A mini with an immobiliser would take less than 30 seconds to start

Its a mini ffs. You do want a blinking light as a visual deterent, a loud alarm as some inconvenience and an imobiliser to prevent opportunity theft by kids. Oh and most importantly not leave any valuables in view inside the car. Not "hightech claws that close on your starter motor" (which then turn out to be part of a North Korean lawn mower factory surplus).

Otherwise that "powerlock"s description is a obscure as it seems useless.

Battery switch in the boot would slow them down a bit more....

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DrMini- 1970 wasaMatic 1360, Mk1S crank, 86.6HP (ATW) =~125 @ crank, 45 Dellorto (38 chokes), RE282 sprint cam, 1.5 rockers, 11.0:1 C/R.

if your worried about people stealing your mini, take the dissy cap and leads off. I doubt any wouldbe smash and grab is gonna have you particular dissy cap at hand at the time.
Also as doc says, battery cutout switch and electric fuel pump switch hidden somewhere only you know is very helpful.

Cheers

Aaron

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Bit of a blanket statement, isn't it? For example, the transmission lock / immobiliser on a Saab is pretty much impossible to break. The electronic "keys" that cars come fitted with as standard are beyond 99.9% of thieves, and there are retrofitted kits that use a reception loop around the ignition lock that require a transmitter on your key chain to unlock the electrical system. A recent issue of Practical Classics mag detailed how to fit it, including all the black wiring and so on.

So, if you want to protect your car as best as you can, there are products available out there, right up to those flamethowers fitted under the car to prevent hijacking. Even if they aren't legal or morally acceptable.

I just use one of those locks that go over the handbrake and lock it to the gear lever, but then it's a slightly rusty Mk II 850 so who would want to nick that? I don't even lock the Commer.

It's all fine until you never see your mini again
DO FIT SOMETHING !

Even a basic system is beter than nothing IMHO

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Too many cars, and too little time.

Well, s'pose so. Although in our neck of the woods (suburban Wellington), the little pricks just smash windows to see what they can run away with, or they nick wheels for their cars or to sell. Our street has about 100 houses on it, and three times I've found Subaru Legacys (Liberty in Oz I think) sitting on their bellies with no wheels.

You'd be a bit of a perverted thief if you nicked my Commer van, but a nice mini would be another story. I'll work out some kind of electrical immobiliser when I'm doing something else on the electrical system.

best way to stop your mini being driven away=cut off battery and fuel system.

but this will not stop someone pushing/rolling/towing it away. best bet is anchor it down. this way idiots will not be able to move it on you either. unfortunately, this is not a practical solution. although, i ahve thought about it many times hehehe

something is better than nothing definately. i think you can wire an alarm into the interior light circuit cant you? so that unless you turn it off and the door opens it will go off.and its gonna be hard to get into a mini through the window

OOH what about weight sensors in the seats??? OK i think this is starting to get out of hand...

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78 Leyland Mini - Prince

or you could run some spark plug leads to the drivers seat and a lead to ground and when you pull the dissy lead of and replace it with the one to the seat and they go to start the car there balls get fried
makka

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Anonymous moderation means the agro that is built up towards the mods isn't aimed at an individual (fewer "Makk" attacks). Less stress for mods means less moderator "retirements".

makka you are one sadistic mothertrucker!

although it would work quite well

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78 Leyland Mini - Prince

That Power Lock unit has a fuel cut-off and ignition tampering monitoring included as well so it has 3 or 4 points of immobilisation anyway. Good question about the Lucas starter though, I'll let you know how I go with mine.