I'm trying to figure out what wire carries the lowest current that I can use for a kill switch. Maybe ECM power?

 

What year F body?

------------------
Tim

1992 Z28, 305 TPI 5 speed, 12.1 sec @ 114.7 mph

1984 Berlinetta 305 TPI Auto, 13.8 sec @ 99.7 mph

 

Sorry, I know better than to leave that off.

'87 Trans Am
305 TPI
5 Speed

I have thought of the ECM power, neutral start switch, fuel pump, and maybe something to the coil. Of these, I think that the ECM and the neutral start switch would flow the lowest current.

 

You can do what I did for my alarm install.

It's a 40-amp relay that I put in the center console and used the yellow wire of the neutral-safety switch (mine's an automatic though, but I'm pretty sure its still a yellow wire. Yellow goes into switch and purple goes to starter.)

The alarm sends a GROUND output to the relay when its armed, but you can just use a switch to provide the ground to the relay, and that will disable the starter. Relay should only be ~$5.

If you need me to find out what wire goes to which pin, I can go dig up the book for the alarm and write it out for ya.

[This message has been edited by Chevy83Z28 (edited September 11, 2001).]

 

I am curious, is there an advantage to doing the Neutral Safety Switch Cut-Off vs an ignition? My alarm system has a built in relay for that, so I could do either.

Thanks,
Douglas

 

Either the starter wire (or neutral safety switch...same circuit) or the ignition will prevent the car from starting. Only reason I choose the starter wire is in case somebody tries to start the car, the starter won't bump at all.

If you do the ignition, the potential thief can bump and bump and bump the starter, and even though the car won't start, he can cause damage to the gears in the starter and kill the battery. Just my point of view, there may be reasons why the ignition is better... if anybody else knows please add!

 

The only reason that I have come up with that would make the ignition a better thing to cut off is this...

If a would be thief gets in a car, tries to start it and absolutely nothing happens (no starter solenoid click, no starter turnin, nothing) then it is sort of obvious that there is a kill switch. I think it would be less obvious (but don't know to what degree) if the car would crank, but would not start. Our would be thief might equate that with a broken car rather than a switch (if we're lucky). Anyways, that was just my thinking on the subject. I'll probably go overboard and do both. I don't want it to ever be stolen from me again...

 

MikeS...good thinking on that the theif might just think the car's broken and won't run, but he will still probably damage the gears in the starter. I'm thinking if you can find a WELL-HIDDEN place for the kill switch, the thief won't be able to find it anyway. Like maybe if its a third-gen, take the ashtray out and put the switch in the console. So this way to kill the starter all you have to do is take out the ashtray, hit the switch, and put the ashtray back in. A friend of mine in his Pontiac put the switch in his backseat, where the bottom and top parts meet. I think that switch was for an electric fuel pump though (another way to disable a car besides starter and ignition.)

Just shooting off random ideas, but you can get so creative with this. You can use multiple relays so that the car only starts with the dash lights (parking lights) on and the switch on... so even if the thief finds the kill switch, how's he gonna know to turn on the parking lights?

 

Because he read this post (j/k lol)

 

I have a couple of tips (however they only work for certain cars/years/setups)

I've been thinking about this topic for quite a while. Putting a kill switch that would prevent the car from starting/cranking would be very obvious to the would-be theif. He would be all over the car looking for a hidden switch. So for me, that was out of the question. (However, if you want more than one homemade security feature, I would go for this)

The best/smartest thing to do (in my opinion) is to cut of the juice to the fuel pump. That way, there would still be enough fuel in the system for them to get the car started, and think they're home-free.... a boost of confidence (and decrease in paranoia/smart thinking)(if I was a pro in electronics, I would somehow fix a relay or whatever that would let the pump go for a minute or so, then shut off...)

obviously, 6 seconds later (and a block away from where you parked) the car would die, the theif would panic, and if you are lucky, the car will stall in the middle of an intersection and the cops would be all over the car in 2 seconds...

My second line of defense (or I guess 3rd, because my alarm is #1) is to remove the plastic rod thingamagigger in the automatic shifter. (don't know what it's called, but I think you get the idea) By removing that, (and putting back the handle and 'c' clip, you can't for some reason switch to D....?! Also very confusing for a would-be theif...

Well... I'm rambling... If ya want any more tips you know where to find me...

/forsete