I keep bending my key starting my car. Is it hard to add a button on the dash where I can turn the ignition on with the key but push the button to crank the starter?
I have the button with two terminals. Is it simply one goes to 12v (fused?) and the other goes to the starter? or do I need to mess with the ignition switch?
On a couple of my old beetles I've had a starter button that I believe was pretty much just attached to the starter on one side and the battery on the other, usually mounted onto the E-brake handle.
I don't have them any more, and I'm not exactly sure how I did it now though...
You might think about leaving everything as is at the ign switch. and add a secondary relay at the solenoid to opperate the starter. . that way you won't need a large capacity {amp} button and can run a smaller gage wire to the relay from the button. . OR you can find the wiring under the dash for the heated rear window switch and use that to get back to the engine compartment. .
The negative side of this idea is you might inadvertently hit the button with the engine running. . .
OR you can pull the large yellow wire from the Ign switch which goes to the solenoid, move it to a button with a 12V jumper from the large common battery post under the dash. . . however now your button can operate the starter with the IGn switch being off or on. [think bump button]
Gary,
You could do it with a start switch on the dash, but use a switch that handles at least 40 amps. Initial solenoid current is 35 amps. The better way would be to add a relay such as McMark on this site offers and also replace the ignition switch.
I suspect that if you were to open up your ignition switch after replacing it, you would find arc damage and carbon build up around the starter contacts. This comes from the high inductive spike from the solenoid's collapsing field, and from the initial arc from the two contacts suddenly conducting 35 amps. Using a remote relay saves the ignition switch from these damaging events and transfers them to the relay. Relays have different alloys in their contacts to help suppress the arc damage.
Tom
Ok, I'll bite.
How are you bending your key while trying to start your car?
Is your lock cylinder binding or that difficult to rotate?
Mine bend too...probably need the locks all redone.
My key is toothpick thin, I'm guessing from years of use and shrinking from years of duplicates.
FYI my ignition key only contacts further up the key...maybe that's something.
If your key is bending, something is wrong and that should probably be fixed first.
I expect the key is bending due to the necessity of finding a good electrical contact due to the carbon build up and damage to the key contacts due to the arcing. The leading edge of the contacts is degraded, so further rotation is necessary to find enough contact area to facilitate enough surface area to make sufficient current flow possible.
Tom
summit and jegs both sell a nice momentary switch.
and if you use a relay like, mcmark or mark henry, suggests, then you wouldn't needed such a high amperage one but for $12 by Taylor you may as well go big and use or not use a relay in between.
http://www.914world.com/bbs2/index.php?showtopic=224542
jim
Sure , no problem , give me a little time , a day or 2 , Bill D.
I used this starter switch pack..
I unpluged key portion of ignition used test light to figure out what i needed.
Works great if i ever want to plug ignition back in iam good.Put blank black plug in column.
I used wire stripper and pealed back enough wire to sodden wire extension.
I have main electrical cut off for my key.
On both my cars, I've simply spliced in 12G wire to the ignition harness, red and yellow, and ran to the starter button. All the starter buttons I have, both "racing" and cheapy from local flaps fit neatly into the cigarette lighter hole.
With troubleshooting/tuning the DJet FI, both cars have been started and restarted many times, no issues at all.
Of course, I can't light a cigarette ...
This is what I'm planning on doing. My teener came with a push button because the ignition stopped working. Instead of putting a new hole in the dash, although small, I'd rather try this:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S3HgJJpyt8o
There are a few benefits to the cigarette lighter start button that I can see...
1. Allows you to keep a factory looking cigarette adapter, but now makes it useful. (I never use it, I don't smoke cigarettes.... )
2. Serves as a security device. Take the cigarette lighter with you if you don't want anyone driving it when you're not home, or stealing it.
3. It's pretty cool.
Cig lighter mod is REALLY cool!
How about something like this.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/RFID-alarm-push-button-start-transponder-immobilizer-system-keyless-engine-car-/331019849462
its cool until someone who smokes presses that button, while you are driving, before you can tell them NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!
I think momentary switch has got to be protected or hard to reach.
nice drawing.
you could put the switch on 30 as you have or on 86 as well. I think on 86 would be slightly better?
any value in cutting the yellow starter wire between where the relay wire from 30 connects to it and the starter switch itself, as power is going to starter switch under current scenario and starter solenoid too?
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