PunchPlug™

2. With the handle out of the door, remove the lock cylinder from the lock holder by removing the retaining clip. (This assumes the thief didn't break the clip out of the handle, knocking the lock into the door. If he did, skip to step 4.)

4. Insert the PunchPlug™ into the lock holder, black side down.

(At this time, if the back of your handle has been broken, see also step 9 below.)

5. Insert the back brace strip through the slots where the lock retaining clip was located.

The threaded hole in the back brace is not centered on the strip. Insert the short end of the strip toward the top of the handle. (Direction not important on Super Duty trucks, but necessary on 04+ F150 trucks.)

Position the hole in the strip centered in the lock holder.

(If your handle was damaged by the thief, and the back of the lock holder is broken, you won't use the back brace or screw. Just epoxy the disc in the lock holder. See step 9.)

6. Thread the provided screw into the hole on the back brace until it contacts the center of the PunchPlug™ disc.

7. Turn handle over and see that dimple on PunchPlug™ is centered in lock opening for best appearance.

The dimple on the PunchPlug™ provides for the convex shape required for the disc to seat nicely in the handle. It also makes it more difficult to get a screwdriver on the center to try to force the PunchPlug™ inward.

Lastly, the dimple provides a perfect seat for the screw from the inside, to prevent the PunchPlug™ from shifting or moving around.

8. Tighten down the screw in the back brace. Be careful not to over tighten as handle plastic may break.

9. If your handle has been damaged from a theft attempt, you may need to use epoxy to repair this area of the handle, or you can simply adhere the PunchPlug™ disc in the lock hole.

Use a small amount of epoxy and apply around the lock holder where the disc seats. Keep the epoxy away from the opening to prevent seeping to the outer face of the PunchPlug™.

We use JBWeld 2 part epoxy, and like the quick cure formula.

Let the epoxy cure before putting the handle back in the door.

10. Once you have the PunchPlug™. installed and secured, the handle mounts back in the door as normal.

11. Remove the lock rod from the door now. Do not leave it attached to the latch as it will move up or down when the door is locked or unlocked and will rattle around in the door.

Most models have a clip at the bottom end of the rod that can be unsnapped to open and remove the rod.

This picture shows the handle in the door, from inside the door. The silver strip and screw are the back brace and screw from the PunchPlug™ kit.

Even with the lock removed, you still need a Jimmi' Jammer® as well. Thieves have learned that they can get to the latch assembly by prying under the door handle, so the Jimmi' Jammer® needs to be there to stop them.

This photo shows how the Jimmi' Jammer® plate serves to block access to inner door components along the edges of the handle. Plus, the plate acts as a backstop for the PunchPlug™ back brace in case someone tries to punch the plug into the handle.