I'm planning on installing a hidden push button ignition system on my car. What i'm aiming at is, hiding the start button and being the only one able to start the car.

My question is, for those who might know, when you install such a system, can you still start the car by just turning the key? or will such a system disable the advanced key turn (the one step more turn you have to do to start the car)?

And if it does disable it, would you have to press in the clutch and then press the start button? I think it would be a simple and effective theft deterrent, if not just so other people can't drive my car....


Thanks..

 

You will still need to use the key to turn the ignition on, then press the start button to start the car.

Alternatively, you could look at modifying a keyless entry system that unlocks the car when you approach (proximity-based, say at 1m). You turn the ignition on using a switch, then push a hidden start button to crank the car.

In order to prevent the battery from going flat, you will need to set up the system to turn off the ignition system once the proximity key is out of range. The other way to do it is to have the ignition turn on and off automatically once you are in a sensible range, e.g. within 1m of the sensor.

It would take some customizing, but probably far simpler to install the equivalent of a kill switch under the seat. Turn it off and the system will not crank. Be warned that this would be hard to explain to a valet.

 

Thanks for the advice, i appreciate it. Although, the keyless entry system would not work for me personally, because i'm a person who constantly checks to see wether my car is lock when i exit it. The keyless system would drive me crazy, and have me wondering wether its locked or not.

The thing i don't understand is, would it be like an s2000, where you can turn the key all you want, it wont start unless you push the button, or would you still be able to turn the ignition and start the car with the key (as people usually do when installing a start button, just for aesthetic amusement). The hidden button would be quite useless if someone could just start the car regularly if they wanted.

and oh, no valet is ever touching my car, so i have no worries there!

 

damn i think ur a little obsesive

 

he actually is OCD about that car. turkish now your secret is out, i will know about the "hidden" button and tell everyone in town, haha.

 

The idea with the range sensor is very good.

 

Damn you John! i can never tell when you're reading my posts...

 

that would be sweet. i've actually thought about it but never looked into it. how much would it cost though? to make like the s2000 set up.

 

I'd get a Ravelco anti theft device... they quotes me $350 installed at my home or place of work... they give you a small, but complex key that is required to crank the car.

 

use a magnetic switch, put it somewhere behind the das so you have to put a strong magnet on the dash to start the car, thats what i did with my MR2. I would jump in and put the Ignition on adn then I would put the magnet in the correct spot on the dash, then i would crank the car. the swith powered a relay that grounded the clutch switch line when the magnet wasnt present. Hence the car won't start unless you know where to put the magnet and there is no button to highlight that spot.

 

Jason.. GET A TUNE... if ur ever gonner come close to me u need a tune not a push button start...remember the bet we had..

 

hmmm thats pretty good.. but how did u do it when u take the car to the delar & say you wanner do an oil change .. I do not want other ppl to know how I start the car...

 

Man their are a lot of other michiganders in this thread!

 

You can also remove the little push switch under the clutch pedal and mount it somewhere on the dash ( I used the little plastic piece on the left of the steering wheel, that would hold the intercooler sprayer button, if I had one) or you can even hide it somewhere. Unless someone knows to push that button when crancking, it'll never start. That way you are using something that's already there and simple to make. The only thing is that you always have to put the car in neutral (I always leave it like that anyway) to start it and no longer need to press the clutch pedal.

 

It's very easy.

When you turn your key to start the car, it is the same as a momentary pushbutton.

So if you wire up a switch/button and you cut your existing wiring, then no one will be able to start the car normally. If you don't cut your existing wiring, then you can start it both ways.

Either way, you will have to put the key in and turn the car to "on" before attempting to start. You can get around this, but I wouldn't suggest it. You need to bypass the immobilizer among other things.