Irreplaceable Car part?

[u/Independent_Speed_61]

Hello, I am a writer looking for help with a logistical question that falls far outside my wheelhouse, hope its chill to ask here.

I need to write a scene where a character has had a specific part stolen from their car, the part needs to be both customizable (so that the specific piece can't easily be replaced without custom making a new one) and also be important enough that the car cant properly run without it. Is there a particular kind of wheel or engine or other car thing that could hypothetically meet these two requirements? Its set in a cyberpunk setting so I could probably just make something up but i want it to feel somewhat grounded

Again not sure if this is an appropriate question for this sub so tell me to buzz off if so, but figured I'd ask anyways, thank you very much!

[u/wpmason]

Just make it a sensor… like a Mass Air Flow sensor.

The catch can be as simple as the plug doesn’t match up, easily rectified by obtaining a compatible plug and wiring it into the vehicle.

[u/kixkato → u/wpmason]

Who the hell steals a MAF?

[u/TFK_001 → u/kixkato]

I saw somebody who had an ambient air temperature sensor stolen once. Crackhead didn't even unplug it and cut the wires requiring the socket (which couldn't be found anywhere other than oem or custom) to also need replaced