Disklok, is this right?

[PhilUK]

I bought a small Disklok for my Mk3 Focus ST after everyone said it's an essential security device.

The thing is, I can drive with the thing on! I can grab the wheel behind it and steer and when it goes too far one side I just spin the Lok, while its locked, and kind of reset it. The bar doesn't get restricted by anything and you can still turn the wheel quite comfortably to a certain, driveable degree with it on.

I've just driven down the road with it on!

Is this right?

[PhilUK]

f1nn said:

Have I understood you correctly, you are asking if being able to drive your car while having a security device fitted that is designed to prevent the vehicle being driven is correct?

I wouldn't have thought so.

Well, imagine my shock! I'm just wondering if I've somehow put it on wrong, or if I'm positioning it incorrectly or something. I did try and post it on a Focus forum but they've deleted the thread for some reason.

[PhilUK]

I've no idea how to position it to create a restriction in its movement. You can literally spin the Lok in a full circle with only just a bit of repositioning, and can hold the Lok with the wheel and turn it probably 70% of it's full circle either way, then just lift the Lok and move the bar back over and start again.

It was £100. Probably a visual deterrence still, and it's definitely a hassle, but you could definitely drive off down the road with it on. You'd just have to be careful and drive cautiously.

[PhilUK]

Johnnytheboy said:

I have a mk2 Focus RS and a disk lock and I certainly couldn't do more than manoeuvre it in more or less a straight line with it on.

I've only had the car a week, but there doesn't seem to be an immobiliser on the wheel like there was in the MK2. Besides, the issue with the car is that you can easily override the keyless start feature and start the car, and the disklok is meant to be the counter to that.

:/

[PhilUK]

It's the right size. Small. It's fitted as the instructions have stated. It's not broken, it fits over the steering whee as it should, but there's no restriction in the area around the steering wheel for the bar to become stuck. You'd think that the window or the area where the gearstick is would provide issues, but it doesn't.

I think it's just the design of the product and the design of the car. It's funny because everyone says you should get one if you have a Focus ST.

[PhilUK]

I've had another look at the thing, it's definitely pretty much perfectly fine to move the entire thing when the car is started and drive with it on.

It's pointless once you know about it.

[PhilUK]

jonah35 said:

Its a good deterrent

Not if you can drive with it on it's not.

[PhilUK]

I've emailed the company. I'll see what they have to say.

[PhilUK]

It spins fine, it's just you can grab the steering whee behind it and just move the wheel with the lock.

[PhilUK]

bigandclever said:

Does it not have a great big arm that smacks into the windscreen or your thighs when driving? It's meant to spin freely.

It doesn't hit the windscreen. It will hit my thighs but then you just release the Lok from your grasp and spin it back round. Only if you were making big turns in the road would it be an issue. You can move from road to road with ease with it on.

So it goes over the steering wheel. But there is space for you to grasp both the Disklok and the steering wheel so you can just drive with it. If the bar comes over too much you can release the steering wheel and reset it.

I don't feel like you'd do much good in a getaway situation, but to nick it and drive safely and slowly away, no problems

[PhilUK]

DegsyE39 said:

Op you must have it fitted wrong though mate.

This is what I'm hoping, but I've followed the instructions and the videos to the word. I've had one of my colleagues come and have a look and we can't see anything wrong with how we've fitted it.

Open it up, cover the wheel, lock the thing. What else is to it?

[PhilUK]

V8RX7 said:

First ENGAGE THE STEERING LOCK

Does it work now ?

Steering lock is automatic on the car!

I'll probably take a video to be honest. Pictures won't show anything.

[PhilUK]

MDMA . said:

If you can drive with in on, youve probably got the keys in the ignition.

Disklok were designed prior to fancy electronics, when hot wiring was the norm. My mum had the first pedalok fitted to her new xr2i, on the owners drive when he worked from his house !

At the time, it was a hammer and chisle job to remove. Now, its smash and grab for your keys to drive off with it now.

Yea, keyless start. Big issue with these cars is people getting in and messing about with the program and changing the programming so you don't need the key in the car, then they just push the button and drive off.

People say you should use the Disklok to counter this, but you can just drive off with it on. Slowly and carefully, but still drive off.

[PhilUK]

I've crashed my car whilst driving it with the disk-lock on, will my insurance still pay out?

[PhilUK]

Toyoda said:

OP, 3 pages in and I think I'm the only person who sees what you're saying. I know exactly what you mean about the disklok as I used to have one. Of course you're not putting it on wrong!! It's meant to spin round so any wrong'un couldnt get purchase on the lock to smash it or prise it open. But... yes it's true you can reach round the back of the lock and access the steering wheel with your hands. I noticed this straight away upon purchase but thought about it no more. I'm sure you could manage to drive the car but it wouldn't be easy, and it would be slowly. Ideally the bar should hit the windscreen but I appreciate on certain cars it doesn't but still, it hits your leg or the car seat and it would hinder any sort of 'normal' driving.

Bloody hell thank you. I thought I was going mad! Yea it doesn't hit the windscreen. I drove round the parking lot where I live. It was a slow drive and I had to take a minute to spin the lock round, but once on a main road I think it wouldn't be much of an issue.

Maybe it would just deter people enough as they wont know, or maybe they would think it could draw attention to them so they won't bother, but still, if they want it they'll take it and risk it.

I'm thinking its a design flaw too and I just have to live with it.

[PhilUK]

All that jazz said:

You think that "once on a main road it wouldn't be much an issue"? GTFO! Either provide a video of you driving down the main road with it on or stfu whining. I also have a Mk3 Focus ST and have a Disklok. If you'd bothered to read the blurb about how the Disklok works before buying it then you'd know they are supposed to be loose enough on the wheel to spin to some degree but unless you don't have any legs and no windscreen you won't be spinning it very far as they both prevent it from going any further.

You also seem to be forgetting that without the key fob being in the car that the steering lock will be engaged. How do you propose to break the steering lock with a loose Disklok covering the very thing you need a lot of leverage on?

Feel free to send it back for a refund and then sleep every night with your arse nipping hoping that some scrote doesn't casually drive off in it with a reprogrammed fob as that's exactly what's happened to a lot of mk3 Focus ST owners that don't use them.

I've no idea where your aggression comes from, but seriously, sort yourself out.

wd888 said:

with the new keyless fob cars that are vulnerable to keyless thefts i can see exactly what you are worried about.
i have a dislok also but its a very good fit on my steering wheel

its still a big detterent but not fully secure, someone can still drive of with the car if they had a programmed gob.

Exactly. It fits, yea, but it's not as secure as it was made out to me when buying it. No biggie, I'm sure it's probably too much of a hassle for would be thieves. People just hack the port and don't even need a replacement fob anyway.

Edited by PhilUK on Monday 27th June 05:10

[PhilUK]

What kind of idiot loses his st over someone asking for clarification about a Disklok? Seriously.

Edited by PhilUK on Monday 27th June 05:09

[PhilUK]

I guarantee that I can spin the thing all the way round while sitting in the car. I do have to move my knees out of the way yea, but it can be done. If you move the seat back it's even easier. It doesn't matter anyway as you just release the steering wheel behind it and move the lock back again. If you drive slowly you can get away with it. They've only gotta get down the road or into a big enough van where they can have privacy to hacksaw it off.

The window is not close enough to provide the resistance needed.

People say you can buy dummy ports. If you hide the actual port in the wiring and have thief dummy attached to where the real one should be, the idea is to trick the thief.

[PhilUK]

The company have replied.

Disklok said:

Thank you for your e-mail. No you’re doing nothing wrong, but yes the cars design may not allow it to catch on the inside or outer door/window, does it not catch on the door or window?

The Disklok is designed to be used with the steering lock on and rotate on the wheel. Is your vehicle keyless?

Yes like you say you could probably put your hands round the back but it’s very difficult to drive, steer, change gear, use the clutch and accelerate all at once with a Disklok on.

You have got to take all factors into consideration, would a thief have the key, how they plan to steal, do they have the tools and then ask yourself the question would you rather have a Disklok on the vehicle or not.

So the question is whether I keep it as a deterrent, because it doesn't seem like it's got the same level of protection like older cars would have.

Edited by PhilUK on Monday 27th June 14:06

[PhilUK]

All that jazz said:

So what is your point and what exactly are you wanting advice on? You seem to have all the answers already and have decided that the Disklok is not fit for purpose. Surely the best thing to do then would be return it for a refund and find something better rather than continuing to bleat on about how bad it is?

Look, I came here to ask if I was doing something wrong with it. I had no answers, I still have no answers. Through the process of discussion people have informed me that I'm not doing anything wrong, and that maybe the product is obsolete with my model. I came here with no answers, just questions about the observation I've had. Me and my colleague were sitting in my new ST with the lock on and he realised that you could just spin the whole thing round and move the car with it on. It wasn't even me.

I really don't think you're adding anything to this discussion except negativity. Everyone else is just asking questions, making a few jokes at my expense (that's fine!) and being civil. In fact, it's others who told me that it's not the right product, not me! I'm not bleating on about anything; I'm being objective, answering peoples questions and giving my experience.

All I'm trying to figure out now is whether I should keep it as it might be the biggest deterrent regardless, or get one of the products that people who are genuinely trying to help me have recommended to me.

I hope that clears everything up for you. Now if there isn't anything else, I hope we can move on.