push button starter - Electronics - Third Generation F-Body Message Boards

87tpi · 06-21-2004, 03:06 AM

Has anybody out a push button starter in place of their cigarette lighter?I'm going to do this,That way it would be pretty hard to steal.

LaxStreetRacer · 06-21-2004, 04:12 PM

put up a pic when u get it done cause ive always thought that would look pretty cool.... your gonna use one of the red START buttons that they make just for that right??? Also i dont see how that makes it harder to steal unless your gonna hide the button behind somethin.

Charged350 · 06-21-2004, 06:20 PM

i got my shift lite in there, but im puttin in my start button next weekend, shold look sweet, going with all da switches where the ac controls useto be...

ThraxXx · 06-21-2004, 07:28 PM

I like the stealthing it in the ashtray idea. After buying my car it took me 3 weeks to actually notice the switch to reveal the ashtray.

87tpi · 06-21-2004, 08:51 PM

i HAVE A TRANS AM AND THE LIGHTER IS IN THE ASH TRAY HIDDEN BY A RETRACTABLE COVER.yES IT WILL BE A RED BUTTON.

red90bird · 06-21-2004, 11:57 PM

that would be cool to have, but (and this is probabbly a dumb question) how would you turn your car off? I would already know the answer if it was a diesel engine but I don't know for an gas engine.

87tpi · 06-22-2004, 12:49 AM

Well,I would have to activate the ignition and fuel pump with either the ignition cylinder with the key or I can use toggle switches.Then I would just turn the key off like normal or flip the switches off.

TheGreatJ · 06-22-2004, 12:42 PM

I had a switch panel and pushbutton start in my '91 for a long time. I had individual control of the fuel pump, ignition system, cooling fans, accessories/gauges, charging system, and starter. I eventually got sick of having to flip 5 seperate switches and push a button to crank the car, so when I rewired the entire car last spring I went back to the standard turn-the-key system (although it's wired my way, not GM's way.)

Now I'm using the HVAC area of the console for gauges.

transam84 · 06-22-2004, 10:07 PM

I have a push button starter button in my Trans Am, I use a toggle to shut of the ignition. if you want to make your car harder to steal you could just install an igintion toggle switch somewhere in the car you would always have on and use another ignition toggle swith with your push button starter switch. leave one of the ignition switches on until you park the car for the night and then turn the 2nd one off. if the thief would be lucky enough to find the one switch they may think they have a free car but with the other ignition switch off they wouldn't get to far. hide the 2nd switch somewhere in the hatch maybe. is this all clear as mud lol.

red90bird · 06-22-2004, 10:45 PM

I really like the idea of having a pushbutton start but I'm not completely clear on how to turn the car back off (for a tbi). if someone could explain it that would be much appreciated. I comptelely understand how to wire the starter button to start by the way. is there any issue with vats?

87tpi · 06-23-2004, 01:18 AM

Well when you turn your key on you're activating the fuel pump and ignition.Then you push the button to start the car.When you want to shut it off all you do is turn the key back to the off position.

Clemson327 · 06-23-2004, 08:42 AM

That sounds like it will be pretty cool. I've been toying with the idea of having a push button ignition like nascar. It might be a little easier if you go with the two ignition switches to hide it in the console though. That way you want have to walk all the way around to the back to turn it on and off.

Ramair21 · 06-23-2004, 04:40 PM

do you still have to put the key in the ignition and turn it to on and then push the start button?

87tpi · 06-23-2004, 05:52 PM

Yes,or your steering wheel will lock.

84 firechicken · 06-30-2004, 02:58 AM

i seen a kool start button on a mercades that was on the shifter im rigin one up on me firebird im goina use one of those nos buton shift nobs and have a toggle switch under the dash so i can turn the start button off while driving so no acidents that could ruin my starter

Jweast · 02-17-2005, 11:20 PM

Well, how about this.... You have to have a switch to turn to the "on" position, so a simple rocker switch will work and then wire a push button anywhere in the car because just pushing the button making the connection to get the starter going and letting off will work, and then to turn the car off simply flip the switch and it would be like turning the key to the off position and all you have to hide is the on/off switch. Now about the steering wheel lock, I don't know about anyone else but unless I turn the key "ALL" the way back my steering wheel doesn't lock.... idk, maybe its my car... I hope this helps it's what I will be doing to my 91 Bird in the near future as soon as I get a wiring diagram....

Nitsuj86Iroc · 06-27-2005, 06:57 PM

heres a good post to ask this:

im planning on doing a push button start for my 86 Iroc and my girlfreimds 92 dodge stealth,

when you turn the key to run, accesories turn on, and when you turn it to start they turn off for the starter to go. so is that all you will miss when you use a push button instead of turning the key to start?

that was said weird i think. ok, here, are there other functions that turning to start does other than simply making the connection to charge the starter's solenoid? if so, do you need to do something about them when starting without using the key?

thanks dudes

iansane · 06-28-2005, 02:42 AM

The way I wired mine last year was I just cut the two wires that run to the Start portion of the ignition switch in the column and ran those to wires into a relay activated by the red "Engine Start" button in my spare cig lighter. It's cool.

And to turn it off I just turn the key back off. Plus, when I start my car I don't turn the radio off and lose accesories.

You can see it poking out from behind my shifter in this picture. I'll go find another shot.

iansane · 06-28-2005, 02:46 AM

Found one.

firebirdjosh · 06-28-2005, 07:15 AM

All I can see is a dumbass friend "what happens if the car's running and I press this?". Awesome install though.

iansane · 06-28-2005, 10:39 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by firebirdjosh
All I can see is a dumbass friend "what happens if the car's running and I press this?". Awesome install though.

If you're really that worried about it setup a double relay that cuts power when the car is on.

vernw · 06-28-2005, 12:51 PM

If you really want stealth, wire it up in the cig lighter hole and use a dummied cig lighter to actually activate it (no red button shouting "push me!"......

MrDude_1 · 06-28-2005, 02:24 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by vernw
If you really want stealth, wire it up in the cig lighter hole and use a dummied cig lighter to actually activate it (no red button shouting "push me!"......

naww man! thats for the NAWWWS...

think what i just said is stupid? think about what you guys are talking about.... you still need to put the key in and everything. and its not like its a race car.
if you want to do it for fun, add just a start button in parallel with the actual start switch at the base of the steering column.
then you can start it normally 90% of the time... and when you want to be "cool" you can turn the ignition on, but press the button to start it.

or remove your ignition cyl steering lock (bad idea)
remove VATS (very bad idea)
and hook up a RFID tag reader... then you just have to toss your keys in the ashtray to turn the ignition on, and then press start.

like the new luxury cars do.

Nitsuj86Iroc · 06-29-2005, 07:24 PM

little more help,

on my 86 iroc, i do want to wire a momentary switch in parallel with the ignition start switch at the base of the steering column, but where is the ignition switch? i looked up under there and i see a 5 wire connector and a 10 wire connector coming from the steering column.

i have a wiring diagram that i understand, but i cant find the actual ignition switch that im looking at in the diagram. the wire i want to jump should be the yellow one, can anyone assure me of this or tell me how to find the ignition switch?

thanks

MrDude_1 · 06-30-2005, 08:00 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Nitsuj86Iroc
little more help,

on my 86 iroc, i do want to wire a momentary switch in parallel with the ignition start switch at the base of the steering column, but where is the ignition switch? i looked up under there and i see a 5 wire connector and a 10 wire connector coming from the steering column.

i have a wiring diagram that i understand, but i cant find the actual ignition switch that im looking at in the diagram. the wire i want to jump should be the yellow one, can anyone assure me of this or tell me how to find the ignition switch?

thanks

take off the underdash panel...
there are two nuts holding the steering column up.... take them off..

the column should hang down now... let it hang, and look at the top of the column. you should see two rods.
turn the ignition key back and forth, and you'll see one rod move.. the switch that rod goes into, is the ignition switch.
the other rod is for the high/low beam switch.

iansane · 06-30-2005, 10:02 AM

Mine was flat and pretty long, had two hex head screws attaching it directly to the top of the column (that you could also use for adjustment)

Nitsuj86Iroc · 07-01-2005, 09:09 PM

thanks, but one last thing. i found the start switch just the way you described, and i see that it has 2 connectors into it, and i even know that i want to wire my new switch in parallel with it by connecting to the red and yellow wires, but the thing im going to have to ask is how the heck does someone manage to do that?? haha.

i figure this to be the only spot to splice into the wires becasue they then go into a big bundle of wires. how far did your steering column drop? mine is only able to go about 5 inches and then it is restricted. will i be able to get it to drop all the way if i move around some wires and such?

one more one last thing... these wires look fairly big of a guage, is there a lot of current that might mess up a momentary switch rated 3A at 125VAC? i figured a switch is a switch and it will work fine.

thanks for replies

MrDude_1 · 07-03-2005, 11:51 AM

if its a small switch, i would run a relay.

wiring is in the PDFs here:
http://66.83.134.202/travis/91FbodyWiring/

(save them to your hard drive)