I'm going to be getting a new battery for my Camaro in the next few days, and I was thinking about trying the DieHard Security battery. Has anybody used one of these before? $160 is a lot for a battery, but if it keeps my car from getting stolen, then heck yeah it's worth it!!! I don't want to install a full alarm on my car either, so it seems like a good deal. Just wanted to get some feedback before I gave it a shot. Thanks.

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Ben - '67 RS/SS350 - Mustangs, meet your NemeSS (http://albums.photopoint.com/j/View?u=1325262&a=10254551&p=35263002)
"There's an 'e' in Ben, but there's NO 'E' IN CAMARO!!" (no, I'm not an English major....but my wife is! :) )

You could probably fabricate and conceal a "kill" switch for 5 to 10 dollars. Put it down stream to the ignition switch to keep the car from being started. $160 seems like quite a bit for a battery, but you would have to assume that the technology must work. Does Sears offer any kind of insurance with this battery?

http://www8.techmall.com/techdocs/TS991201-3.html
This a really good article about the battery. I like the run-down protection too. To defeat a kill-switch, all the thief has to do is find it. The security battery is turned on and off with a key fob with a rolling code, so it's a lot harder to bypass. Plus it makes a chirp when you turn it on and off, so it sounds like you have a full alarm. I don't think Sears offers any insurance that your car won't be stolen, but the battery itself comes with a really long warranty. Maybe I'll give this a try and let everybody know how it goes. I live in an apartment right now and keep my car parked outside, so this battery would be cheap insurance against my car getting ripped off.

The storage mode would be great if you keep your car garaged during the winter too (not a problem here in Texas! http://www.camaros.net/forum/smile.gif ). The other problem with a kill switch is, couldn't the thief just pop the hood and jump the starter directly? Unless I get locking hood pins too, but I'd hate to cut those into my hood.

[This message has been edited by No 'E' in Camaro (edited 04-03-2001).]

I can understand your motivation if you do not have a garage at home... Your car is constantly "exposed" and the extra protection may well justify the cost... I suggested the kill switch in reference to your comment about the $160 being expensive. You are obviously looking for 24/7 protection and if you don't want a security system, then the battery may be the answer. Be sure to ask Sears what will happen if someone tries to "jump" the battery while it is in "protect" mode ... or, if you can ever jump the battery. Lastly, I would still consider the kill switch as a secondary method of protecting the car. The more hurdles a thief has to overcome, the better for you.

When our battery gives up, I'm going to try one of those diehard security batteries.
Like mentioned, it's just another layer of protection/hassle for someone to go through and makes my ride a tougher target than the one parked next to me.

Thanks for the feedback guys. I guess not many people have tried this battery yet. I think I will give it a shot and let you know how it turns out. Supposedly if somebody tries to jump the battery while it's in protect mode then the battery will stop them. Of course, the easy way to get around this is just to take the battery out and hook up another one, but how many car thieves walk around with an extra battery in their pocket?? I'm mainly trying to prevent "opportunistic" theft. If somebody REALLY wants my car, they're gonna get it. But if some punk sees it and says, "hey nice Camaro, I think I'll take it for a spin," they're gonna have a tough time. I've got the Club on it now, plus I'll have the Security battery, and I'm going to do a kill switch too. Larry suggested his "poor boy alarm" system too, where you use a headlight dimmer switch to route the ignition wire to either the starter or the horn. If somebody tries to start the car it just makes the horn honk unless you hit the switch. I'm considering a modified version of this using a windshield wiper switch in place of my cigarette lighter (which I never use). I haven't checked this in detail yet, but I think it will work. In 'wipers off' there will be no connection and it will work like a kill switch. In 'low wipers' I will run the wire to the starter. And in 'high wipers' I will run the wire to the horn. Then I just flip the switch to the middle and start the car and leave it in the horn position when I'm parked. Or if I want to honk at people while I'm driving I can flip it to honk and turn the key! http://www.camaros.net/forum/biggrin.gif

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Ben - '67 RS/SS350 - Mustangs, meet your NemeSS (http://albums.photopoint.com/j/View?u=1325262&a=10254551&p=35263002)
"There's an 'e' in Ben, but there's NO 'E' IN CAMARO!!" (no, I'm not an English major....but my wife is! :) )

Aloha, dont have one but i know of 2 that do and they love it. one car is garage kept and the other is a daily driver that is kept outside. Not sure if i would get one being on an Island but if i was on the mainland i would.
Whats 160 compared to replacing what you have as a total investement? If you get one you might want to check your insurance companies to see if yu can get some kind of security credit added to your policy>
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Jeff 68 RS Ash Gold

Is there a way to override the low-voltage option? If the alternator went out you might be able to limp home with a standard battery.

There's an article in CHP this month on tips to keep your car from being stolen.

One of the tips is the low-buck horn trick. The problem with this is that unless the switch is outside the horn will go off when you get out of the car. For example, pull into a parking space, turn off the engine, arm the system, open the door to get out, horn goes off until the door is closed. Not exactly stealthy.

Many alarms have systems that work off of + or - triggers. This is nice for 1st gen users since the doors are - and an underhood mercury light switch can be modified to use a + trigger. The brain can be mounted behind the glove box, the passenger door switch wire runs 6" away, and the starter solenoid wires and power are readily accessible. I want to hide everything.

Sometimes just using a $2 flashing LED is enough to deter them.

Two important things are to keep the scumbags out of the engine compartment and to disable the distributor. Professional thieves can steal a car no matter what we do; it's the scumbags we have to watch out for. I had the unfortunate experience of having The Red Beast stolen in 1985. They did not get in the engine compartment (hood locks) but if the distributor was disabled I don't they would have taken the car.


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New! Vintage 45's and a homemade cowl induction air cleaner. http://www.geocities.com/casanoc

Thanks for the info Carl! I missed that article in CHP, I'll be sure to read that one. How do your hood locks work? Are they visible from the outside? I think I'm going to go buy a Security battery tonight and give it a shot too, but the more layers of protection the better! $160 might be a lot for a battery, but I look at is as cheap insurance. Some of my friends are too cheap to buy renter's insurance for their apartments. Mine cost a whole $120 a year, and I'm sure glad I bought it! When my apartment got broken into they took at least 4 grand worth of stuff. Even though I got most of it back I was still missing $1500 worth, but luckily I had insurance. I don't want to go through that with my Camaro!

No "E",

The original owner had the drill-two-big-holes-in-your-hood locks. They are no longer on the car. They were functional but ugly.

What I think I'll do for the hood lock is get a short black plastic covered 3/8" cable. One end bolted to somewhere on the hood (easy removal for shows) and the other end drapped down and locked to the latch support. It will required some gymnastics to attach but it means more difficulty for the scumbags.

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New! Vintage 45's and a homemade cowl induction air cleaner. http://www.geocities.com/casanoc

I have the Diehard Security battery and love it.

I think I got it for $149 on sale. I hate alarms (who pays attention to them), and didn't want to mickey-mouse rig a kill switch.

If someone wants our dream rides bad enough, they'll get 'em (think flatbed trailer). But that's rare where I am. For me, they may smash the window, try to hot wire, get it fired up, then it dies after 3 seconds. This happens 3 times and then the car goes dead. Works like a charm.

I recommend it. I've had it for a year. My dad just picked it up for his '65 Vette.

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http://albums.photopoint.com/j/View?u=1266568&a=10702248&p=36735341

Thanks for the feedback! I totally agree with your opinion on car alarms. I hate them too and always ignore them. I called to get prices on the battery last night. NTB wants $149, but Sears is selling them for $130! The guy I talked to at Sears was real cool too, he has a '69 Camaro and was asking me where he could get disc brakes for it. My friend at work gave me a 10% off coupon for Sears, so I can get the battery for $117+tax, not too shabby! Should have one in by the end of the day. http://www.camaros.net/forum/smile.gif

The new issue of Car Craft has a article on security due to the theft of their mean street, but finally gettign it back. They talk about the Die-Hard battery and a few other options that have been used.

Bought my Security battery and put it in on Friday. Total was only $129 w/tax thanks to a sale and a coupon! I am impressed with the battery so far. It had several other features I wasn't even aware of. If the battery is armed and someone opens the door the battery beeps loudly several times (not sure how this works, I guess it senses the energy drain from the dome light). I tested it and it worked well. It also has a built-in vibration sensor which is very sensitive. I was just polishing the car with the battery armed and it set it off! Best of all, it doesn't beep continuously until I come turn it off like a car alarm, it just beeps about 6-8 times. Hopefully this keeps my car from being stolen. I've already had some kids start messing with it. The stole my dice valve stem covers and some moron tried to pry off the wheel well molding. I guess he didn't realize it was held on with screws!! I'm surprised my antenna hasn't disappeared yet. Anyway, 2 thumbs up for the DieHard Security battery so far!

FYI...

Check the May ( current ) edition of CarCraft for another opinion...other options This post is not to re-open the topic...just to point those interested to some interesting and different routes people have pursued ... and yes, the Sears battery is presented as one of the more practical solutions... Enjoy the read... the article is only a couple of pages long ...

I would look for a replacement for "The Club".

The Club will only deter the un-planned punks. A hacksaw goes through the steering wheel in less than 10 seconds. The Club has just been defeated.

There are other items out there that cost about the same and provide better protection. A good source for more information is someone like Met or State Farm Insurance, also Consumer Report.

This is a tough subject. Punks will destroy in a second what we will take hours and days to clean and restor. Anyway, very best of luck protecting your Camaro.

Thank you for the info on the Battery. I'm buying one now for my car based on your input. I like the idea.

Rick O'Loughlin
69 RS-SS

I'm in on that battery too. We also need to be sure to get the hood locked as well. Keeping that down will be a big deterent. Good info.

Thanks
Lance

So, how do you defeat a rollback? I doubt a security battery will matter.

Dave

Hey no e in camaro....what does the battery look like?.......does it fit nice and normal in the battery tray?
i'm trying to keep my 69 looking stock under the hood and am wondering if this new one is real ugly or anything weird like that?

Hey z/27, the battery looks pretty normal. I'll try and post a picture here:
http://www.sears.com/images/misc/sears/diehard/security1.jpg

Hope that works. The battery dropped right into my tray with no problem and the hold-down clamp fit fine. It comes in a lot of different sizes. The only thing that looks different is the red plastic on top that covers the computer stuff.

Good points on the Club, Scoop69RS-SS. I know it's worthless against professional car thieves, but there's a bunch of unprofessional ones near me that I want to deter too! http://www.camaros.net/forum/smile.gif The more layers of protection the better.

Thanks no E......it looks good...and my car is red so that might work out real good!

Just a tip from someone who has had a couple cars stolen from himself. A prof thief will scope your car and he will get it if he really wants it (People overseas pay huge money for classic cars).The alarm batt is a good idea but if you don't have the hood pin/locks all he has to do is switch the batt with one he brings after seeing your "alarm batt" at the local car show. Believe me I know from experience these guys suck and their not as dumb as we would like to think - they look stupid but a detachable steering wheel is an idea also. Just food for thought.

I put a Diehard Securety battery in my 69, but I also have the Smith & Wesson Option included in the package http://www.camaros.net/forum/biggrin.gif

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69 rallye green X77 Z/28,1967 SS 396 Conv. 1974 c-10 454 swb