Applicable to: '90 - '97 '99 + 1.6 liter 1.8 liter
Vehicle hood lock with starter disable: It is a mechanical lock that will secure the hood of your car with a key. The key lock mounts in the cockpit of the car with a cable that routes through the fire wall to a bolt mechanism to latch down the hood. It also comes with the hardware to act as a starter cutout.
Installation took couple of nights as I had to reverse part of the instructions. It states to start setting up the hood bolt first. I would do this last as on my 2001 it is hard to figure out the correct orientation of the hood latch such that it will meet up with the bolt on the front of the engine compartment. Also, I ordered the 5" model (there are 5,6 and 7 foot versions), which limited me in the installation of the key lock in the driver's seat area. Next time I would get the 6 foot version. Otherwise the instructions provided were excellent and I used the harness/hood release gromet to route the cable through by cutting into it. Then I sealed it with RTV to keep hot air leaking in to the foot well. I skipped the starter cutout as I already have a different system for that.
I always keep my top down with the fear that someone will be able to hot wire my car through the engine compartment. Now no one can get in unless I let them. On the 1990 Miata I had, I had one installed by an auto security dealer wheni first got the car. Several years later, with my top up and doors locked, someone broke in and tried to steal the car. I saw scratches on the key lock for the hood and that they were unsucessful. If it wasn't for the little money I spent to have it installed, I would have been looking for a new Miata alot sooner than I wanted to.
Over 30 minutes to remove completely
| Back to Product Reviews | 20 September, 2003 |