Is Hot wiring a car as easy as shown on Tv ?

Are you watching the Burn Notice marathon too?

No it’s not as easy in newer cars. There’s a technique and it takes practice.

Is that on ??? I love that show !!
Actually my idiot cousin lost his keys and claims he can hot wire cars like they do on TV ,,,,I’ve got a feeling the air bags are going to explode on his silly ass.

You mean… if we are running from the law and need to dump our car and steal a new one?

@Pretty_Lilly Yeah, it’s on all night too! Woo hoo! Videotape him trying to hotwire it, should make for great re-watching at holiday parties.

http://www.fluther.com/disc/53303/is-it-really-that-easy-to-hot-wire-a-car/

I wonder how realistic is about 90% of the “improvised” stuff he does.

But I still love the show. Great premise. Great dialogue and voiceovers. A very likable smartass.

I’m glad I dropped in on this thread as I’m switching over to USA immediately. I had no idea about the marathon.

Unlike a car… I am very easy to ‘hotwire’!!!!

no it is no were near as easy as it looks especially on tv.they make every thing look easy.

Call a locksmith, it’s cheaper paying the locksmith to make a key then to break and destroy the steering column. Also if he does succeed and police haul him for an overnight camp-out for driving with the jimmied ignition switch it would a long story and he will have to replace all the broken pieces. OH AND HIS INSURER WILL PROBABLY NOT LIKE HIS STORY ! !

It isn’t easy for most cars, and it’s especially difficult with newer models. Older cars only need to really maintain power to the ignition system, but newer ones need power to the ECU and fuel pump as well. That means that either you have more wires to deal with under the dash or you’re going to have to do unkind things to the steering column, likely involving tools that will get you questioned before you even get near the car.

That and the specifics vary from car to car since not all of them are wired the same.

On most newer model cars, the ignition key not only does its primary function of starting the car, but it also unlocks the steering column itself so that you can drive (maneuver / steer) the car. So it’s more than just finding the right wires and getting the ignition started; he’ll have to actually break the steering column lock, too.

I’d take @Tropical_Willie‘s advice and call a locksmith. It’ll be worth the cost and will probably save you time, too.

The air bags aren’t likely to deploy; that’s one thing you don’t have to worry about.

Here I am thinking ‘what a nice bunch of fellows’ here… alas… So… any tips for bank heists?

@Tomfafa, yeah… get with the times. Buy a bank and let the bank pull the heist. You save on guns, getaway cars, safe crackers, dynamite… all that stuff. Plus you get to avoid the middleman. It’s the latest way.