Hidden Kill Switch

[PaulZ]

Hi Guys. I want to hide a toggle switch to keep my engine from starting. 99 Ranger 4.0 OHV. I'm not up on modern ignitions, is there a power wire to the coil pack or something else I can splice into?

 

[Dirtman]

I use the starter relay signal wire.

 

[91stranger]

You can easily add a kill switch to the fuel pump. Find the hot wire feeding the fuel pump relay when the key is on and there you go. put a toggle switch on that wire so it kills the fuel pump. Can't run without fuel. It will kill the battery if someone tried cranking the engine for minutes at a time. By that time, whoever is trying to take your ride will most likely given up if it doesn't start after the first few tries, let alone when the battery starts dying.

 

[Dirtman]

I try to advocate against using the fuel pump. While not super likely, if the switch got accidentally hit or failed while driving your engine will die which can be dangerous on a 4 lane highway.

If a switch to the starter gets hit while driving nothing happens.

Just my opinion...

 

[RonD]

1999 Ford Ranger with 4.0l(V6) will have PATS(passive anti-theft system) which turns off fuel pump and fuel injectors unless one of its Factory transponder keys is used in the ignition

Fuse 19 in the cab fuse panel, 25amp, powers the coil pack and the computer relay, so if its disconnected then No Start


I wouldn't disable starter motor because I like the idea of engine cranking, making noise, but not starting, this calls attention to the THEFT attempt
People might ignore an alarm now-a-days, lol, but may offer to help someone with a No Start after repeated cranking, something a thief wouldn't want


Best setup is a Double relay, with a button
This is a momentary contact setup, so system is disabled until button is pressed once, then first relay is activated which activates 2nd relay which stays on until key/power is off again
So it resets every time you turn off the key, no remembering to "turn off the switch"
And it shouldn't reset while driving, for Dirtman

 

[Snoranger]

If I were to wire up a switch, I’d run a relay. That way i could wire it to blow the horn if someone tried to start it with the kill switch off.

 

[Dirtman]

If I were to wire up a switch, I’d run a relay. That way i could wire it to blow the horn if someone tried to start it with the kill switch off.

That's not very creative... what about a small explosive charge that shoots a dead cephalopod at them? Or trigger it to start playing bluegrass music and shoot lotion and condoms out of the CD player.

 

[PaulZ]

That's certainly creative! Ron, my op manual says fuse 19 is PCM module, is that the one? OK to toggle that baby?

1999 Ford Ranger with 4.0l(V6) will have PATS(passive anti-theft system) which turns off fuel pump and fuel injectors unless one of its Factory transponder keys is used in the ignition

Fuse 19 in the cab fuse panel, 25amp, powers the coil pack and the computer relay, so if its disconnected then No Start


I wouldn't disable starter motor because I like the idea of engine cranking, making noise, but not starting, this calls attention to the THEFT attempt
People might ignore an alarm now-a-days, lol, but may offer to help someone with a No Start after repeated cranking, something a thief wouldn't want


Best setup is a Double relay, with a button
This is a momentary contact setup, so system is disabled until button is pressed once, then first relay is activated which activates 2nd relay which stays on until key/power is off again
So it resets every time you turn off the key, no remembering to "turn off the switch"
And it shouldn't reset while driving, for Dirtman

 

[Josh B]

I use the starter relay signal wire.

Where do you park?

 

[Dirtman]

Where do you park?

You still have to get passed the PATs system soooo.... good luck?

The only reason I installed a kill switch is because where I worked for a while my truck got passed around like a dirty old hooker so it was easier to just leave the keys in it and tell the people "allowed" to use it how to work the kill switch.

 

[Snoranger]

That's not very creative... what about a small explosive charge that shoots a dead cephalopod at them? Or trigger it to start playing bluegrass music and shoot lotion and condoms out of the CD player.

How about wiring it to the airbag? The thief is reaching down around the column trying to hot wire it.... BAM! Airbag to the face.

 

[PaulZ]

I had a look at the fuse panel, not sure how I would deal with that, pull the fuse, put in some jumper wires to a remote fuse but the cover panel fits tight over the fuses.

Might be easier to run wires through the firewall (I have a hole already) to something under the hood and leave the fuse panel alone. Unless there is a wire under the dash I can splice into.

 

[Dirtman]

How about wiring it to the airbag? The thief is reaching down around the column trying to hot wire it.... BAM! Airbag to the face.

Airbags are expensive, squid and lotion are cheap...

 

[91stranger]

You can buy these little adapters so you can easily tap into the fuse panel AND have a fuse on the line you are running. I like the idea of a secondary switch like Ron was saying. That way you wouldn't accidentally bump the kill switch. Could get a toggle switch with a cover so it can't be bumped without raising the cover. You could get really creative and wire the second switch with something like the rear defroster or fog lamps... No one thinks to turn on stuff before the car is started. That would make for the ultimate kill switch.

https://abc7chicago.com/news/secret-trap-cars-used-to-smuggle-goods-guns/1087659/

 

[Josh B]

You can buy these little adapters so you can easily tap into the fuse panel AND have a fuse on the line you are running. I like the idea of a secondary switch like Ron was saying. That way you wouldn't accidentally bump the kill switch. Could get a toggle switch with a cover so it can't be bumped without raising the cover. You could get really creative and wire the second switch with something like the rear defroster or fog lamps... No one thinks to turn on stuff before the car is started. That would make for the ultimate kill switch.

https://abc7chicago.com/news/secret-trap-cars-used-to-smuggle-goods-guns/1087659/

That gives me a good idea for an ejection seat