all "anti-theft" devices that you buy from a dealer have been researched by the bad people. the only way to know for sure is to install something that no one knows about or could figure out right away. i am going to get a wiring diagram from my dealer and simply interupt the ignition wire with a switch under the dash, it is easy to turn on and off, no pulling relays or such, and if you don't know where it is, good luck figuring out what is wrong.

 

While that does sound like it would be the absolute best way to do something...
It doesn't always go like you think it would.

I've been on a few nights out with my friends uncles, who do Repo's for their family dealership.

There was an 01 Dodge 1500 that they were taking back, and the customer had done exactly what you just described, only they hid the switch up inside the passenger wheel well. It took them 10 minutes to find it.

A Vehicle is only so big, and if you know what you are really doing or looking for, then you can easily determine where it CANT be, thus then looking in all of the remaining places it CAN be. Just like how thieves find a LoJack unit.

That being said, there is no good reason NOT to do it. 10 minutes is 10 minutes that may just save your truck.

Just don't depend on it to be a more complete and absolute preventative.

 

Pin 32 provides power to the ECM

there's an RFID product that will disable that and be just about un-findable.

getting me one for Christmas

 

I have an '06 with the Sentry Key according to the Window Price Sheet from Dodge.

The heads of the key(s) supplied with the vehicle when purchased new are black. I do not have the alarm system (windows, doors) and the "security" LED in the dash does not light.

Is there any way I can prove to my self that I do have the Sentry key system?

 

The Sentry Key system is just like any other RFID Transponder based system. Thus, the key has a transponder chip embedded in the head of it. There will be a transponder power-supply/reader located somewhere near the ignition cylinder.

Maybe if you take apart the collar around the steering column (should only be a few screws on the bottom side), you will be able to locate something.

Aside from that, as all RFID based systems, the light in the instrument panel will light up if an attempt to start the vehicle with the wrong key has been made.

So my simple suggestion... Take some tin foil, about 1'x1', and fold it over, and over again, and again, and again, until you have about 3"x3" square piece of multi-layered tin foil. Then carefully puncture it in the center with the tip of a knife, make sure the puncture is very small.

Then carefully insert your key into the hole, until the foil just exposes the part of the key that goes into the ignition cylinder.

Then bend the foil so it covers the head of the key as much as possible, and try starting the vehicle with it. This should completely block the RF signal from the transponder, and if the vehicle will not start (or run for more than 2 seconds, as the Sentry system allows it do to), then you have the system.

 

take your key to home depot have them make you a spare key...take it home put it in the ignition and try to start the truck....if the trucks starts and then dies it DOES have a sentry key....my key said I did not have a chip(home depot has a chip detector) but when I tried it on my truck the truck died 2X......but don't try the 3rd time cause I heard it locks EVERYTHING up and you have to have the dealer reset it......
mine is a 06 SLT

 

According to the dealer, any key that is gray, or has the keyless entry built into the key is a anti theft system. (sentry key or whatever) I do know that you cannot drive one of the above vehicles without the "chipped" or gray key. I am honestly more worried about coming back to a "disabled" vehicle i.e. no tires-wheels/batteries/etc. Than a missing truck. But if someone decides to take it I hope the owner keeps good insurance. I have also been told that Lojack, has good return rate, however their system is only effective if the police unit has the proper Lojack locating system added to it. There is a GPS based system that is harder to disable, and can be added to personal items, but I don't recall the name of it.

 

all my keys are black and have sentry chips........

 

all my keys are black and have sentry chips........

 

^^^ X3 for me.