So, as the title suggests I am looking for ideas on placement and even type of a hidden kill switch.
As my car has EFI I was thinking it would be easy enough to put a switch somewhere on the fuel pump power wire to shut power off to the pump.
the systems relay is up in the wiper tray. The power wire enters the interior though the speedo cable grommet. Passes behind the tach and speedo. Down past the fuse panel and joins the rear wiring harness going along under the carpet just below the sill plate, then up into the sail panel.... etc.
So, some form of switch to cut the power to the pump would stop the common drive away/joy ride type of thief.
I already have a manual transmission which will stop most young thieves.
my thought is a switch that can't be seen, but still easy to reach.
Idea's? What have others done?

 

Just put a simple toggle switch somewhere under the dash and run the power to the ignition system thru that first. Flip the switch....no ignition.

 

Pull the ashtray out and mount a switch there, simple to get to.
Put a kill switch on the battery.

 

I've never looked into it and there's lots of places to hide a switch but I wonder if something could be done with the floor dimer switch and a relay. Lights off and hi beam on kills the ignition or something
M

 

I have a 77, so no floor dimmer switch, but this is the line of thinking I'm looking for.
I want a switch I can hit without anyone knowing I'm doing it. Even if they are looking right in the window kind of thing.
And no, eliminating the ash tray is out of the question. I use the ashtray and I am annoyed at my newer car for not having one!

 

I always relocate my neutral safety switch and add a relay between the starter and battery so the ignition switch doesn't take a current hit.

Then I put a momentary ground button on the neutral safety relay so you have to be in neutral and pressing the button to crank the vehicle

not gonna tell you where mine is but you can hide it under the carpet step on it with your foot or put it on a wire under the center console hide it under the interior panels when you don't need it or put it under the backseat or behind the rear quarter panel depending on the vehicle.

another favorite is a reed switch, closes when you hit it with a magnet. Hide a magnet somewhere you find the magnet, drag it over the reed and you can crank the vehicle by putting the magnet in the right spot you hide the reed behind a plastic thin panel. Intergrate a 555 timer circuit so it stays active for a set period of time, that way you can listen for the 'click' then hide the magnet, then crank at your leisure within the next 30 seconds or so. after which its disabled by itself again. THis way you can activate the kill switch, then appear to do nothing for 30 or 50 seconds, just sit there. Then crank the vehicle. Somebody watching wont connect the thing you did 50 seconds ago with the kill.

 

Could you put a dimmer switch on the floor under the carpet like the 76 and back had? Wouldn't be surprised if the holes aren't still there... Originally I was thinking the 4way flashers switch but that needs to work with the car off so not really
M

 

If you don't mind carrying a Keyfob that doubles as a pretend Garage Door opener...
Most have a 8 amp output rating, plenty to energizer your fuel pump relay.
These come in single or multiple channels...
50 meter range...
Amazon Link:

 

I have a small toggle switch near the odometer reset that cuts the V to my pertronix ignition

 

I'm liking some of these ideas. Yet a solution is still not here.
As per the neutral safety switch idea.
Sorry, some of us just won't buy an automatic car.
I do have a starter relay on the firewall right where the original plastic one wire connector was that sent power down to the solenoid to engage the starter, thus removing the load from the ignition switch and clutch safety switch. I also have a relay for power to the distributor and EFI computer. Also to take load off of old switches and also to get clean, full power to my DUI distributor and EFI computer.
not thinking a battery disconnect switch would be discreet. And a power drain I have never had. And if I ever do, I'll fix it.
My thought is. First they have to figure out you need to put the clutch to the floor before it will even crank.
And then let them crank and crank. The longer they mess around, the better the chance they get caught.
If they are a fairly decent thief, if there is such a thing. They may know how to hot wire a distributor. Or bypass a starter disable. That's why I was thinking of killing the fuel pump. As these old cars normally don't have a electric pump. Might keep em busy long enough to get them caught.
perhaps a switch just below the sill plate along side the seat? But how to hide it? Still reach it and still be able to remove the seat on a regular basis as maintenance is ongoing.

 

I dont hide mine as they arent labeled and most folks just trying to start the car are looking foward. The first is mty fuel pump cut out. Its on the dash next to the wiper switch. Easy to get to in an emergency and if they figure it out t it still wont hsve power. Behind the drivers elbow on the rear wall just above the center console is a master kill switch. Kills all power to the car except for the clock and radio memory. If you dont see it getting in most fols dont see it . You have to twist and use your left hand to turn it on if you are in the car. And again accesible in an emergency.

Its a heavy metal one. Used to be the one with the plastic removable key handle. If i wanted it as a theft deterant i can remove the retaining screw and use the handle as a key chain and turn it on or off then remove the handle.

A serious thief is coming with a flat bed for your baby

 

I use the master kill switch whenever i leave the car so i never have to worry about a dead battery when i return....

 

I have a four speed. Punks today can't drive a manual transmission!

 

Have you got electric windows? If not you could put the window switches in and use one of them. Easy enough to route the wire from the sill under the carpet and into the centre console.

 

Doesnt mean they wont try and kill your tranny and clutch in the process....many imports are still available as 5 or 6 speeds https://www.mydrivecar.com/2023-manu...smission-cars/

 

My car has stated value insurance. I will take necessary precautions to make stealing it more difficult, like a kill switch, but other than that,Getting it stolen will be a windfall.
And mines an auto.

C’mon punks!

 

Manual trans cars have neutral safety on the clutch pedal. So if you remote start with the car in gear it doesn't start and drive into wall (seen that happen).
I thought about the fuel pump and added a switch but then realized its easier to cut the fuel pump wire which is right visible and easy to find, and send it to power than to find and cut the starter solenoid wire which is buried deep on the side of the engine and covered in sheath.

I wrote a small program using arduino that activates a relay which pulls power away from fuel pump and you put in a password. IF you get it right it unlocked the fuel pump relay. If wrong you get a tone and a led lights up somewhere but the pump still comes on for a 30 seconds allowing you to think you got it and drive a short ways then the car dies.
I don't like putting in a password to drive the car though it takes too long. So I put that on a toggle from another pair of switches and conditionals which changes the password and LED display depending on the setting making it faster to start the vehicle if you are in a rush and know where to find certain switch combinations before you left the vehicle that particular time.

 

I'm thinking this kill switch in plain sight for my TPI restomod 78, even though the hatch doesn't open. If nothing else it will confuse them.

 

The Cobra does have a battery disconnect switch. Because it does not have a top or windows or door locks I use all the time. Now you have me thinking about putting one in the 73 Corvette. My clock does not work...what about using the rod to adjust the hands to activate a relay which could kill the voltage to the coil?

 

When I ran a Vertex Mag w/ my BB, had had the switch next to the wiper door overide.