is tapped, it relaxes the solenoid and allows fuel to pass.
Relay configuration:
86 – Ground
30 – Power in from ignition
87 – (Leave this blank) but this is 12 volt output power only after the secret switched is pressed. Can be used to power some other device.
87A – 12 volt power to solenoid – as soon as ignition is switched on. (When secret switch is pressed then only is power transferred to pin 87 thereafter)
85 – Input 12 volt from any accessory. Install the momentary switch on this cord.
N.B. pin 87 and 85 need to be bridged in order to make this a latching setup. Use a 1 or 2 amp diode to bridge the 2 pins. Use the negative end, called the cathode on pin 85 not to allow power backwards to the switch.
I hope this assists. If anyone needs clarification, don’t hesitate to ask.

This same setup can be used for anything else (starter, distributor, fuel pump or injectors, etc.
Just blank off pin 87A and use pin 87 for output power.

Bear wrote: ↑Tue Feb 16, 2021 9:23 pm Hi Guys
There was an attempted theft on my Hilux two weeks back in Pretoria, Zambezi Drive at Galito’s. They broke the door lock and opened the door but the alarm triggered so they abandoned my truck and got away.
I have a gear lock and a clutch pedal lock as well but was looking at further ways to secure my truck.
Looking at installing a fuel shut off solenoid by dropping the fuel tank and mounting it on top of the tank. Reading the posts on opened or closed solenoids. The both have advantages and disadvantages. I am not sure which one I want as yet.
Anyway I have located a normally open solenoid for about R800.00 if any is interested. I made up a latching 5 pin relay setup for using an open solenoid using an anti-highjack type switch which can easily be hidden.
As soon as the ignition is switched on power is given to the solenoid and shuts it off. Only when the secret switch is tapped, it relaxes the solenoid and allows fuel to pass.
Relay configuration:
86 – Ground
30 – Power in from ignition
87 – (Leave this blank) but this is 12 volt output power only after the secret switched is pressed. Can be used to power some other device.
87A – 12 volt power to solenoid – as soon as ignition is switched on. (When secret switch is pressed then only is power transferred to pin 87 thereafter)
85 – Input 12 volt from any accessory. Install the momentary switch on this cord.
N.B. pin 87 and 85 need to be bridged in order to make this a latching setup. Use a 1 or 2 amp diode to bridge the 2 pins. Use the negative end, called the cathode on pin 85 not to allow power backwards to the switch.
I hope this assists. If anyone needs clarification, don’t hesitate to ask.

This same setup can be used for anything else (starter, distributor, fuel pump or injectors, etc.
Just blank off pin 87A and use pin 87 for power.

Awesome Ricky

Thank you for the detailed reply. This is going to assist me tremendously.
Can I ask you where did you purchase the solenoid?

Is it necessary for the relay?

As soon as I procure the solenoid I will also be installing it into my vehicle.

Hi Jacques

I tried to provide a detailed explanation so even someone with little electronic knowledge could make some sense of it or at least ask a friend to assist using this set up. Auto electricians are way to expensive and majority do not know how to do a set up which I proposed above. They offer a simple relay set up with on/off switch.

Gauteng Car Sound & Security gave me a price of R759.00 for the solenoid.
The owner is Nivash - 011 616 4000 / 083 2978646
Address: 359 Jules St, Malvern, Johannesburg (CNR of Jules & Mars)

To answer your question - It is not necessary to use a relay, but then you will have to use the right amperage on/off switch for the solenoid.

The first reason for the relay is that we are Human and often forget to put a switch on or off so the relay set up does it automatically. After the ignition is switched on, you only need to tap the "secret" switch once, to allow fuel to flow. It automatically resets when the ignition is switched off and arms itself when the ignition is switched on again. That takes away the stress of you remembering to arm the solenoid.

The second reason is that a low amperage, slim line, alarm anti-hijack type switch can be used and easily concealed under a carpet, in the hood lining, etc.

Those are two big advantages for using a relay especially if you are using the set up which I proposed above.

Thanks for the detailed system, it’s something I intend fitting. One question though please….

Is it okay for the diesel pump to run against a closed valve? When the solenoid closes, the OEM pump will still be running, but the diesel line is effectively blocked.

In my (very much older) Hilux it was never an issue. I used to forget to deactivate the fuel solenoid all the time and the bakkie would struggle and die in about 50-100m. Flip the switch and it started up just fine. I think the rubber sections of hose used to collapse with the low pressure and then return to their normal size. You can always use the pump on the diesel filter to reprime the lines if you want as well.