It might help to know where you keep your van and also speak to your insurance company as they are likely to require some form of tracking.
Yup. Also an apple tag so I can find it when I go somewhere new and explore.I just trust the built in security by VW (immobiliser and alarm) and my insurance
vwcaliforniaclub.com
Another vote for the Ghost, don't every worry where I leave it now. We all know that the factory fit one can be defeated in seconds via the front drivers headlight and whilst the Ghost wont stop them getting in if they really want to, it isn't going anywhere. I can never see the point in a tracker as by the time it becomes useful its already gone?Ghost immobiliser was the weapon of choice a few years ago.
Use the search function top Right (spy glass)
Here you go for starters
Search results for query: Ghost
The point of a tracker is irrelevant if the insurance company won't cover the vehicle without one
Very true but on my 2nd Cali and never had any insurance insisted on anything let alone a tracker, perhaps its where you live/leave it?
On my annual round of sorting out insurance, I found out it depends on the value of the Camper. There's a value tipping point for several insurers, above which they insisted on a tracker. This value ranged from £65k for some, £75k for some others
I’ve just bought a Disklok Diamond after there was a spate of van thefts in our area. It’s the only one that ‘prevents’ someone with an angle grinder cutting a slot in the steering wheel and sliding out a traditional steering wheel lock. I can’t imagine that would take more than a few seconds to do. I’m wary of things such as a Ghost as that could quickly become just another attack surface for someone to get into your car’s starter/immobiliser system. I keep my keys in a metal tea caddy although this is probably superfluous as I don’t think keyless theft is possible on a T6 - but I don’t feel like taking the risk. After that, it’s down to insurance. Out of interest, have many people had their bike rack nicked? Mine was stolen last February along with four or five others in the area on the same night. It’s a shame as I really liked the ‘look’! There’s probably no point buying another as that will get stolen at some point too.
Ditto, ours are in a tin too, we always know where to find them then!!
Well Dave, handbags at dawn it is... it is in older vans possible albeit only as part of a multi stage electronic attack (not of course an opportunist thief). CAN BUS exposure gives access to key programming and door unlocking and then a coding attack is possible and surprisingly quick, admittedly on more modern vans this route has been hardened and wouldn't be sufficient on its own to defeat the immobiliser.
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Of course you aren't going to find anything on YouTube or TikTok that shows you how to do this, so the elaboration you seek, is only going to be from someone in the car security industry or in my case a VW mastertech. So whilst I'd love to send people the details, clearly that's not realistic or feasible. You'll have to trust that I have it on excellent authority, as I'm sure if I asked the Dealer Principal they would never own up to such a breach (I'd refer you to the Range Rover/Land Rover scandal recently).Regarding:
"We all know that the factory fit one can be defeated in seconds via the front drivers headlight…";
well, I don't know that @Lost Boy and would find it quite interesting if there if you can link to an elaboration somewhere.
As to:
"It beats me why there are so many individuals on this forum that just like to go out of their way to try and correct others, with little knowledge of who those people are and/or their backgrounds. Enjoy
personally - if I may in just this case make my own corrective observation @Lost Boy - I would say that this forum is thankfully a rather civilised place with mainly constructive/helpful posting and not many going out of the way to abrasively correct others. One or two posters have tried but they seldom last as no-one else comes here for a fight.
Well @Lost Boy some people make some ill-informed posts here, me included, for time to time: but others are generally kind and tolerant in response.
Here is a link Viktor.
kentindell.github.io
Thank you @dspuk for taking the time to write all that. I will study it and the inserted link with interest.Here is a link Viktor.
Having worked in and around the car industry the best part of 27 years prior to my current role, (running an IT company) I think, like the responder says of himself and their insider expertise, I know my way around both the industry, concept and the technicalities.
The only publicised and technically detailed case in on Toyotas and specifically a RAV4. Outside that it is a lot of fluff and circumstance from people “doing their own research” or dark web braggarts.
The breakdown was done by one of the original CAN designers, who likely knows a lot more about this than any of us. This RAV4 specific convo has been around for some time to industry followers.
Enjoy. Given the OP was asking about their own vehicle that is neither very old Cali nor a RAV4, the original response stands IMHO. Keep your key safe, realise anything other that that is for your own (valid) peace of mind.
We don’t “all know” that a Cali (of any age) can have a CAN injection to defeat the immobiliser, mainly because you can’t and it’s twaddle. There are zero examples of this anywhere. I could say I learnt that from a mythical VW Mastertech, but then I would be hiding behind being “allowed” to give any details, because I haven't spoken to this person.
The JLR scandal mentioned is actually relay theft from keys, on older Land and Range Rovers, fixed some time ago (approx 24 months) by JRL with a more sophisticated algorithm and with a key hardware update to one that goes to sleep. JLR were very upfront about the flaw, not unique to them, and the fix.
CAN Injection: keyless car theft
This is a detective story about how a car was stolen - and how it uncovered an epidemic of high-tech car theft. It begins with a tweet. In April 2022, my friend Ian Tabor tweeted that vandals had been at his car, pulling apart the headlight and unplugging the cables.
A really hot topic on the T4 and T6 Forums - NOT.
Bearlock installed in my t7 Hubrid cali (automatic) and works perfectly!
Trust me, he isn't mythical but my brother in law!Here is a link Viktor.
Having worked in and around the car industry the best part of 27 years prior to my current role, (running an IT company) I think, like the responder says of himself and their insider expertise, I know my way around both the industry, concept and the technicalities.
The only publicised and technically detailed case is on Toyotas and specifically a RAV4. Outside that it is a lot of fluff and circumstance from people “doing their own research” or dark web braggarts.
The breakdown was done by one of the original CAN designers, who likely knows a lot more about this than any of us. This RAV4 specific convo has been around for some time to industry followers.
Enjoy. Given the OP was asking about their own vehicle that is neither very old Cali nor a RAV4, the original response stands IMHO. Keep your key safe, realise anything other that that is for your own (valid) peace of mind.
We don’t “all know” that a Cali (of any age) can have a CAN injection to defeat the immobiliser, mainly because you can’t and it’s twaddle. There are zero examples of this anywhere. I could say I learnt that from a mythical VW Mastertech, but then I would be hiding behind being “allowed” to give any details, because I haven't spoken to this person.
The JLR scandal mentioned is actually relay theft from keys, on older Land and Range Rovers, fixed some time ago (approx 24 months) by JRL with a more sophisticated algorithm and with a key hardware update to one that goes to sleep. JLR were very upfront about the flaw, not unique to them, and the fix.
CAN Injection: keyless car theft
This is a detective story about how a car was stolen - and how it uncovered an epidemic of high-tech car theft. It begins with a tweet. In April 2022, my friend Ian Tabor tweeted that vandals had been at his car, pulling apart the headlight and unplugging the cables.
Same thing, no?
The VW California Club is the worlds largest resource for all owners and enthusiasts of VW California campervans.
