looking for other ideas....

OK sorry mods if this isnt the best place, please boot to the Astro forum if need be....

Over a year ago someone peeled my steering column and stole the old battle wagon. Since its an 1987 Astro and hardly worth the 100.00 and effort to replace the column we have been pulling the fuel pump fuse to secure it, unfortunately the springs are now getting weak and the fuse is starting to get hot. So my answer was to hook a switched wire from the fuel pump fuse to the horn. If someone starts the van without reaching under the dash and turning the switch off it will blow the horn constantly.

any other ideas would be greatly appreciated!!

You may want to try and battery or fuel disconnect switch. They use them in drag racing cars.
Try www.summitracing.com for any info.

Be careful about rigging up anything electrical on your own ... you could start a fire and then there won't be anything to steal.

Hey .. that's another idea !!!!

Why bother with making it hit the horn and just rig a fuel cutoff switch? This way they can't even START the car. Besides, if they already have the car running and notice the horn is honking, they can just pop the hood and cut a wire. With a hidden fuel cut off, they won't get anywhere.

thanks everyone

I like the Reed switch idea. Although I think I'll just use a holding contact instead of a momentary switch. That way it automaticaly resets every time you shut the van off.