how to "kill switch"

[Guvyp5]

I've been wanting to install a kill switch on my car but i just don't have the know how for such a thing. i'm sure most of you know about starter, fuel pump, etc kill swithces. my Mustang was saved from being stolen due to a hidden kill switch that disabled the fuel pump a few years ago. even though it had an alarm the only thing that saved the car was that switch. So if anyone knows how to do one can you please post here or in the "How To" section, it would be greatly appreciated.

Also if you all have anything to say about the subject- likes, dislikes, get it, don't get it, pros cons etc, or any other theft deterrent (sp?) ideas - i'd like to know.

 

[Sir Nuke]

for starters Guvyp5, Welcome to our happy little corner of the net. There is a BIG fridge in the corner with just about anything you can think of in it...help yourself...of course only take what you can LEGALLY have. (stash)

make yourself at home on one of the big fluffy couches, kick your shoes off, put your feet up on one of the tables....and take it easy.

oh...btw....every once in a while a food fight breaks out...so you may not want to wear nice clothes here.

Welcome!! (stash)

and YES....a kill switch is one of the best parts of any alarm system or just by them selves...the trickiest part is just locating it in a spot on your car that a theif is not likely to find....

you don't have any information in your sig about your car....do you by chance have the factory alarm? if so....you already have a kill feature....for as long as the system is armed....the ignition is dead.

OTHERWISE...all you have to do is splice in a switch into any of the circuts you mentioned....either the ignition, or the fuel pump

 

[Humvee]

Hey Nuke, (or anyone in the know)

For someone (me) who has no idea how to locate that/those wires...which ones are they? or...just tell me to check the owner's manual and I'll do that.

 

[blynzoo]

Hey Nuke, (or anyone in the know)

For someone (me) who has no idea how to locate that/those wires...which ones are they? or...just tell me to check the owner's manual and I'll do that.

there's a wiring diagram, but it's not great. a couple of people on the site here install alarms and such...there's also the shop manual for our car, which I'm still trying to get a hold of. s***, call your dealership, tell them you're installing an alarm.

 

[Sir Nuke]

Hey Nuke, (or anyone in the know)

For someone (me) who has no idea how to locate that/those wires...which ones are they? or...just tell me to check the owner's manual and I'll do that.

without a factory wiring diagram I can't tell you....I havn't looked into this myself as I have an alarm system installed that has this kill feature built into it......

however.....but the wires you would be looking for would be the HOT wire going to and or from your ignition....OR the hot wire going to the starter solinoid. either one would interupt the circut for the starter....

as for the fuel pump...same thing....but I don't know exactly where they are located or what color the wires are....I don't have a factory wiring diagram...but I know that someone here does....all they need to do is read the thread and do some looking for you.

(stash)

 

[ZoomZoom]

The starter wire can be found in the main harness leading to the ignition switch. It is a wire that would be about 12 ga. and should be black with a blue stripe. You should verify this is the wire by putting a DMM to it and it will show nothing with the key in the off position and will show +12v when the key is turned to the crank position (i.e. like your trying to start the car). Once you have verified the wire is the started wire, cutting it in two should prevent the car from being started. You can now install your switch or whatever. I word of caution, you should use a switch that can handle the current, actually, you should use a relay.

Here is a little scenario that some of you non smokers could use. get yourself an standard SPDT automotive relay. Identify and cut your starter wire. Now, take the relay and connect terminals 86 and 30 to the key side of the cut starter wire. This is the side of the cut wire that will show +12v when you turn the key. Connect the other side of the cut wire to terminal 87. Terminal 87A will not be used. This will then leave only terminal 85. This is where it gets kinda cool. If you access the wires that are on the back of your cig. lighter you will most likely see 2 wires. One of these is ground and the other is +12v when the key is turned on. Find the wire that is +12v when the key is on and remove it from the back of the lighter and tape it off or whatever you need to do to make sure that it does not short out. Now, connect a wire from terminal 85 to this spot on the cigarette lighter. If all is done properly, the car will not start without the lighter pushed into the socket completing the circuit. With the lighter removed from the socket, the car will not start. It may sound a little complicated, but it really isn't. There are several methods that can be used to trigger the relay to allow the car to start. You can hold down the lock switch or the turn signal lever, etc... You just have to find the appropriate wire and use it. If anybody has any questions, I will be glad to help out as much as I can. I have been doing car audio/security/cellular as a living for almost ten years now. Hope this helps some of you out. Sorry so long.

Griff
Silver 02 P5 (wife's car)
Blue 90 240SX (my car)

 

[Equinox]

haha I did this, and the other night my friend tried to drive my car, when I went outside and realized what he was doing, he was like "Hey I think your car is broken" and I was wondering why he took my keys and was trying to leave. He said he just wanted to see how fast it was....so.... I sat him in the passenger seat, and clicked in my cig lighter.... he didn't pick up on it, I said it is just the touch I have....pretty fun. My girlfriend just thinks it's "ghetto"

 

[Guvyp5]

one question Zoomzoom :
what's going to happen if i want to use the ligther, or use the jack to charge my cell phone as i often do while the car is running, will it change anything. By the way thanks for the detailed post .

 

[pr5owner]

haha I did this, and the other night my friend tried to drive my car, when I went outside and realized what he was doing, he was like "Hey I think your car is broken" and I was wondering why he took my keys and was trying to leave. He said he just wanted to see how fast it was....so.... I sat him in the passenger seat, and clicked in my cig lighter.... he didn't pick up on it, I said it is just the touch I have....pretty fun. My girlfriend just thinks it's "ghetto"

i think you have to beat your friend up.... you just can't mess with someone protege!

 

[ZoomZoom]

Yes, using the lighter to make the "kill switch" will make the lighter no longer operational in it's normal capacity. Like I said though, there are other way to make it work, everything would hook up the same except for terminal 85. You can make it so you have to hold down the door lock button, or the turn signal lever, etc.. If your interested in using the door lock button, you would be looking for a light green with red wire at the door lock module which is located high in the driver's kick panel area to the driver's side of the brake pedal. There are lot's of options, you could even mount a little tiny push button under the shifter boot. and just press it through the material while turning the key. They also sell pressure switches that can be mounted under the carpet right next to the hatch lever, etc... You get the idea.

 

[mp3_moran]

I have something similar to the push button idea, I have a hidden keypad mounted, every time I get in the car I enter my code, every time I open the door while the car is running I have to punch in my code also (carjacking protection) If I don't punch in the code, the first time I hit the brakes my alarm gives one last warning to punch in the code, then the whole car shuts down (starter and ignition kill) It just seems like a good idea everyone should do (and if they figure out that part of my alarm they have the lojack to deal with.........after my bike got stolen I'm not taking any chances with my mp3)

 

[Hawkeye]

I installed my kill switch last night. It went pretty smooth. I put the relay under my cup holders. I tapped a 12v wire that only comes on with the key to "on" and ran it to a switch to activate the relay. I hid the switch underneath my shift boot. Works like a charm.

I used a relay at the recommendation of ZoomZoom, but I guess my question is, why not just use a heavy duty switch? Is the relay better, or less problematic or something? Just curious.

 

[ZoomZoom]

why use the relay you ask??

Hey Hawkeye, glad to read that your kill switch install went okay. I recommend that you use the relay because I believe it is a safer, more reliable method. A relay is a switch, just an electromechanical switch. It is much easier to safely and securely mount and wire up a relay that is controlled by a swall push-button switch or something else that uses a low current siganl to trigger the relay. Yes you could have just used a heavy duty switch, but it does limit your mounting/installation possibilites. I dunno, just the way I like to do things!!

Later
Griff

 

[Hawkeye]

yeah, that's what I figured. It was nice not to have to use a big huge switch. I just got a small rocker switch and it worked great.

 

[uclap5]

would you guys recommend someone with extremely little electrical knowhow to do this?

I'm definatly interested to do the under the boot kill switch, but with just text directions alone it seems kind of overwhelming for someone with very very little experience with cars.

A pictorial step by step would be awesome.....

Oh yeah, pretty new, got a p5 2 weeks ago and been posting on protegeclub, and now i found this gem of a forum.


thanks for any help/ input.

 

[MP5s Make Ready]

Great tips, however, like uclap5 said a diagram or something would be GREAT, however you guys may not feel like doing this...I guess I'll just have to buy a kill switch or something.

 

[Hawkeye]

Well, zoomzoom is really the one with all the knowledge, but since I was able to do it (under his instruction), I'll see if I can snap some pics this weekend.

 

[ZoomZoom]

Thanks Hawkeye, I have not done this to the P5 so I would not have any pics. Plus, I am always at work when I do these types of things and don't take many pictures. I think if you have a little bit of a do-it-your-selfer type of mentality you can handle it, but I have been doing this for years so I don't view it as that hard of a task. I can offer one more piece of advice if trying this. If you have a 5 spd, make sure that the clutch is pressed down when you are testing to see which side of the cut starter wire has +12v when turning the key, otherwise the clutch safety switch will not allow any voltage to pass through. Ahh well, like I said before, if anybody has any questions I will do my best to help you out.

Peace
Griff

 

[uclap5]

holy buckets batman!

theres alot of wires down there.

i guess ill have to look at the instructions you posted vewy vewy carefully.

Post pics someone!

 

[MP5s Make Ready]

Ah hell just pic some wires and cut them....the car won't be going anywhere now MUWAHHAAAAHAAAAA

(Note: Don't take this post literally)