I have had the headlamp units of my Acura TL stolen twice in the last month. Are there any suggestions on preventing it from happening again? FWIW it is a 2000 model.

Thanks.

 

Are you talking about the entire housing?- because usually a crowbar is used to remove them from the car resulting in hood and fender damage! That gets around the special Torx security bolts that hold the housing in- assuming those were put back in after the first theft
Or are they just getting the Xenon headlight bulbs?

Are you setting the alarm- click it once to arm second click gets a -beep- and its locked and alarm on right then

At home- motion sensor security lights and a camera on the vido record are all you can do

As you have learned the bulbs alone are 60ebay to 150 dealer
and the housings are 250 a set on the bay

 

It is the entire housing with fender and hood damage; all that was left was a gaping hole where the headlights used to be.

The car is always locked when not in motion, with the alarm on, but the alarm did not go off on any of these incidents which occurred in the parking lot of an apartment complex overnight. The alarm is what came with the car (a passive alarm, I think). Is the alarm supposed to go off when the fender and hood are being hit?

 

Same thing happened to my 3rd gen TL - while it was sitting on the dealers lot waiting for me to come and pick it up!

The insurance should cover this for you bud..... didn't they?

 

wow... never heard of that shit....

 

The insurance has covered the repairs, but at the rate at which it has happened, the deductibles add up! Also, I am not sure why this particular Acura was targeted -- twice. There are other Acura TLs (of similar vintage) parked in the property as well.

What is the liability of the apartment management in these cases? Afterall, it happened in their parking lot, and there is some level of security expected as a tenant of this somewhat upscale property. Could this be argued as negligence to provide this basic level of security, given that it is not a gated community, there are no surveillance or monitoring cameras, etc.

Thoughts/experiences on this welcome.

 

I have heard this happening with 02-03 Maximas' xenon lights in states like New Jerzey and NY. I didn't know that our TL's are targeted now. I usually park in places with a lot of foot/car traffic, but still, it sucks to lose your lights.

 

where was this? this trend has slowed down over the years, i hope its not coming back...

 

oh man i hope hid theft isn't back I live in nyc n would hate for that to happen to my baby

 

The TLs and Maximas are pretty common in the NYC area. We had a rash of these. Nissan fixed the Maxima problem by installing new and more secure mounts. Acura never offered to fix the problem (just like the tranny!).

Odds are its where you park in your complex if the other TLs aren't getting hit. Is it in a dark corner, away from the entrance/exits, etc? You should talk to your management about getting a new spot. Also, backing into your spot so your headlights are in front, and the thieves can't squat and hide. You can also add a motion sensor or an aftermarket alarm.

 

Get an aftermarket alarm. If someone even walks by and kicks my tire my alarm goes beserk! I love it. That sould atleast deter them from completing their ultimate goal.

 

The stock alarm knows if they open the hood- which the crooks learned not to do

Chances are- they are looking for the $$$ bulbs and the housing is the fast way to them
Then -once you had brand new bulbs installed- they had to get those too- higher value with brand new stuff !!!
There are enough cars that use our light that are now old enough to need replacements- and when one calls the dealer and hears $150 per bulb- the next call is to
Johnny 5Fingers Auto Parts Discount Emporium-
Hi I need- Oh you'll have a new shipment Sunday morning ??? great thanks!!

Like others said- aftermarket alarm for sure- cheap insurance at this point- get one that barks and talks and beeps you on its remote if you can!!
Too bad they outlawed electrifying your car!!

And ask the body shop to use thread lock/Locktite on the housing bolts this time, at least deny them easy removal of the housing.
On ebay you see housings with "bent or broken mounting tab" you can guess they were removed in a hurry~

Ask the apt manager for better security lighting for the lot--- by law all they have to do is light the walkways and obvious hazards-your cars safety is not their concern but if the complex complains....

Gather the neighbors and see if its happening to others, make a neighborhood watch group- report the slightest noise to local PD non emergency- unless you see them at your car- then call 911
Keep a million candlepower spotlight/flashlight in the house
I hear anything- that light goes on like the sun ---kids scatter, animals freeze in position-
thats what I wanted!!!
Whats going on out here!!!!!!- you kids get away from that car- and stay off my lawn too!!!!!!

This week, I saw someone sleeping in their Saturn one morning- ok- fight with Girlfriend- sleep in car- no sweat-not concerned
Next night same thing
next night same thing
4th night 230 am, loud radio, sound of cans and bottles thrown in street, party happening in car- The Police were happy to come by and check. The guy tells cop he is waiting for his cousin to get home and they are just smoking cigarettes- riiiiiiiiiiiight
Cop leaves- returns 1 hour later- guys still "waiting"--oh whats this- your keys are in the ignition and you have an open beer- you know thats driving while intox right?- dont care if the engine was running- keys indicate intent to drive
Car was empty in the morning- car left that afternoon and has not returned
Know your neighbors and watch each others back- thats the best insurance- community

 

Another thing to try is to tap the wires from the hood sensor - it should be a simple push button sensor - and mount similar ones behind the headlights. When one headlight is removed, it'll trigger the alarm just like when the hood is opened.

 

Thanks for the tips. An aftermarket alarm with a motion sensor especially to cover the front part of the car seems like the way to go. I would like something that would scare the person away before he/she attempts an act of damaging any part of the car. An alarm sounding on impact after the person has smashed the fender is too late anyway.

Any recommendations on the brand of alarms to look into, based on your experiences? Some of the ones I looked into have remote starters and such, which are not high priority.

Thanks, again.

 

Ahh...if only we could add electric shock to alarm systems like in Robocop...

 

who says we cant, but then you will electricute yourself.. I know my dumbass would...

 

It would almost be worth it to see someone else do it.