Petrol Theives About!!

[Bella Cooke]

Hi All,

I was hoping some of you might be able to advise me on a rather sticky problem which I can't seem to solve... I have a mini cooper and some b***er keeps ripping off the petrol cap and stealing my petrol. It's happened three times now and I just can't use a normal key petrol cap. Does an indestructible, idiot proof cap exist?

Many Thanks from a very unhappy...
Bella Cooke

[mooncat]

Get your tank modded with the filler moved to the inside of the boot, not an easy mod but if it is still happening then get it done, or set up a cctv and get the tts.....

[intrepid]

I agree with mooncat with a slight modification...

...fit a new tank inside the boot but blank off the old one and fill it with diesel.

Anybody stealing it for use in their car will get a nasty surprise!!!

[Bella Cooke]

Intrepid, I'm absolutely going to do that, however much it costs. Thanks guys.

[mooncat]

If they are nicking it they will know the difference in the smell, blank of the tank and then mix some petrol with some sugar, and they will get a even better surprise when they run that.....

[GTRMikie]

I "wired" my filler cap into the alarm system of the car. It's a bit complicated, but an interior light door switch located in the boot is "connected" to the filler cap by a sheathed cable, the type used for the throttle. The end of this cable protrudes just above the filler neck, so that when the cap is in position the cable is "pushed" down (a hole has to be drilled in the rubber filler neck grommet for the cable sheath to pass through) The other end of the cable then pushes on the switch plunger which breaks the alarm circuit. When the cap is removed, the cable is released and a circuit is made at the switch, setting off the alarm. I have not lost any fuel since fitting this a couple of years ago, before then I was robbed on a weekly basis! The only problem is that when the alarm goes off, the low life are so shocked that they forget to drop the filler cap until they are a few yards up the road, but I have always been able to recover it. (Don't use a locking cap because they will lever that off with possible body damage, just use one of the old fashion ones that just twist on and off. The thieving scum reckon they are in for an easy few litres of fuel but do they get a surprise! I actually watched them on one occasion and have never seen anyone jump so high!)

[potatoboy666]

My filler cap is pretty tricky to get off with the key alone.

Just googled and found this http://www.syphon-sound.co.uk/

Also there's some on eBay.

I don't know if any of these will fit the mini, I guess its just a case of knowing the diameter of the fuel thingy.

[Bella Cooke]

You're all fantastic, Thank you. I have looked into syphon-sound but unfortunately they only specialise in industrial vehicles. Grr. How much did your rewiring cost potato boy?

[Bella Cooke]

Sorry, I meant to ask GTRMikie how much the rewiring cost. Losing the plot here with all this rage!

[GTRMikie]

Bella Cooke said:

Sorry, I meant to ask GTRMikie how much the rewiring cost. Losing the plot here with all this rage!

If your car already has an alarm fitted it will cost very little. It cost me nothing because I had an old door switch and the necessary cable in my "spares box". I made up a suitable bracket for the switch from a piece of scrap angle iron. A suitable place to mount the switch is the lug where the boot lid support wire is attached. I will try and post some photos soon.

[Funk]

GTRMikie said:

I "wired" my filler cap into the alarm system of the car. It's a bit complicated, but an interior light door switch located in the boot is "connected" to the filler cap by a sheathed cable, the type used for the throttle. The end of this cable protrudes just above the filler neck, so that when the cap is in position the cable is "pushed" down (a hole has to be drilled in the rubber filler neck grommet for the cable sheath to pass through) The other end of the cable then pushes on the switch plunger which breaks the alarm circuit. When the cap is removed, the cable is released and a circuit is made at the switch, setting off the alarm. I have not lost any fuel since fitting this a couple of years ago, before then I was robbed on a weekly basis! The only problem is that when the alarm goes off, the low life are so shocked that they forget to drop the filler cap until they are a few yards up the road, but I have always been able to recover it. (Don't use a locking cap because they will lever that off with possible body damage, just use one of the old fashion ones that just twist on and off. The thieving scum reckon they are in for an easy few litres of fuel but do they get a surprise! I actually watched them on one occasion and have never seen anyone jump so high!)

You have a live electrical cable connected at the opening of the fuel filler cap?

Hope you don't really want your car too much and love bonfires.

[GTRMikie]

Funk said:

GTRMikie said:

I "wired" my filler cap into the alarm system of the car. It's a bit complicated, but an interior light door switch located in the boot is "connected" to the filler cap by a sheathed cable, the type used for the throttle. The end of this cable protrudes just above the filler neck, so that when the cap is in position the cable is "pushed" down (a hole has to be drilled in the rubber filler neck grommet for the cable sheath to pass through) The other end of the cable then pushes on the switch plunger which breaks the alarm circuit. When the cap is removed, the cable is released and a circuit is made at the switch, setting off the alarm. I have not lost any fuel since fitting this a couple of years ago, before then I was robbed on a weekly basis! The only problem is that when the alarm goes off, the low life are so shocked that they forget to drop the filler cap until they are a few yards up the road, but I have always been able to recover it. (Don't use a locking cap because they will lever that off with possible body damage, just use one of the old fashion ones that just twist on and off. The thieving scum reckon they are in for an easy few litres of fuel but do they get a surprise! I actually watched them on one occasion and have never seen anyone jump so high!)

You have a live electrical cable connected at the opening of the fuel filler cap?

Hope you don't really want your car too much and love bonfires.

You have not read this closely enough. Wait until I post the pictures!

[GTRMikie]

Pictures as promised

[GTRMikie]

Just to say that my "door switch" actually came from a Peugeot 106 tailgate but any type of switch will do the job, you may just need to modify the mounting bracket.

[Bella Cooke]

Thanks mate, I'll look into it. Crystal clear now.

[guru_1071]

thats a great idea mike.

all you need is the mk2 version with a spring loaded bootlid and a angry rottweiler.......

[dogfather]

great idea mike, and very simple.. thanks...