cig lighter starter disable

[aaron325ix]

I read a thread on this recently, but I'm not sure I understood it correctly. What I want to do is make it so that when i get in my car you have to press in the lighter, and then start the car like normal. I dont want the lighter to be a button starter, just a theft deterrant. I mean what dumb ass criminal would think to push in the lighter to start the car? You could also just take out the lighter all together, and there is no way they could start it. Has anyone done this? Thanks.
AW

[Jean]

I am doing something similar, although not utilizing a sig. lighter. (instead of using sig. lighter, I want to use reed relay, hidden and you would need to pass a magnet near it to activate the circuit lol) I am thinking figuring out what wire on the ignition lock wiring harness to splice into. The thing is, if you splice into a wire that needs to be constantly on for the car to be running then your sig lighter would need to control a relay or circuit that would keep it "on" until you turn the car off, otherwise the sig lighter would need to be always in the "on" position. Starter disable would probably be easier though too, don't know why I didn't think of that !

Maybe Luke will chime in with what specific wire can be spliced...

[aaron325ix]

Hey Jean thanks for the reply. So yea, couldnt you have a constant "disabler", but make the lighter disable the disabler? Am i on the right track here? As you know my knowledge of the electronics world is elementary at best. BTW are we having a meet this week? Take care.

[Mtriple]

Alright, little slow at work tonight...

Here is my take on it if I were to do it. The idea here is not to get stranded if something fails (like the relay) with the circuit. The car will run with the lighter out of its socket, and at rest within the socket. Pushing the lighter in, as if you were trying to heat up the lighter, completes the circuit and energizes the relay. This will interrupt the vehicle's starter circuit and the car wont start.

-Couple of notes regarding the following diagram. First, you must cover or insulate terminal 30 on the relay to avoid any shorts. Secondly, I would recommend that you install a diode in line from the lighter socket to terminal 85 on the relay to prevent any backfeeding to the lighter. (I cant remember which side of the diode blocks the positive voltage. Luke or george graves can chime in on that. It's been a long time since I've played with diodes.) *edit* I think I'm wrong, the gray band should face the lighter socket.

And of course I have no liability here, this is just a suggestion.
Attempt at your own risk.



And a quick pin out on a 30 amp relay. I highly recommend Bosch by the way.

[Turf1600]

Put a switch on your fuel pump if you want a theft deterrent.

[e30pwr]

Put a switch on your fuel pump if you want a theft deterrent.

Nope. You can't do that. It's too easy.

[StereoInstaller1]

I do not recommend doing any type of starter kill AT ALL anymore.

You cannot buy a decent relay these days, all are made in China (no matter the brand name) and are JUNK.

Aaron, isn't your car a 5 speed? Wouldn't the thief just bump start it anyway? Buy an alarm, install it carefully, get insured for theft if your think your car is worth it.

Mine isn't.

GL!
Luke

[atomic]

This hidden can be a great alternative to a theft deterrent. with some simple rewiring.


BATTERY CUT-OFF SWITCH


* Prevents battery drain when the vehicle is in storage
* Deters theft
* Brass terminals
* 100 amp capacity @ 12 volts (1000 amp surge)
* 50 amp capacity @ 24 volts (500 amp surge)

$2.99

http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/displayitem.taf?Itemnumber=92688

[aaron325ix]

Hmmm... that might be what i need. Dont know where i would hide it though. Seems like everyone is a little hesitant on the starter disable thing.

[atomic]

Hmmm... that might be what i need. Dont know where i would hide it though. Seems like everyone is a little hesitant on the starter disable thing.

I know when I worked at the local BMW dealer between 1989-1994 all new cars when they rolled off the carriers had these installed (rather crude looking) to keep theft down and to keep the batteries from draining while sitting in port and while in transit.

This is where I am getting my idea from on using one. But like you said its just figuring out where to hide it.

[Turf1600]

I did a starter kill once and somehow melted my headlights and voltage regulator. What happened?

[redhatpat]

$2.99? Wow, top quality there, I'm sure. I had one like that installed in another car for theft deterrence about 15 years ago. It cost something like $40 in 1992 dollars. For $2.99 I expect that part to be more chinese made junk.

Also, if that disconnects power from the battery to the whole car, does it sound appealing to reset all your radio stations on your stereo every time you use it? My car above didn't have a radio, so I didn't have that issue.

[aaron325ix]

Oh yea didnt even think of that. i dont want to reset obc and stereo all the time. would be nice if I were out of town for a while to save battery, but other wise no way.

[netcsk]

All you need is a couple turns of a 13mm wrench to disconnect the battery ;). Then you don't have something in the way to fail in the future.
Just put a simple toggle switch on the fuel pump or main relay wire. You can even hide it on your bolster.

[streetbeat911]

who wants to steal an entire e30, maybe some parts off it, trust me all you need is a good alarm, glass break sensor, tilt sensor and an annoying horn, and probably considering most theives are young get the mosquito ringtone alarm