Wanting to wire in a switch for ignition-security/theft protection

[jekquistk5]

My buddy had a falcon that he didn't have the key to. He wired a series of SPDT switches in the dash, along with a hidden fuel pump switch under the seat. You had to know the right combination to start it. Really through him through a loop when I moved his car one day..

 

[diesel4me]

Having a 6.2 diesel with toggle switches running the cold start advance,fuel pump,a push button glow plug activator,etc,pretty much theft proofs my trucks...someone well schooled in diesels would be required to figure out how to get it fired up when its cold.....

 

[jp0863]

I like pulling the fuse for the ECM. It takes a second or two and I can do it by feel (second one up from the lower left side of the fuse box). Throw on a club for the common thief, just a visual deterrent. I'm a retired police officer in what was the auto theft capitol of the planet for a while, visual deterrents worked best. If you heart is sold on a kill switch, hide it well.
Little kill switch story though. I had one on my 66 mustang. Every once in a while the engine would die, usually at the worst place possible. I couldn't figure it out for a while because the switch worked fine while the car was sitting still. As the car would ruble down the road, the switch would "break" continuity and kill the coil. Lesson... carry an extra switch, hide it well, but be able to get to it if you need to swap it out.
One extra piece of advice, which most already know, if a thief wants it bad enough, there's nothing you can do. Thieves, well some of them, are smart.. like they should apply themselves to legitimate business kind of smart..

 

[sponsoredbydad]

I put 2 switches on my 1st Gen. One is for the electric fuel pump and one goes to the MSD box. One of the switches is hidden in plain sight(I now have 2 banks of these switches) and one is buried down next to the column.

 

[K85 Octane]

Switches are simple. The relay method is best and allows you to use current switches. Yes you introduce fail points but it's manageable if that happens.

My truck as no doors, so the column lock is nice. Works well and easily removed/attached. I didn't know they still make them. Everyone should run one.

If the truck is being stored, I tend to run a cable lock around the driveshaft joints and frame. Thief might get it started but he'll have a WTF moment when it does t move.

I'll keep other details to myself

 

[ashman]

Here's an idea for ya.

Cut the small B+ wire on the starter and put a relay inline.
Use the power for your parking lights (or anything else) to power the relay.
This way you can only start it with the parking lights on.

I really like that idea!

 

[campfire]

Having a 6.2 diesel with toggle switches running the cold start advance,fuel pump,a push button glow plug activator,etc,pretty much theft proofs my trucks...someone well schooled in diesels would be required to figure out how to get it fired up when its cold.....

Same here. In it's current state, even a diesel tech would require a little bit of diagnostic work to get Big Blue running (if I didn't explain it ahead of time).

6.2 diesel FTW!

 

[campfire]

You can just unplug the connector at the neutral safety and use male & female solderless connectors to wire in the toggle switch,so there wont be any butchery of the factory wiring..be aware adding more wire and a switch that might introduce more resistance could possibly cause lower voltage to the starter solenoid and make it not want to kick in and crank,so be sure you use good wire and switch,and have good connections..

That was my first thought as well. In my (automatic) truck, I also have a connector for the clutch safety switch that has a bypass jumper. Remove jumper, insert switch circuit. You now have fewer loose wires under the dash, and didn't have to modify the wiring harness to install your switch. You could even get a factory-style plug and it would look like normal factory wiring.

It's worth noting that the wire from this switch goes directly to the solenoid (it's the last of the 3 switches on my rig), so it is a convenient spot for hotwiring. A thief inclined to go this direction might very well reach for that connector first (if he knows these trucks).