How to switch from keyed start to a switch?
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TECH Junkie
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From: Sandusky, Ohio
How to switch from keyed start to a switch? Since I'm making my car strip only, I figure dealing with keys are going to be a PITA.
Has anyone switched over to a button/switch start? How'd you bypass everything, and what about the chip in the key?
Seems like a good safety idea, incase of a problem, hit a button and the cars dead.
Has anyone switched over to a button/switch start? How'd you bypass everything, and what about the chip in the key?
Seems like a good safety idea, incase of a problem, hit a button and the cars dead.
are you looking to totally get rid of key or just have a push button? put a ohm meter on your chip in your key, go to electronics store and buy a resistor that matches that ohm, sauter resistor between wires that read the chip in your key( 2 thin wires wrapped in orange heat shrink). Then run wire to keyed 12 volt to 1 side of push button then other side to single purple wire on pass. fender rail under hood close to pcm, fuse it and you have a push button. Key will still be able to be used but you now have a push button.
6 & 8 Second Club
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 2,284
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From: Illinois, RT 66 dragway area
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You can either do it with individual switches or with a box.
I've never done it with a modern car, but with old cars you can remove the safety
and the wheel will not lock when you remove the key.
As for starting & stopping, you rewire the key switch to two separate switches.
One switches spins the motor over, and one switch energizes the ignition system.
The safety from the key is bypassed, and the 2 new switches control everything except the locked steering wheel.
I've seen many many guys leave the key in and use their new switch box to actually control the car.
If I'm on the right track, I can help with everything except the steering wheel.
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You can either do it with individual switches or with a box.
I've never done it with a modern car, but with old cars you can remove the safety
and the wheel will not lock when you remove the key.
As for starting & stopping, you rewire the key switch to two separate switches.
One switches spins the motor over, and one switch energizes the ignition system.
The safety from the key is bypassed, and the 2 new switches control everything except the locked steering wheel.
I've seen many many guys leave the key in and use their new switch box to actually control the car.
If I'm on the right track, I can help with everything except the steering wheel.
.
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You wire it up to a pushbutton to activate the starter, and a switch to power the IGN in the car. Pretty simple really.
Now what wires do you cut/put a switch on I have no idea, I'm going to do this when I rewire my sled, but I'm ditching all the stock wiring, going with a BS3 and their engine harness, etc.
Now what wires do you cut/put a switch on I have no idea, I'm going to do this when I rewire my sled, but I'm ditching all the stock wiring, going with a BS3 and their engine harness, etc.
12 Second Club
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From: Between Bowling Green/Owensboro
I wouldnt think it would be that hard. Deleting VATS would be the first thing, then digging into the column to find the switch/wiring that energizes the starter when the ignition cylinder is turned to start position, then finding the wiring that energizes the coils/fuel pump and all that jazz.. Im sure it isnt hard at all but a multimeter and some time would do the job. I do know if you put a switch in line with 80/early 90s model single coil trucks to run a do this(still using key) that it gives it a poor spark because of excess resistance. One came into the shop one day and the guy ghetto rigged it because he broke the ignition..
6 & 8 Second Club
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 2,284
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From: Illinois, RT 66 dragway area
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As I said, it is not complicated, the steering wheel locking in the middle of a pass is what must be taken care of.
You can control the starter with a remote ford style set up and push button, very easy.
The ignition, electronics and computer just needs an on off switch, which is also easy.
The only difference from car to car would be what each car has, stock, aftermarket, combination some of each.
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As I said, it is not complicated, the steering wheel locking in the middle of a pass is what must be taken care of.
You can control the starter with a remote ford style set up and push button, very easy.
The ignition, electronics and computer just needs an on off switch, which is also easy.
The only difference from car to car would be what each car has, stock, aftermarket, combination some of each.
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Wiring schematics would help for me wiring up my Gen 7, not sure if I want to keep the key, or do switches for everything. And also not sure how to keep the rest of my car powered (lights, windows, etc) if I go to a switch... Well I know how, just don't know the maze of wiring on the column 
10 Second Club
Joined: Nov 2002
Posts: 1,471
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From: Berkeley, California
That should tell you all you need to know. The Pink, Red, and Yellow wires are the ones you need to tap into. If you dont want the key to work the cut them going up the column. There are so many ways to wire this, there isnt going to be a diagram for every setup.
Im personally going to use two toggles. One simple on off (For the IGN, on will turn the ignition and everything else on and when turned off it will cut the ignition and the motor). The other toggle will be an off/momentary on (meaning you need to hold it in the on position and when you let go it springs back to off, this will be for the starter only).
Im personally going to use two toggles. One simple on off (For the IGN, on will turn the ignition and everything else on and when turned off it will cut the ignition and the motor). The other toggle will be an off/momentary on (meaning you need to hold it in the on position and when you let go it springs back to off, this will be for the starter only).