installing a kill switch

[gecko]

so im going on holiday after xmas and heading to rotorua..... ive always wanted to install a kill switch but havent got round to it, seeing as where im going has been on the news lately involving cars, i think now might be a good time lol ,

what i want to know is where and what wire should i put the switch on, i dont want to go into the trouble of putting one in just to find that if some piece of scum decided that he liked my wheels, and tryed to start it without a key it might bypass the switch i put in anyway, if that makes sence.

i was thinking about breaking into the circuit for the ignition fuse, behind the fuse box.

[grunta]

Hi gecko,
mate your best bet would be to cut the start wire on the starter motor (its the thin one) and run the wires to a 25 amp switch under you dash some where, there is no fool proof way of anti stealing your car but it will slow them down a lot.
Just my 2c dude

[geeves]

All a thief has to do is run a wire from the battery to the right wire on the fuel pump then either bridge the contacts on the starter or push it so a determined thief will alway get the engine started The steering lock is a little harder but will only slow a dishonest theif for a few seconds.
Only semi reliable method is a decent alarm with engine imobiliser and very loud siren inside the car.(130 db min) and similar outside. Dont hide the alarm as even this only works by making the thief choose a different car. If yours is the only one there they will still take it but thats what insurance is for.
In Rotorua they only steel large 4 door cars so the mu is only at risk if it has nice things visable inside

[mighty trooper]

hey i think your idea on the ignition is the best because the average thief in nz isnt going to go through the hassle of runnin a wire to the fuel pump or what ever to steal an isuzu mu if you wire in behind the fuse box is the best option im a autosparky and thats what we normally do

[gecko]

thanks guys i didnt expect so many replys so soon lol, cheers, if it only slows them down then it might be just enough time for one angry owner to bring the smack down lol

[geeves]

Chances are anything that slows them down will make them go for easier pickings. Most times they only want the stereo or the contents of the glovebox. Hence the internal siren loud enough to make there ears bleed

[mighty trooper]

yea exactly you if a thief wants a car enough they will get it alarms are only deterrants you can never completly safeguard against it so best option is make it hard and obvious that there is an alarm that gan make alot of noise if the try they hate two things light and noise ??

[geeves]

I heard of a case in Hamilton a few years back where the thieves would work as a team One would spot a suitable car in a supermarket carpark and text the guy with the towtruck who just drove straight in hooked up and drove off No worrys about alarms etc Because it was on a tow truck noone took notice. Car was back in Auckland 1 hour later and the engine was in a different car anouther hour after that.

[mighty trooper]

yep exactly but whos gonna want to do that to an isuzu?? the kind of people who will do that arent going to be after 4x4 s

[geeves]

How many people have fitted good stereos? A 4jb1 sells on trademe for 1500 They are very stealable even if not quite the profit on a subaru wrx

[jt]

Hi
you did not state wether it is a man or auto, the starter kill would not be any good on the manual, as the vehicle can be push started.
I find the easiest circuit to immobilise is the (electric)fuel pump, by either a switch or if easily accessible, just pulling the fuse out.

Another one i have used involved putting a cut off solenoid on the fuel line (as used on cng/lpg systems) and run through a hidden switch

[mighty trooper]

yea good idea alot of effore thought same efect can be done buy cutting into the ignition feed behind the fuse box

[grunta]

mate,
i thought about the fuel pump but the only problem is if you forget to replace the fuse or reset the switch you will run out of fuel, good for petrol, pain in the bum for diesel as you would have to bleed the lines to get the air out every time you forget!.
cheers.

[spudsbighorn]

Hey all

The best one I've seen is in my parents Ford Taurus, if you don't have the correct key the car will still let you start it however the moment you do start it the fuel lines shut down and the engine soon dies. It's a common system using coded keys but I guess as JT said it would be easy enough to do with a solenoid valve on the fuel line. I use a Fusion F2000 alarm which has engine disable which disconnects the starter lead at the ignition, even if the thief rips out the "brains" of the alarm it still wont let the ignition work, as it uses a relay which requires a small current from the alarm to activate the relay so the starter lead works. You could possibly use this system to run the solenoid valve so you don't forget to open the valve and therefore run out of fuel! I think the Fusion F2000 are about $150 and are fairly easy to install!