Hidden starter kill switch

[Walker]

I've seen quite a few posts on this; but my question is: What exactly are the thiefs doing when they "Pop" the steering column off and jam that thingy in the keyhole; or mess with the wiring, etc?



Will a hidden starter kill keep it from being "Hot wired or rigged" and started? Help me out here. I'm wanting to put a momentary hidden switch somewhere and tap into the clutch wire so that you have to be holding the momentary switch and the clutch "down" to be able and turn the starter. Does this sound right and secure?



If so, what wire do I tap into (color and location), and how do I wire this thing correctly?



Supplies needed (?):

- momentary switch

- what gauge wire?

- relay (I'm guessing not needed)

- will the switch need a power source (from where)?



Thanks for the help

 

[jandtjil]

hidden switch

Walker

Unfortunately I haven't done this, but it is on my list of to-do's. A friend uses the cigarette lighter as the switch. If interested in this method I can ask him for specifics.



JJ

 

[Joe G.]

Walker,



It really doesn't matter if the switch is a momentary or a toggle switch if a thief finds it. I took a little different tact. There are two switches on mine, one hidden really well and the other a challenge to figure out. One of them turns off the fuel so that the engine will crank just fine, but it won't start. The other interrupts the starter so it won't work. The whole business is designed to delay a thief enuff so he decides it ain't worth it. Hopefully, run the batteries down before figuring out the whole thing. My truck is a '95 so my wiring would not apply to yours but the idea would.

 

[The Sequel]

A starter kill switch would defeat the "crack column" method as that simply exposes the ignition enough to manually pull it back and start the engine. This system was very popular on GM products in the 70s and 80s, but most have gotten away from it. All it took was a screwdriver and about 3 seconds. I don't think that works on our design though.

 

[EricBu12]

Get what I bought. A auto lock



http://www.autolock.com/howit.html



It shows the auto configuration, but you use it on either the brake for autos or the clutch for the stick. it is uncuttable, bullet proof (with a high power rifle) and it holds the peddle up so 1 you cant push the brake to put an auto in gear, and you can't push down the clutch to start a manual, Even with the key!!

I love it, it comes with a steering wheel cover to make it visible to theives what is on.

No affiliation with these lock, just a satisfied cust.....

 

[LarryB]

The cig lighter method is really quite simple. The lighter is a simple switch in itself. Push it in and contact is made, current flows through the element, the element is a resistor so it gets hot. The simple hookup is to cut one of the wires on the clutch lockout switch (on the clutch pushrod running from the pedal lever to the master cyl. ) and splice in the two wires from the lighter so the clutch lockout circuit must now run through the lighter. Unless the lighter is pushed in, it acts like the clutch is not pushed in. A thief would have to follow the wires specifically to find this one. Even the switch (lighter) is hidden in plain sight.



Ingenious!

 

[Walker]

Then I guess you'd have to push the clutch in to smoke huh?



Any input as to the supplies needed for the momentary switch set up?

 

[illflem]

Wire strippers/cutters, connecters, wire, switch, a drill to make the switch mounting hole and maybe a screwdriver.

 

[merryman]

Walker

There is a wire brown wire going from the power dist. center to the starter- it travels near the rear of the driver side battery and there is a pull apart connector near the battery. I seperated that wire and ran each end to a push button on the skirt of the drivers seat--looks like seat control. I must hold that button down in order for the starter to crank.

Seems unlikely to me that a theif will take the time to figure it out.

In addition, I wired in a parallel toggle switch in those same wires under the hood so that if I need to leave the truck for service etc, I throw the toggle and it works with out using the push button.



Vaughn

 

[Walker]

merryman,

That's the same idea I initially had: to put the button on the drivers seat skirt. Good idea about the under hood toggle switch. How do you put it in "parallel" with the wire? Does it need power to close the circuit or does it just run "in line" with the brown wire and you just flip it back and forth?

I'd appreciate any wiring help instructions.

 

[Thomas]

The "dealer" switch goes in parallel.



You can install an underhood (or in-cab) well-hidden, higher security switch in series. This switch can be flipped to the open position for no-crank even if the seat skirt switch is closed.

 

[RedRamer]

I like that cigar lighter one.

Another one I seen mentioned on these boards is a dimmer light switch mounted hi up the floor where they used to put em. These 2 in tandem shure would slow 'em down.

 

[merryman]

I am never sure that I have the terminology right, but what I did was run the two wires from the disconnect by the left hand battery to the two sides of the toggle and then from those same toggle terminals the two wires continue on to the push button on the seat. If the toggle is closed, it is the same as original, with the toggle open, the button must be pushed. At Schucks auto, I found a black button with silver ring that looks appropriate with out looking like an add on.



Vaughn

 

[lenny1]

Here's one I came up with an ordinary relay that was connected to the lighter and the horn and the clutch interlock/ neutral circuit. The operation is like this. If you tryed to start the car without the lighter pushed in the horn blew. Pushing the lighter in (or any switch (OD,toggle,etc) allows the vehicle to start normally. This circuit could also cause the lights to come on,etc. and be inexpensive to setup. If you forget the the horn will blow as long as you hold the key to "start" but quit when turned back to "ON" so you only draw attention to yourself long enough to wave and don't look like a dummy as the alarm keeps blaring. It can be defeated easily but if noone knows about it and hits the key or slides the lock out and turns the switch on by hand then you'll get at least one good horn blow in your driveway giving you time to grab the gun maybe. Some of these guys are audacious though. A friend a few years back was sleeping with his whole family and 2 German Shepherds in a regular 3 bedroom suburban house with a two car garage. The thief(s) came in the garage door and lifted three sportbike motorcycles each weighing 500-600 lbs. over and around his car that was parked in one half and his pickup the other. The bikes were lined up against the back wall. Nothing was heard and they seen it immediately as the wife went out to go to work in the morning. It had to have been cased out of course but that takes some bigguns I'd say. Insurance paid but the bikes have never shown up again.



Len Dickson

00 3500 TDC 5sp 4x4 QC

96 2500 V10 AT 4x4 CC