DIY sports hood locks

Sooner or later, every car enthusiast thinks about upgrading his car. Someone, inspired by the famous show “Pimp My Ride,” is pumping up factory molds in his garage, bringing them to perfection. Technical tuning, fine-tuning the car - whatever you call it - all this is done to improve the running and external parameters of the car. And not a single car owner would want to voluntarily part with their car, so for safety, many install an additional lock on the hood with their own hands.

Why do you need an additional hood lock?

Criminals know how to hack both the anti-theft system and the immobilizer. The additional device is an auxiliary line of protection for the engine compartment. If a criminal tries to open the engine compartment, then the presence of another lock will at least put him in a dead end. Ideally, an additional device will prevent the car from being broken into and stolen.

They can try to open the hood not only for theft, but also for removing and selling spare parts from cars. For example, control units, generators, optics, etc. may be stolen. To dismantle these elements, you need to gain access to the engine compartment.

What types of castles are there?

There are several types of locks:

1. Mechanical devices used as additional locking. Locks are produced by different manufacturers, but their design is almost identical. These devices differ in the length of the emergency cable; it can be 3, 5 or 7 feet. The lock is opened and closed using a special cylindrical key. This type is the most budget-friendly, but it can be hacked. The security of the cylinder is weak, the cable needs regular lubrication, and locking devices are usually suitable for installation on older car models.
2. Mechanical devices that block the operation of the standard lock. The device is opened and closed using a key, which can have different levels of secrecy. Such products are designed to lock standard hood locks. The device holds the lock in the locked position. It is not practical to install such products on modern cars, since such designs were developed more than twenty years ago. During this time, the design of the blocking element has remained virtually unchanged.
3. Mechanical devices with additional locking. This type of product belongs to the universal category. Among the assortment available on the market, this variety is considered one of the most effective. The engine compartment is locked using a special mechanism that is in no way connected with the standard product. The cylinder on such locks is maximally protected from turning, drilling and other methods of opening. We recommend choosing a device designed for a specific machine model. These products include additional fasteners and fastenings for a specific car brand.
4. Electromechanical. This type of product can be made as a separate module or used as an additional blocker. The hood is protected by an auxiliary device that is in no way connected with the standard product. The product control process is carried out using electrical signals that come from the anti-theft system. Pulses can be transmitted through wires that open and close the central lock or through a relay. You can connect the lock to the immobilizer. If problems arise in the vehicle's electrical system, this may affect the functionality of the hood lock. In case of such malfunctions, you can open the device with a safety cable, which should be included in the kit.

The AutoAudioCenter channel in its video talked about the features of the Starline castle.

Installation of a homemade electromechanical lock

This process is also simple and will take about forty minutes at worst.

In general, the principle of the electromechanical hood lock is almost the same as on the trunk. Let's take a closer look.

Installation tools

• Electromechanical door lock
• Drill with a diameter of 3mm, and a drill with a diameter of 5mm
• A motorcycle spoke.

Insert the spoke into the door lock. You need to make two holes in the lock, 5 mm in diameter. In the hood body of the car itself we make two holes for attaching the lock.

The initial stage of installing a homemade electric lock

We make a mount for an electromechanical lock from a piece of metal.

Future mount for our castle

We combine all the parts as shown in the photo.

The final stage of installing an electric lock

The whole point of the device is this - an electromechanical lock connected to a button with different polarities pushes a motorcycle spoke with a diameter of 4 millimeters into the factory lock mechanism and prevents opening. Just in case, it is designed so that you can open it from the bottom of the car - remove the protective pan and move the rod.

Of course, no one gives 100% guarantees of protection from attackers; each poison has its own antidote, but such locks provide some kind of reliability. But which type to choose is up to you to decide.

Which one is better?

Let's look at the most popular lock models:

1. Starline L11+. According to reviews, this type of electromechanical devices is one of the most reliable. Its installation allows you to protect the engine compartment from hacking. When you try to gain access to the engine compartment, the lock cylinder is blocked.
2. Defen Time. A universal electromechanical device that can be installed on any car model. During installation, no additional brackets or clamps are required. The device works reliably in bad weather conditions. The developers took care of this and equipped the product with additional protection against corrosion. There is a possibility of backup opening. The lock's operation is automated. The package includes an ignition unit.
3. Fortess Lock. This device is designed specifically for use in aggressive conditions. The device is equipped with additional protection against overheating, which increases the quality of the product. The lock is universal, so it can be installed on any car. The device is equipped with a reliable cable, as well as a lubrication system, which allows you to increase its service life. There is a possibility of emergency opening. The design includes a system to prevent cable breakage. In manufacturing, the manufacturer uses composite materials with metal inserts. The product is equipped with a moisture-proof sealed case.
4. Mil-T-Lock. An additional device will provide excellent protection for the engine compartment. During production, the manufacturer equips devices with Classic and Interactive cylinders. It is possible to install a lock on both the hood and the gearbox. The car owner can make one key to control both products.
5. Construct. This mechanical type device is a lock, which consists of a locking element installed under the hood, as well as a cylinder located in the passenger compartment. To close, the car owner just needs to click on the cylinder. To open the hood, you need to use the key and remove the cylinder from the body of the product.

The cost of the device depends on the model, manufacturer and pricing policy of the store. The average price is 3-5 thousand rubles.

How to install an additional hood lock?

The procedure for installing a mechanical type product with your own hands looks like this:

1. Mark with a pencil or felt-tip pen above the optics the place where the lock bolts will be installed. Please note that the location of the screws on both sides must be symmetrical.
2. Using a drill, make holes and install bolts in them. Before tightening, lubricant must be applied to the ends of the screws, this will allow you to calculate the place where the elements will pass. You have to close and open the hood, the marks will remain.
3. The next step is drilling holes on the hood. Perform this procedure carefully; we recommend using the thinnest drill possible. Subsequently, its diameter can be increased. After drilling, the resulting holes must be processed with a file. We recommend drilling from the inside, otherwise the paintwork may be damaged.
4. Check how the hood closes. If the holes made are not touched by the rods, then the procedure has been completed correctly. The edges must be primed to prevent corrosion.
5. At the next stage, using a thin drill, make a hole for installing self-tapping screws, after which you can screw the lock plate to the hood. Then install the rods to it so that they are higher. This will be needed for further securing the studs in the technological holes.
6. Fix the safety cables to the body; self-tapping screws are used for fastening. This will prevent the studs from getting lost. Check the functionality of the lock.

What are sports locks?

What are their functions?

Many people who saw strange, symmetrically located devices on the hood of a car for the first time had a similar thought: “What can people come up with to stand out from the crowd!”

Yes, these accessories really give the car a new, sporty, aggressive look. That's all? Is it worth it to poke holes in the hood for the sake of a dubious change in appearance? In fact, sports hood locks, in addition to decorative functions, perform another important role.

Driving safety

It is not uncommon for a car to open its hood while driving. And this happens not only with “old” vehicles. It’s good if everything gets done by replacing the hood, windshield, straightening the roof, followed by paint work. All this costs a lot of money and, most importantly, nerves. How to insure yourself against similar and more serious troubles?

Which one is better to choose?

When choosing a locking device for a car, you need to take into account not only its principle of operation, but also other nuances:

1. If the device is mechanical, then it must be equipped with floating cylindrical elements. These hood locks use cylinder-in-cylinder technology.
2. The secret cylinder must have at least five million combinations for opening and closing with a key.
3. The degree of secrecy of cylindrical keys should be maximum.
4. It is desirable that the locking device has a double password with a code cylinder.
5. The thickness of the device cable must be at least 26 mm. This will ensure maximum protection of the product from biting and sawing.
6. It is important that the protective sleeve of the cable is made of multilayer material. Each of them will perform a specific protection function. For example, in three-layer products, the first layer prevents biting, the second prevents sawing, and the third will provide protection to the previous layer.

The Alex Auto channel talked about the features of choosing protective devices for the engine compartment.

Defen Time

The device belongs to the category of electromechanical devices. During installation, the consumer will not need additional brackets and clamps. The hood lock works effectively in all weather conditions.

Features of this model:

• the product does not require regular maintenance;
• increased level of protection for the engine compartment;
• protection against corrosion and destruction;
• possibility of reserve opening of the product;
• ease of installation;
• automatic operation of the device;
• possibility of fixing closed and open positions;
• presence of a built-in ignition unit.

Starline

Models L10, L11 and L12 belong to the electromechanical class and provide maximum vehicle protection thanks to the effective fastening of the hood cover. The design features of the device provide access to the engine compartment of the car in emergency situations.

• blocking the lock cylinder during a break-in attempt;
• ease of installation and operation of the product;
• versatility - devices can be installed on any car model;
• increased level of reliability thanks to technologies used in production;
• protection from the negative effects of corrosion;
• Locks from this manufacturer are compatible with Starline anti-theft systems and can be connected to a microprocessor module.

The AutoAudioCenter channel talked about the features and differences between Starline hood locks of different models.

Fortess Lock

This type of protective devices was developed for vehicles used in aggressive weather conditions and environments. The device can be installed on any car model due to its design features. The device is equipped with protection against overheating of the electric motor, which generally increases the quality and service life of the lock.

Main features of the Fortess Lock:

• high-quality fixed cable for opening;
• the protective device is equipped with a system for regular treatment of the locking mechanism, so the consumer will have to periodically service it;
• emergency opening of the device;
• the presence of a system to prevent the emergency cable from being bitten or broken;
• in the manufacture of the device, composite materials with steel inserts and reinforcement are used, which significantly increases the security and service life;
• the mechanism is supplied in a moisture- and dust-proof sealed case;
• protection against corrosion.

Construct

Mechanical devices belong to the class of model devices. Construct locks come with three keys and a code card. The device consists of a locking mechanism made in a cylindrical body, as well as a control locking element. The latter is controlled by a cable made of flexible braiding. A hook is fixed to the hood lid, which engages with the latch, the latter is attached to the car body.

The SPVcompany channel talked about the features of Konstrukt lock products.

Atlet Neo Electro

The device is controlled according to the principle of operation of the security system installed in the car. The latter includes alarms, engine blockers, as well as various digital devices.

• according to the manufacturer, the products are protected from picking keys and turning due to the absence of a cylinder in the design;
• when locked, the engine compartment opening handle moves freely, so it cannot be broken;
• gears are not made of plastic, which ensures their high reliability;
• the versatility of the device makes it possible to install it on any car model, but it is first necessary to modify the standard hood lock;
• in practice, such products practically do not jam if the engine compartment is opened;
• the consumer has the opportunity to install two independent devices at the edges of one;
• there are no external changes in the design of the device;
• if the device is locked, it is impossible to break it, so the functionality of the limit switch on the hood does not matter;
• For the manufacture of the body and moving components, modern materials are used, eliminating the likelihood of souring and corrosion.

Photo gallery “Hood locks”

Photos of locking devices to protect the engine compartment are presented in this section.

How to install an additional hood lock with your own hands?

You can install the access blocker to the engine compartment yourself. You cannot install additional locks on cars that are still under warranty.

What will you need?

To complete the task you will need:

• drill with a set of drills;
• tape measure or meter;
• round file;
• screwdriver with Phillips blade;
• set of wrenches;
• grinder or jigsaw with a metal disc;
• primer or anti-corrosion agent;
• lubricant, for example, grease.

Step-by-step instruction

Hood lock installation procedure:

1. Before performing the task, you should remove the latch from the spring elements of the hood, as well as from the safety hook. During installation, you will have to open and lock the hood, and the standard protection will interfere with this.
2. Then you need to select the places on the engine compartment frame where the pin clamps will be installed. Markings are made with a marker, holes are drilled through the door. It is recommended to drill in several stages. First with a 4 mm drill, then with an 8 mm drill, and then with a 12 mm drill.
3. The pins are installed and their nuts are tightened. The height of these elements should be slightly larger than necessary. The pins will subsequently be adjusted, so do not tighten the nuts all the way.
4. Then grease is applied to the ends of the installed elements, and the hood is carefully placed on top. This procedure must be performed carefully so that traces remain on the surface of the body and its interior. In accordance with them, the hood is drilled from the inside. 8 and 12 mm drills can be used to drill from the outside, and 4 mm drills from the inside. When the hood is closed, you need to place bars between it and the frame.
5. Then you need to match the holes made. If they do not match a little, then you can refine them using a file.
6. The next step is to make a hole for the cover. The front part of the hood is covered with masking tape; there should be several layers of it. This must be done to prevent damage to the paintwork when drilling holes for the lock.
7. Then a locking device is installed on the pin; you need to determine its position. Use a marker or pencil to trace the outline of the device. It is allowed to use the box from the kit as a stencil. When the marking is ready, you can proceed to the next stage. Using a grinder, holes are made along the marked contour; you must act carefully and accurately.
8. Using a file, you need to align the edges, the lock is tried on. The hole should not be allowed to be large, as there will be problems with fixing the device. The locking device must fit properly into the seat.
9. At the final stage, the installation of the overlays is carried out. The lock is installed, after which markings are made and holes for fixing are drilled. The locking device is attached and the length of the pins is adjusted. The overlays are installed and the correctness of the work performed is diagnosed.

Mechanical interlocks

The debate about which options are more reliable - mechanical or electrical - will never end. Drivers with more than 20 years of experience prefer mechanics. Such blockers depend only on the quality of the metal and the model assembly of the larva. If the latches are made of low-quality metal, a thief will easily break the fasteners, regardless of what kind of lock is on the hood.

Mechanical does not depend on power supply and has its own advantages, it performs an excellent protective function. According to car theft statistics, cars with clear and high-quality mechanics are chosen by criminals less often than those with homemade mechanical or electromechanical structures installed.

Advantages and disadvantages

The main element of the mechanical design is a cylinder made of durable alloy. Coding the faces will not allow you to open the lock with a master key or by selecting keys. Repairing the hood lock, if the core is not touched, is simple. The most common malfunction is a chafing cable or a weakened clamp spring.

Other advantages of mechanical design:

1. Easy adjustment of the hood latch.
2. Heat resistance. The device works well in all weather conditions, provided that the appropriate material is used.
3. The mechanics cannot be turned off via an electrical signal.

The mechanical design also has disadvantages. A hood lock will not be able to ensure the safety of the driver if in the entire lock system only the cylinder and fasteners remain of high quality, and the standard location of the cable is not protected and can be reached.

The cable must be made of thin metal fibers twisted in a special way. If you miss this moment, then attackers can bite the cable and break the lid. The disadvantages of mechanical locks include:

1. The locking mechanism cannot be connected to other car security systems.
2. Minimum comfort for the owner; keys are often lost.
3. Original mechanics cost from 2500 rubles.
4. Souring of the larva mechanism requires periodic (once every 6 months) lubrication.

How to install a lock

Installing the hood lock yourself will take 30-60 minutes. Required tools and materials:

• primer;
• grease or any other solid lubricant;
• ruler;
• Phillips screwdriver;
• drill with two drills;
• file;
• wrench 19;
• locking bolts;
• lock.

Replacing a standard mechanism with new ones involves drilling additional holes in the body for fasteners and brackets. Do-it-yourself lock installation goes through the following stages:

1. On the metal strip above the headlights, select the place where the locking bolts will be located.
2. Drill two identical holes to match the diameter of the bolts.
3. Insert the bolts into the hole with the protruding end facing out.
4. Apply grease to the tip of the bolts.
5. Close the lid, marking the places on the inside where the locks will be located.
6. Drill the hood alternately with a 4, 8 and 12 mm drill.

1. File the holes.
2. Check how the bolts fit into the cover. It is necessary that they stick out from the hood without touching the edges.
3. Prime the edge of the drilled hole with primer.
4. Use a thin drill to make four holes for the screws.

1. We screw the plate to the hood.
2. Screw the rods to the frame. Check that the rod is above the plate when the hood is closed.
3. Secure the pins in the holes.
4. Screw the hood lock cable into its original location.
5. Check the lock.

Video “Does it make sense to install a hood lock?”

The channel “AUTOSECURITY - Anti-theft Studio” talked about the advisability of installing a protective device in the engine compartment, as well as opening the devices.

What do most car owners do to prevent theft or unauthorized entry into the car? That's right, he installs security alarm systems, and less often immobilizers. However, the possibility of an attacker gaining access to the space under the hood reduces the effectiveness of the car alarm to almost zero. And this is logical, since the most important elements of alarm systems (locking relay, siren unit) are located there. It turns out that you can’t do without an additional hood lock. What is an additional hood lock?

Device and principle of operation

Additional hood locks appeared in the market segment of security devices not yesterday and have managed to acquire several modified and modernized options. However, they are all classified according to one main characteristic - the type of drive. There are only two of them: mechanical and electromechanical. Both locking options have the ability to use a standard hood lock or are equipped with an additional locking device. How do they function?

Mechanical lock. The main design feature of this type of additional car theft protection devices is the complete absence of electrical elements. Closing (opening) of the hood lock is carried out by means of a control metal cable connecting the bolt of the standard locking device with the cylinder of the additional lock cylinder installed in the car interior. The simplicity of the design of a mechanical type auto lock determines the operational reliability and stability of protection even in a de-energized vehicle. The good picture is somewhat spoiled by the need to use a specific key-lock pair.

For effective operation of an additional electromechanical type lock, it is connected to the alarm system or immobilizer system. In this case, specialized means of controlling the locking device are not used; unlocking (locking) of the lock is performed automatically, at the moment the car’s protection is removed from the car alarm key fob.

However, this control method implies a prohibition on starting the vehicle with the hood lock in the “closed” position. This is dictated, first of all, by safety requirements, since in order to localize a possible emergency situation, quick access to the elements of the power unit and other vehicle mechanisms may be necessary.

And there is still one, but quite important problem. What to do if the battery is discharged or the relay fails. There are two fairly effective ways to protect yourself from “surprises” of this kind. The first is the standard one, which requires electromechanical type locks to be equipped with a safety cable, which allows the locking mechanism to be activated. The second is original, since the authorship of “Mul-T-Lock” is not disputed by anyone. It works as follows. When the supply voltage of the vehicle's on-board network drops to a certain value, the additional hood lock is forced to unlock.

BMW 3 series Coupe Bumer › Logbook › A long way to sports hood locks…

I’ll start from the beginning, so if anyone suddenly becomes interested...)
Since the purchase, the hood release lever in the car has been broken. I immediately got used to pulling out the cable with pliers; over time, the tip of the cable broke off and became shorter and shorter. For the last month, every time I removed the lower panel of the dashboard under the steering wheels, I found a stump there and pulled it out!

And so I went Simferopol-Dzhankoy-Simferopol-Yalta-Alupka-Simferopol-Dzhankoy

I arrive late in the evening, open the hood, but it doesn’t work! I pulled this cable with all my might, pressed on the hood - to no avail! I had to go through the left nostril, I “broke it out”, found a cable on top, pulled on it, pulled, again no movement... I felt for the main lock bolt, which goes through the lock from the hood and clamps the cable, took a flat screwdriver and started unscrewing it, it turned out to be It’s not a quick job, after some time and kind words I finally unscrewed the car and the hood opened!)

the whole problem was in the cable, which burst right in the lock and got stuck...

In the morning I went to Simferopol, fortunately our cars have a spare hook that prevents the hood from opening completely) After thinking for a long time, I came to the obvious conclusion - I was simply tired of the stock lock opening from the passenger compartment, the decision fell on sports locks

I was leaning toward
D1 with keys
, but after talking with people who deal with them,
with their wedges and failures from snow, ice, and dirt that gets clogged inside,
I switched to ordinary, simple and functional
SPARCO
!

Which were purchased that same morning. I went to my garage, thinking what could be easier than installing these babies))?

I was wrong! began

from the fact that
I looked at the installation location of the lock rod
, I found small holes through which, as I understood, the wiring is attached, but not for me))
I pasted it with masking tape
on the TV, the inside and outside of the hood,
drilled it out with a metal drill 5
,

then with drill 10,

inserted these rods, smeared paint, closed the hood,
marked the locations of future holes
and began drilling from the bottom to the top of the hood!

and here is the most difficult thing, the hood turned out to be made of very durable metal, and this whole thing happens in a not very comfortable position))) I drilled first 2, then 5, and drilled 10.

I tried it on every 20 seconds!

When finished, I glued the locks themselves with soft double-sided tape, didn’t put them on the rivets (I was in a hurry), treated them lightly with anticorrosive, I won’t do anything else since in winter I’ll get a different hood and a different TV!

I want to say these locks are cool, not only do they fit well into the appearance of the boomer, but they also really tightly press the hood and are not visible from the interior, I thought they would be distracting in the eyes))

The same incident happened - I was driving along the road, everything was fine, and at a turn a concrete mound suddenly appeared, apparently heavy loads had rolled it out, and I let the body pass, and the bastard hit the exhaust pipe! As a result, now I have a sound like a sports car)))

or rather, the pipe burst immediately after the catalyst and in front of the flanges (((

And to be honest, if it weren’t for the slight clicking sound of the pipes from each other, I really like the sound)) This means there WILL BE a direct flow in the future!)))

Source

Advantages and disadvantages of additional hood locks

So, additional vehicle hood locking devices are very effective means of protection against theft or unauthorized entry into the interior of your car. What are the advantages of using such a lock? Professionals highlight the following advantages that characterize this device:

• Installation of an additional lock, regardless of the standard locking device, functions as an autonomous anti-theft protection equipped with an individual drive;
• The presence of a backup anti-theft locking device is nothing more than an additional element of machine protection;
• An auxiliary blocker serves as an unexpected obstacle that arises in front of an attacker, forcing him to waste his most precious thing in this situation - time.

But, as you know, everything in this world also has negative sides. There are two additional security elements:

• Lack of complete confidence in gaining access to the engine compartment in the event of an emergency (emergency) situation;
• Vulnerability of the main structural elements of the additional hood lock - the locking mechanism itself and the cylinder of the lock cylinder. The main criterion for choosing a lock when purchasing a lock should be its ability to withstand mechanical damage (burglary) that is inevitable during theft.

Is it really necessary?

Whatever you say, a hood lock is not just a bonus to auto tuning. Of course, many car owners do without it, using a simple car alarm the old fashioned way. But if you are worried about the safety of your four-wheeled friend, and do not want it to go to another owner, or even worse - to be dismantled, then the hood lock is a vital part of your car.

Protection against thefts is not the only advantage of installing such a lock; it prevents the hood from opening spontaneously while the car is moving and, as often happens, at the most inopportune moment. This is especially not very pleasant at high speed. So in any case, installing a blocker will not be superfluous.

In order to install a hood lock, you can take the car to any service station, wait in line, pay money... But there is an easier option - to deal with this issue yourself. Firstly, this option is many times more economical, since prices at stations cannot be called low, and installing a lock with your own hands does not require serious financial costs, and secondly, no one can guarantee that even the most advertised service station will take the matter seriously and will not be nullified by a mediocre installation.