Anyone done a "start" button?
 

In an attempt to make my car more theft resistant I think I want to install a Start button (a la ferarri) with a two step process to turn the car on....Like:

Press button A and the acc. come on then press Start
or
Flip hidden switch A, acc. comes on then press Start
or.........



ideas, comments, critics?

I think I would lose "steering wheel lock" by doing this mod but do I really need that anyway?

I think the ultimate in theft resistance would be to just disconnect the battery. I mean, they'd probably just assume you had some kind of ignition-kill thing in there and move on.

http://www.herringtoncatalog.com/m971.html

These are great.

Mark

Why not just install a single pull, single throw switch to the wire going to the starter relay? That way you won't have to constantly reset your clock or radio (which pulling a battery cable would do). Any one who tries to start the engine can't - the starter won't turn over (Although it could be push started).

Actually, I just remembered - If you do disconnect the battery, use a 16 gauge wire between the battery post and the cable - it won't let enough current to flow to start the car, but will keep the radio and clock set.

Also - if a thief raises the hood, he could just re-attach the cable and drive away. But with the switch on the starter relay wire, when the thief looks under the hood, he'll see that the battery is wired and assume that something else is broken.

Thank God I love where we can leave things unlocked at night.

I have! It's still hooked up, I just don't use it. We had to hook it up because my ignition switch broke and wouldn't turn the key to start, just to the "on" position. We took one of those starter buttons you use to turn the car over when you are trying to get the engine at TDC for instance. It's hooked up to the starter. It worked well, but I have a new ignition switch now...

I like the herrington battery disconnect, I already have marine terminals installed due to the ease of disconnect for all the repairs.

I still think a "keyless" start would be quite nice and fairly cool. I know purists like the origional but I am going for updating the interior all around, no not ricing, just elegant-comfortable-and exotic.
Good ole' key in the tumbler is a little archaic.

And yes, I too wish I lived in a place where things didn't just walk away all the time!

Take the coil/distr. wire out.

actually, i just thought of an idea, put a switch under the hood (near the windshield) and have it to where it can't be seen, but can easily reach your hand under there to flip it. have the battery main run through it.

I've wanterd to do this
 

can't you just put in a hidden switch between the ignition and the starter - or something like that

besides disconnecting your battery, i recommend getting one of those systems that require an ignition code to start the engine. you rig it so that you need to punch an ignition code every time the door is opened so that way you can't een be car jacked cause the engine will lock down after a minute without the ignition code
NYC_SpeedRacer has this on his Audi S4 and I plan on getting for my car soon. PM him if you wanna know more cause i really don't know the details

If you want a push-button start, it's real popular on my Honda forum to retrofit the Honda S2000 Start button into their cars (I'm totally serious) - not difficult, still requires a key, turn to on, and then stab the button. A couple guys on the Corvette forum also did it, using the Viper's Start button.

Sam

I'd probably end up leaving the car in gear...

in gear
 

ive had that happen before, someone cleaned my car and brought it back to me. well when he got out he left it in gear and DID NOT put the emergancy brake on. when i went to go home i hit my remote start.... well i found out what happens when you do that... the car takes off in first gear! even if it does stall 10 sconds later it trys to start again and takes off again...

well my car was stopped pretty quickly, by a brand new subaru outback limited edition that was on the dealers lot that i worked on... at least we haddnt sold that one yet...

hmm, the first thing i did, after i bought my car, was to have a good alarm system fitted{very loud db} and fuel/ignition cut-off,when armed.
i have also made a lock, that fits thru the box section of the clutch pedal, and it locks against the brake pedal, and the footrest area. it also locks against the floor.
if someone gets past the alarm system, and club{useless really}, then if they try to drive the car, as they try to push the clutch pedal, the locking bar, automatically pushes the brake pedal on, and also jams against the floor, making driving impossible!! is that the shizits, or what??
unfortunately, you do have to bend down, to put the mechanism on, and a bit of fumbling, to find the hole for the lock, but i feel quite safe leaving the car with it on.
if someone really wants to steal your car, then they will, but i'm working on the principal, that they will give up, given the degree of difficulty, to remove my "special" lock. my design!!
all parts, good quality tool-steel, hardened/tempered, and a titanium lock!

Re: in gear
 

Ouch! Did you end up having to pay for the damage done to the Outback?

no no, i didnt have to pay... i worked at the dealership in sales... the next day the car just "disappeared" for a few hours and came back smelling like freshly spraid paint... and ofcourse no one ever asks at a car dealership if a brand new car with 5 miles on it has had any paint work...

I have an ignition switch switch - if that makes any sense. I have a manual togle switch that in line with the +12V that goes to the ignition body itself, so even if someone pops off the ignition and tries a direct connect / jump for start, there's no +12.
It works like a charm. My dad just can't figure it out. In his defense, he's only been in the car a couple of times. Once, he actually tried to move it without asking (key's were in it)... you know "as a favor."
He came up to me shortly thereafter and said my car was broken.
"No," I said, "it just doesn't recognize you. You know, driver recognition software..." and walked right down and started it up. Good times.
That poor man thinks I'm a god.

I would personally put a hidden switch (under the dash or something) that controls the fuel pump. In a bad neighborhood? Just turn off the pump.

Do you want security or customized ignition? The fuel pump switch is much, much easier than digging into the ignition system.

Good Luck,

when i used to get really paranoid about parking my car somewhere, I used to pull out the ignition wire that runs between the coil and the distributor. Can't start the car without that.