whatsupdoc Posted May 24, 2020 Share Posted May 24, 2020 Has anyone fitted one of these? It would seem to be an additional low-cost deterrent. Any recommendations/comments would be well-received! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
spospe Posted May 24, 2020 Share Posted May 24, 2020 Often done it in the past to cars and found it effective on two occasions. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John52 Posted May 24, 2020 Share Posted May 24, 2020 Cutting the electric supply to the electric fuel pump on the Ducato is unlikely to stop the engine starting and running. The mechanical fuel pump on the engine is normally enough to do the job on its own. The electric fuel pump is only needed when bleeding the system, or in cold weather when the fuel is thick. You could put a secret switch on one of the thin wires running up the steering column to the coil around the ignition lock. This will stop the ECU communicating with the ignition key, the dashboard padlock light will stay on, the engine will turn over but not run. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Charles Posted May 25, 2020 Share Posted May 25, 2020 John52 - 2020-05-24 11:28 PM Cutting the electric supply to the electric fuel pump on the Ducato is unlikely to stop the engine starting and running. The mechanical fuel pump on the engine is normally enough to do the job on its own. The electric fuel pump is only needed when bleeding the system, or in cold weather when the fuel is thick. You could put a secret switch on one of the thin wires running up the steering column to the coil around the ignition lock. This will stop the ECU communicating with the ignition key, the dashboard padlock light will stay on, the engine will turn over but not run. What colour is the wire you cut? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Derek Uzzell Posted May 25, 2020 Share Posted May 25, 2020 John52 - 2020-05-24 11:28 PM Cutting the electric supply to the electric fuel pump on the Ducato is unlikely to stop the engine starting and running... According to David’s (whatsupdoc’s) earlier postings, when he joined these forums in 2012 he was newish to motorcaravanning and owned a 2008 Autosleeepers Warwick model (Peugeot Boxer-based). In early 2013 David changed to a new Chausson Flash 04 (Ford Transit-based) and by 2017 this had been replaced by an Autosleepers Warwick Duo (Puegeot Boxer-based). Assuming that David’s Profile is up-to-date (and there’s no particular reason to think otherwise) he now owns a Bilbo's “Nexa” campervan (Volkswagen-based) though the vehicle’s age is not stated. There is a good deal of on-line discussion/advice - including images and wiring diagrams - about installing a fuel-pump ‘kill switch’, and some of this relates to Vollswagens. Personally, if I were going to play about with a newish VW Transporter’s fuel system wiring, I’d seek adavice on the forums that specialise in those vehicles. http://tiny.cc/umaopz (As this is a ’nice to have’ modification, rather than a ‘must have’, I’d also consult Bilbo’s.) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John52 Posted May 25, 2020 Share Posted May 25, 2020 Charles - 2020-05-25 12:26 AM John52 - 2020-05-24 11:28 PM Cutting the electric supply to the electric fuel pump on the Ducato is unlikely to stop the engine starting and running. The mechanical fuel pump on the engine is normally enough to do the job on its own. The electric fuel pump is only needed when bleeding the system, or in cold weather when the fuel is thick. You could put a secret switch on one of the thin wires running up the steering column to the coil around the ignition lock. This will stop the ECU communicating with the ignition key, the dashboard padlock light will stay on, the engine will turn over but not run. What colour is the wire you cut? On the X2/50 its the thin grey/white one running up the steering column (you can get at it from the bottom of the column) - Its a very low current so your connections and switch need to be perfect. But you can easily see if they are not because the padlock won't go out when you switch it on. You need to operate your secret switch before the ignition switch. If you forget you will need to switch the ignition off, operate your secret switch, and start again. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Charles Posted May 25, 2020 Share Posted May 25, 2020 Thanks B-) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John52 Posted May 25, 2020 Share Posted May 25, 2020 Derek Uzzell - 2020-05-25 7:34 AM John52 - 2020-05-24 11:28 PM Cutting the electric supply to the electric fuel pump on the Ducato is unlikely to stop the engine starting and running... According to David’s (whatsupdoc’s) earlier postings, when he joined these forums in 2012 he was newish to motorcaravanning and owned a 2008 Autosleeepers Warwick model (Peugeot Boxer-based). In early 2013 David changed to a new Chausson Flash 04 (Ford Transit-based) and by 2017 this had been replaced by an Autosleepers Warwick Duo (Puegeot Boxer-based). Assuming that David’s Profile is up-to-date (and there’s no particular reason to think otherwise) he now owns a Bilbo's “Nexa” campervan (Volkswagen-based) though the vehicle’s age is not stated. There is a good deal of on-line discussion/advice - including images and wiring diagrams - about installing a fuel-pump ‘kill switch’, and some of this relates to Vollswagens. Personally, if I were going to play about with a newish VW Transporter’s fuel system wiring, I’d seek adavice on the forums that specialise in those vehicles. http://tiny.cc/umaopz (As this is a ’nice to have’ modification, rather than a ‘must have’, I’d also consult Bilbo’s.) Easy way to find out is just pull the electrical connector off the low pressure electric fuel pump and see how long it runs. On the X2/50 its easily accessed under the small manhole cover in the cab floor. If the engine stops (unlikely this weather when the fuel is warm and thin) just put the connector back on, wait a few seconds for it to pump the fuel to the high pressure pump on the engine, and restart. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John52 Posted May 25, 2020 Share Posted May 25, 2020 If disconnecting the fuel pump does stop the engine (unlikely) this is the best place to put your switch, as the thieves hopefully get a few yards and stop in an awkward place attracting attention :D Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Derek Uzzell Posted May 25, 2020 Share Posted May 25, 2020 Hopefully David knows where the low pressure electric fuel pump is on a VW-based Bilbo’s “Nexa”, because I don’t... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
whatsupdoc Posted May 25, 2020 Author Share Posted May 25, 2020 Thanks for all the info & comments. It does seem something worth doing, so I'll report back if I do manage it! (Yes, Derek, we now have a year-old VW Nexa. Been through a few vans over the years, but this is an excellent every day vehicle and means we don't have expensive & colossally Inconvenient storage). Anyway, good advice as always. I'll check the VW forums and will definitely contact Bilbos when they are back). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
witzend Posted May 25, 2020 Share Posted May 25, 2020 whatsupdoc - 2020-05-24 6:14 PM Has anyone fitted one of these? It would seem to be an additional low-cost deterrent. Any recommendations/comments would be well-received! I'd assumed You meant one of these https://tinyurl.com/yc33nvpv not just a switch which I've fitted to many vehicles over the years Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Derek Uzzell Posted May 25, 2020 Share Posted May 25, 2020 David I would recommend caution when considering fitting a ‘simple’ modification to a modern vehicle, or carrying out a ’simple’ task. A few months ago a neighbour’s Mercedes Vito-based Westfalia campervan needed to be jump-started as its battery had been heavily discharged by them playing about with all the electically-operated bells and whistles of the near-new toy that they had just acquired. Eventually the vehicle was provoked into life, but the radio head-unit was later found to be inoperative. In my own case, a couple of months back, I decided to do something to my Ducato that I’d done many times before on other vehicles and ended up with a swath of dire error messages scrolling across the dashboard display. All of these, except one, cleared themselves once the vehicle had been driven for a few miles and the final error code was cleared when the motorhome went in for service - but it was an interesting experience and taught me a lesson. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
whatsupdoc Posted May 25, 2020 Author Share Posted May 25, 2020 Hi Derek - Yes, a cursory glance at the VW Forum would seem to support what you say about warning lights - and also warranty issues. So maybe a cheap solution is cheap for a reason .. Incidentally many people there extol the virtues of the Autowatch Ghost - https://autowatch.co.uk/veh-sec/ghost-2-menu It sounds impressive, but it's certainly not cheap! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Derek Uzzell Posted May 25, 2020 Share Posted May 25, 2020 Autowatch Ghost also mentioned in early-2019 forum threads. https://forums.outandaboutlive.co.uk/forums/search/query.asp?action=search&searchforumid=all&keywords=autowatch+ghost&author=&days=&Submit=Search Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Archived
This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.