My Samurai has a bad ignition switch, and new ones are 1) not separate from the key barrel, so I'd have to change keys and 2) too expensive for me to afford any time soon.
What's a good way to set up common off-the-shelf switches to replace a typical factory ignition switch? I'd retain the old one just for the steering lock. At least it would have something for security...although that's been acting up a bit recently too.
Something like this is pretty close to what I need, except for the fact that they're not available locally:
I'd want to retain the acc & on settings separately, just like the factory switch.
my yugo had a random small keyed momentary switch that was mounted into the center console... I don't recall but I think the main key still controlled the electronics but the other key was for the starter.
that being said... it would be easy to wire things up... an on/off switch for the electronics and then just a momentary button to the ignition relay... could put them in different places even... head down to the local hardware store and see what sort of ghetto thing you could fit together :)
Yeah I think the simplest setup possible for what I want is 2 switches and a button. I'll just hack something together and hang it off the column. I just hope I can find switch gear beefy enough, whoever designed the Samurai's electrical system thought relays were the devil and the car only has one from the factory - none for the headlights, horn or starter!
http://www.australiastoughestcars.com.au/news/video-guy-mods-his-real-mx-5-car-with-arcade-coin-starter/
You can find a starter button switch capable of handling the load at any auto parts store, it's only been the last 15 or 20 years that SOME cars relay it.. There's a lot of 90s cars that still fed all of the power through the switch. Remember you're just triggering the solenoid, it's not like the actual starter motor needs to run up there, so some 10 or 12 gauge handled it fine.
I've replaced a failed focus key cylinder (they had a problem with the 2000-2001s where the lock would wear out and jam the cylinder) with two toggle switches (accessories and ignition) and a push-button starter. It was prohibitively expensive for poor college students to fix that one properly :)
I just removed the loop of wire that went around the cylinder that looked for the transponder and taped a key inside of that loop and tucked it up. Then we hid the ignition toggle switch in a reasonably convenient spot, and used a piece of plastic as a block-off plate to mount the accessory toggle & starter to the stock location.
RadioShack should have a toggle and a button. That is basically what my cavalier has. Just find the beefiest onesyou can find. Hopefully a rubber cover on the push button.
http://m.oreillyauto.com/mt/www.oreillyauto.com/site/c/detail/BWD0/CS200K/N0946.oap?ck=Search_N0946_-1_2030&pt=N0946&ppt=C0335
mount it where the cigarette lighter is. Four wires, all labeled. They have a $12 one too.
I'm reasonably sure radio shack doesn't even have switches anymore.
i'm putting a relay in my push button setup. the idea is that my starter, relay, and distribution block are all within 2 feet of each other, and the switch and push button are 4 feet away from them in the dash.
2 feet of 10 gauge wire carrying the start juice from the relay and a little 14-16 carrying relay trigger power the 8 feet to switch and back sounds like a better idea to me. the less big conductors i can run through my firewall the better.
No time to order one from Summit, Jegs, Speedway Motors or Amazon? Generic ones are like $10.
Those still require a different key, and a "secondary" ignition switch if I want to keep the steering lock...so it's cheaper and quicker to add a few switches.
Wire a toggle switch for the "run" position of the ignition, and wire your starter solenoid through your cigarette lighter!
Just beware of smokers inadvertently kicking your starter into action while you're driving because they wanted a smoke.
Even better, you could take your cigarette lighter in with ya (making it like a "key")
Haha can't do that, I use the cig. lighter to power all kinds of accessories.
I'm not that worried about theft but I don't want it to be a press-button stealable car, either.
Go to a place that sells tractor parts, or heavy duty truck parts, or a heavy duty truck junkyard, and grab a generic keyed ignition switch.
Dont use a lawnmower one though, they all use the same key.
Plans deferred, found a much bigger problem, Samurai's compression is all berkeleyed up. Fun fun fun!
In reply to GameboyRMH:
1.6 16v swap or 22re swap or 4.3 swap or turbo 1.3/1.6
also it is a samurai just put two wires hanging from the column and just use those.
I'm not swapping in anything over 2L with $7/gal gas, especially a 22re!
The 1.6 is a good swap but you need some suspension mods, the stock suspension would hit the bottom of the taller 1.6 block, and you can't just throw away travel on an offroad vehicle...
if I were to wire up a switch and button for running and starting the car.. I would find an older American two position "pull" switch for the headlights. First pull is accessories, Second pull is for ignition, fuel pump, and the like.
In reply to GameboyRMH:
I know iirc you only need 2 inches but if not a modded 1.3 pan will work with no lift.
Wire like 7 ultra simple toggles in-line with the clutch safety switch (or ignition circuit if CSS not available). Change the direction for any switch as desired. 7 = 128 possible combinations, 8 = 256, etc. As long as its difficult to pull up the panel and skip them all, it should still provide some theft protection. You can a momentary one that must be activated with your left hand/foot as well for good measure.
Plus, now when you get in your car and start flipping a ton of switches you look badass like a pilot getting ready for takeoff.
You'll need to log in to post.
