Ravelco Anti-Theft System

Ravelco can flush-mount or...        read full caption Ravelco can flush-mount or bracket-mount its base unit--I've decided to flush mount it on the right side of the under-dash panel. This location will be easily accessible, will allow the steel cable enough room, and will offer enough clearance to move my legs around without hitting it. From there, the wires run through a drilled hole in the firewall and into the engine bay, to be connected into the factory wiring harness.

David will be using an incremental...        read full caption David will be using an incremental drill bit to start the firewall hole.

An initial small hole is drilled;...        read full caption An initial small hole is drilled; once he's satisfied that it's in the right location, he drills the entire half-inch hole.

With our base unit location...        read full caption With our base unit location chosen, he breaks out a 1.125-inch holesaw to drill the under-dash panel.

The panel is drilled.

TOP 10 STATES FOR METRO-AREA AUTO THEFT, 2004

TOP 10 STATE THEFT RATES PER 100,000 RESIDENTS, 2004

Source: 2004 FBI UCR Program

CONCLUSION

After using the Ravelco Anti-theft Device for three months, I've seen no adverse side effects to the installation. The idea of splicing into your wiring harness can make many people worry about electrical gremlins popping up, but I've seen none. I was also wary of the mounting location of the base unit, as it was at an angle and I wondered if the gray cap would pop off--especially on the bumpy roads that I travel. My installer said it wouldn't, and it hasn't, thanks to a snug fit onto the base unit. Once you get into your vehicle, you simply plug it into the base unit, turn the key, and away you go. Depending on which circuits the installer has tapped, some installs may result in the engine running for a few seconds after the plug is pulled--a feature that may come in handy if faced with a carjack situation.

I won't be leaving this Z in the Brooklyn projects to test the Ravelco's effectiveness--because it has already been tested in 2001 in Mexico City by a company owned by the seven major insurance companies in Mexico. This company had professional thieves attempt to steal a 2002 Nissan Sentra with a variety of anti-theft devices, alarms, and tracking systems installed. Every other system was defeated in under three minutes. The thieves worked on the Ravelco for 35 minutes--and finally just gave up. For under $500, that peace of mind is a steal.

The base unit's wires are...        read full caption The base unit's wires are fed through the panel, and the base unit attaches by way of a plastic nut.	The plug is popped on. Each...        read full caption The plug is popped on. Each Ravelco system comes with two coded plugs that are unique to your system, and only the manufacturer has additional plugs. To obtain replacement plugs, you must prove ownership and identity to Ravelco.	Here is the mounted base ...        read full caption Here is the mounted base unit.
The mechanical aspect of the...        read full caption The mechanical aspect of the installation is done; now he will concentrate on the wiring. David runs the wiring through the hole in the firewall. Dave is going to disable multiple circuits that are critical for the car to start or run. For example, he can disable any combination of the starter, fuel system, ignition system, or computer system. Even more, on some vehicles the cam or crank sensor can be disabled, too. All connections for Ravelco are made in the engine compartment--none in the cabin or under-dash area.	The battery is disconnect...        read full caption The battery is disconnected.	"We would prefer that you...        read full caption "We would prefer that you didn't photograph this part." No problem! Interesting aspects of the Ravelco system include the fact that these wires work in pairs, and if a thief starts clipping them, your car won't run. Trying to imitate the coded plug by probing the base unit won't work either--with over 100,000 combinations, through 16 holes, this would take some time if you didn't start blowing fuses (Which you would!). Also, in addition to the active wires, David's installation features "dummy" wires that only add to the headache of trying to sort everything out. Car thieves are smart enough to swap out high-end vehicles' computers to work with a key that they already have, or write down the VIN number, go to a dealership, and get a new key for your car right there, but they won't be able to figure this out!
All done--this is the same...        read full caption All done--this is the same engine bay, but a different photo. Can you tell a difference? Pretty difficult even with a well-lit photo. Now imagine a would-be thief trying to sort out a mess of loomed-and-taped wires (assuming he even looks under the hood) in the dead of night, all the while looking over his shoulder for the fuzz.