Need to activate a check engine light.

[yokramer]

Whatever you do dont have a conversation with your neighbor and their kid ... words never work

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[Heimkehr]

I leave my Wrangler at my neighbors house, parked in his garage. Well the last time I did this, his 16 year old kid took my jeep to school without asking me or his dad

I'm going to be leaving my Jeep Wrangler at my neghbors house for at least 3 months this year. I want to set off the check engine light or other error behavior to dissuade someone from driving it.

How can I give my 2021 Jeep Wrangler ecodiesel a check engine line easily and one that won't break the car if it's ran for a short period of time with the light on.

Thoughts? Winning suggestion will get a Starbucks or Subway gift card.

I see two solutions here. Pick one:

1. Make peace with the cost of free storage being the risk of unauthorized use, with the collateral risk of unpleasant outcomes and thus your own liability exposure.
2. Find an alternate storage location.

The idea of intentionally hamstringing the vehicle, in an attempt to dissuade said unauthorized use, wouldn't ever occur to me.

Subway, please.

 

[mwilk012]

What kind of children were you people? This is ridiculous.

 

[JeepOffroadTech]

Unplug the ambient air temperature sensor. It's behind the grill, won't harm the vehicle's function but will throw a light.

I'll test this out over the weekend and report back. Thank you

 

[JeepOffroadTech]

Thank you for all of the suggestions. I trust my neighbor and half of his kids (the oldest, not the youngest). I'm guessing if I use the pin, it might defeat my neighbor from moving it in and out of his garage and he keeps a tractor and other equipment that needs to be accessible. I don't think his kids would ignore a check engine light because they know I love my vehicles more than my wife. A few of you wondered why I'm not going to park it some place else, it's a fair question and to be honest my insurance has gone up about 800 dollars a year for all of my vehicles. So I'm trying to save some money when possible.

 

[cripton805]

Thank you for all of the suggestions. I trust my neighbor and half of his kids (the oldest, not the youngest). I'm guessing if I use the pin, it might defeat my neighbor from moving it in and out of his garage and he keeps a tractor and other equipment that needs to be accessible. I don't think his kids would ignore a check engine light because they know I love my vehicles more than my wife. A few of you wondered why I'm not going to park it some place else, it's a fair question and to be honest my insurance has gone up about 800 dollars a year for all of my vehicles. So I'm trying to save some money when possible.

To answer your question. You could unplug your Mass Air Flow Sensor. I'm pretty sure that will throw a check engine light. Not sure if it will do it right away, maybe cause the engine to stall, or run poorly. Of course, this is all done at your own risk. I've never heard of anyone causing engine damage by leaving it unplugged. People make this common mistake when they forget to plug it back in after an intake installation.

*Note - I don't think a check engine light would deter a teen looking for a joyride. Especially if they have already done it.

 

[Valpo Jeep]

Why can’t you just leave it stored at your own residence?

 

[cripton805]

If you want to prevent them from starting the vehicle. You can see this fuse box diagram.

**I am not sure if this diagram is the same for an ECO-DIESEL**

F02 - Starter Relay. Will prevent them from cranking the engine over entirely.

F04 - Fuel Pump fuse. This will allow the engine to start normally until the fuel clears the lines. The engine will stall after a few seconds (maybe enough time to pull out of the garage). They can attempt to start it again, but it will just crank the engine over without being able to start it. Mimicking as if it was out of fuel.

(You can pull one or the other / or both)
*Again, do at your own risk.

 

[Zandcwhite]

I don't think his kids would ignore a check engine light because they know I love my vehicles more than my wife.

You must really not like the wife. If I left mine at the neighbors house and she got taken for a joy ride I definitely wouldn't be looking for ways to do it again just to save a few bucks...

 

[yokramer]

Thank you for all of the suggestions. I trust my neighbor and half of his kids (the oldest, not the youngest). I'm guessing if I use the pin, it might defeat my neighbor from moving it in and out of his garage and he keeps a tractor and other equipment that needs to be accessible. I don't think his kids would ignore a check engine light because they know I love my vehicles more than my wife. A few of you wondered why I'm not going to park it some place else, it's a fair question and to be honest my insurance has gone up about 800 dollars a year for all of my vehicles. So I'm trying to save some money when possible.

Clearly not if they already stole it. You know you can give the neighbor the pin to start the car right?

 

[Terrymo]

What kind of children were you people? This is ridiculous.

My juvenile records were sealed and then expunged.

 

[Roky]

What kind of children were you people? This is ridiculous.

I got into my share of trouble, but never took someone’s car without permission…..but the kid is 16, he clearly isn’t thinking with the big head now is he….

 

[Terrymo]

I got into my share of trouble, but never took someone’s car without permission…..but the kid is 16, he clearly isn’t thinking with the big head now is he….

But if he used the Jeep to impress a girl and get laid then it shows he‘s motivated and capable of innovative thinking.

 

[Roky]

But if he used the Jeep to impress a girl and get laid then it shows he‘s motivated and capable of innovative thinking.

…..Agreed…

 

[Compression-Ignition]

Install one of these blue sea switches. Kid will think it has a dead battery.

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