Gearbox lock: description, device, principle of operation, photo

2024 Author: Erin Ralphs | [email protected]. Last modified: 2024-02-19 11:41

The more expensive the vehicle, the more important and relevant becomes the question of its safety. No matter how sellers and marketers convince us of the effectiveness of alarms, hijackers break even the most advanced systems like nuts.

Scammers, and especially serious businessmen, have not been walking around with master keys and crowbars for a long time. Modern technologies have been adopted not only by alarm manufacturers, but also by hijackers. And you can hack a car just sitting on a bench with a mobile gadget. So theft protection should be combined, especially when it comes to large metropolitan areas, where cars are stolen right from under the noses of the owners.

As an additional barrier to intruders, a good half of experts in this field recommend special gearbox locks. The latter appeared not so long ago and are a kind of development of similar devices for the steering wheel. Many motorists believe that the gearbox lock is the guarantor of car safety. Yes, it adds, and quite a lot, headaches to hijackers, but again, this is not a panacea for seriousscammers. And as mentioned above, only a comprehensive protection system will be the ideal option, and not just one thing.

We will try to figure out what a gearbox lock is: how it works, what types can be found on the car market, how and where this device is installed, as well as its advantages and disadvantages.

What is a checkpoint lock?

This device blocks the free movement of the shift lever. The blocker of automatic transmissions fixes the lever in position P, and in mechanical - at reverse speed. That is, in this case, you can start the engine, but move the car from its place - only back.

Installation of the gearbox lock occurs in two scenarios: either in the cabin or under the hood. The first option is more favorable for intruders, because you can work with the device from the salon without attracting too much attention. But with the location of the blocker under the hood, additional difficulties arise.

Difficulties in choosing

Reliable and most effective transmission locks are made of durable metal, which means they cannot be cheap. All the junk-priced consumer goods that pour into domestic markets from the Middle Kingdom are quite easy to get around.

Judging by the numerous reviews of gearbox locks from China, they are easy to drill, cut, and in some cases even break by hand. So it’s better not to save on such devices, and buy another “psychological protection” for yourselfmore expensive.

You should also pay special attention to the way the transmission lock is installed. Experts in this field believe that concealed installation would be the best option. This makes it much more difficult for attackers to deal with the main components of the device than if it were in plain sight.

Types of blockers

Today's car market offers a lot of options for such devices. And if experienced motorists with masters can still figure out all this diversity, then beginners most often fall into a stupor and make purchases like “something for the box, please, from theft.” It's good if the seller gets smart and asks the right questions, but more often it's the other way around.

All devices of this kind can be classified according to their design and installation method. In total, five main types can be counted:

• pin;
• pinless;
• arc;
• mechanical;
• electromechanical.

Let's take a closer look at them.

Pin Blocker

The pin lock of the gearbox is the simplest, but at the same time reliable device to protect your car from theft. The main element of this design is a pin that is inserted into a special groove on the gearbox.

To fix, for example, on an automatic transmission, the blocker, namely the pin, must be inserted into the hole when the lever is in position P. The lock will automatically jam, and it will be possible to remove it only with a special key. Ordinary cap or carobtools do not fit here.

Perhaps the only critical drawback of pin blockers, which at the same time is the main “chip” against theft, is a special key. If you lose it, then the owner of the car will have a problem.

Pinless

The main difference from the previous version is the installation method, and the principle of operation remains the same. Here, the device is mounted directly inside the gearbox, and the pin itself is also present, but it is not visible in the cabin. You do not need to manually insert or pull it out.

But you also need a special tool to lock it. One of the clear advantages of this option is hidden installation. The hijacker does not see that the checkpoint is blocked, and will not immediately guess about it, which means he will lose precious time.

As disadvantages, we again have an accidental loss of the key and difficulties during installation. Especially if you want to install a lock on the automatic transmission. If you can still figure out the mechanics yourself, then in the case of an automatic transmission, it is better to contact a car service.

Arc

This lock looks like a normal barn lock. Here we have arcuate brackets that cover the lever and press it against the lock, thereby preventing it from moving. The principle of operation of such devices is utterly simple, but the visual component is not the most personal.

In addition, the arc blockers immediately catch the eye, and the hijacker will see them throughwindow without entering the cabin. In addition, this design is easier to cut, and if the metal is thin, then bite off with industrial wire cutters.

After the two previous types appeared on the market, arc bollards are losing their popularity, they are not saved even by low cost.

Mechanical

Mechanical transmission locks are universal and branded. The former include devices that are suitable for all car brands, while the latter can only be mounted on specific series and models of cars.

The principle of operation of a mechanical interlock is similar in functionality to the first three types of locks. It can be called combined. That is, both a special pin and a lock on the gear knob with the original key are most often involved here.

A big role, as in previous cases, is played by the quality of the metal and its thickness. Cheap thin products can not only be sawn, but simply torn off with brute force.

Electromechanical

This is the most advanced option to protect your car from theft. The electromechanical interlock does not take up space in the cabin and is not visually noticeable. So the hijacker will understand what he is dealing with only when he gets into the cabin and tries to move the car.

The operation of the device is based on electronic tags, which are found in immobilizers. That is, the user just needs to attach it to a certain part of the body, and the lockactivated and opened in the same way.

It is quite difficult to crack an electromechanical blocker in the usual way by force, because the entire system is fixed with special shear bolts. The latter are made, as a rule, of high-quality metal and are distinguished by a hidden installation. So the electromechanical protection of the gearbox is the most effective today.

Benefits of bollards for checkpoints

As with any other anti-theft systems, blockers also have their own clear advantages and disadvantages. There are a few more of the latter, but this is only a quantitative, and not a qualitative indicator of the effectiveness of devices. The main thing is that the blocker copes with the task.

The installation of such devices greatly increases the time required to steal a car. The longer an intruder takes to unlock the gearshift lever, the higher the chances of detecting him. Statistics show that scammers do not spend more than 3 minutes on theft, and if such delays arise, they simply refuse it.

But this is only if the car was not "ordered". Then the attacker will stop at nothing and will go to the last.

It is also worth noting that locks on gearboxes are sometimes more reliable and more convenient than car alarms. They do not work when touched by passers-by or from strong winds and firmly fix the gear lever. While alarms raise a siren on every occasion and in a matter of seconds are hacked at a distance by professionalhijackers.

Flaws

To bypass the blocking of such locks, simply depress the clutch and tow the car to a secluded place where you can safely get rid of the device closing the checkpoint. Yes, carrying out such an operation in the daytime is a big risk of being caught, but the arrogance and unscrupulousness of scammers know no bounds.

Professional hijackers working in pairs have debugged scripts and tools to bypass such blocking. When one deals with the lock in the cabin, the other helps him under the hood. Here, again, in the daytime, two people swarming near the car can cause strong suspicions, but this does not prevent inveterate hijackers.

It is also worth noting that self-assembly of locking devices is quite complicated, especially when it comes to pinless and electromechanical locks. With an automatic transmission, the task is even more complicated. So for competent installation you will have to pay money, and sometimes quite solid (BMW, Mercedes, Audi and other premium segment).

Besides, a high-quality blocker made of a good alloy will cost a tidy sum. Yes, you can find a device made of more or less thick metal and at an attractive cost, but such locks, although not quickly, can still be cut with a special locksmith tool. Therefore, saving is not entirely appropriate here.

Summing up

As mentioned above, the transmission lock alone is not a panacea. Evenan electromechanical device does not guarantee protection against theft of your vehicle. Only comprehensive measures are needed for such guarantees.

These include locks on the checkpoint, steering wheel, pedals, and that all this is guarded by a technically advanced car alarm. Of course, such a “bouquet” will cost a pretty penny, and the owner himself will need a lot of time to unlock it, but this will save not only the car, but also nerves. And the latter cannot be bought for any money.