Found odd "Kill" switch in my C3! ???
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Joined: Mar 2004
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From: Decatur Alabama
Found odd "Kill" switch in my C3! ???
I found the oddest thing today while working on my 76 Coupe.
I had to remove the parking brake console in order to repair a failed support bracket which holds the power window switches in place. Well, glued to an inside wall of the brake console I found a small on/off switch. Coming from it were two pink wires which I traced under the shifter console, on back under the dash and through the firewall. I couldn't get far enough under the car to see where they went from there, but I soon discovered this was a kill switch. Flip the switch one way and the car won't start, or if flipped while running, it quits. Flip it the other way and everything is normal.
So, what the heck is this, and what possible purpose would it serve? If it's some sort of homemade anti-theft switch, it's a little inconvenient to get to . . I mean you have to remove the brake console to flip it.
Anybody ever seen or heard of something like this before?
Matt Crunk
75 Convertible
76 Coupe
I had to remove the parking brake console in order to repair a failed support bracket which holds the power window switches in place. Well, glued to an inside wall of the brake console I found a small on/off switch. Coming from it were two pink wires which I traced under the shifter console, on back under the dash and through the firewall. I couldn't get far enough under the car to see where they went from there, but I soon discovered this was a kill switch. Flip the switch one way and the car won't start, or if flipped while running, it quits. Flip it the other way and everything is normal.
So, what the heck is this, and what possible purpose would it serve? If it's some sort of homemade anti-theft switch, it's a little inconvenient to get to . . I mean you have to remove the brake console to flip it.
Anybody ever seen or heard of something like this before?
Matt Crunk
75 Convertible
76 Coupe
Race Director
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From: Who says "Nothing is impossible" ? I've been doing nothing for years.
Lots of people put kill switches in places where if is hard for the honest thief to find. I bet if you look at it a little closer you will find there is a trick to flipping that switch without taking off the cover. My question is : how big are the wires and how much current is going thru it, could start a fire if the wires are too small 
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Joined: Mar 2004
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From: Decatur Alabama
The wires are the same gauge as the wires leading to and from the power window switches. Believe me, this thing is coming off as soon as I can get under the car to figure out how it ties in.
Matt Crunk
Matt Crunk
Drifting
Joined: Feb 2002
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From: Manchester, Dead Center in the Middle of TN 25 miles to Jack Daniels,10 miles to Geo Dickle, and .8 mile from the Liquor Store at I-24 Exit 114
St. Jude Donor '05
I had a '70 454 4 speed Vette with a console insert that was hinged in the front and lifted from the rear. It would hold my 38 snub nose and a few other goodies. lol jim
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From: Who says "Nothing is impossible" ? I've been doing nothing for years.
Originally Posted by 1970-Bronze
It's probably wired to a relay somewhere else in the car to keep the wire size small.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jul 2001
Posts: 2,609
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From: Massapequa Park NY
IIRC 25+ years ago it was a cheap kill anti-theft method to ground out one side of the coil through a toggle switch. Hide the switch someplace where only you will know its there. Disabled the ignition similar to the old Chapman locks.
Just trace the wires out & it should be easy to remove. I'd bet one goes to the coil & the other to a ground.
JIm
Just trace the wires out & it should be easy to remove. I'd bet one goes to the coil & the other to a ground.
JIm
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Burning Brakes
Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 1,205
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From: "Too Low, Too Fast, Too Loud" TX
Would think the ebrake cover is soft enough, that if you knew where it was you could just push on it either way from the outside and it would switch appropreiatly. Just my .02 cents worth..Joe!
Burning Brakes
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 1,038
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From: Grants Pass Oregon
Kill Switch
Man I'd leave it!..I'm putting one in mine! My car would be whole today but for a party I had at my house , my keys were hanging on a wooden KEY holder by the door, A drunk chic 
k grabbed them and took off throwing a ton of dust and rocks in the air. She stole it wrecked it and walked away, never paid a cent or did a days worth of time for the theft......Sorry, but women get away with everything! If I'd had a kill switch I'd be driving it today! 
k grabbed them and took off throwing a ton of dust and rocks in the air. She stole it wrecked it and walked away, never paid a cent or did a days worth of time for the theft......Sorry, but women get away with everything! If I'd had a kill switch I'd be driving it today!
Racer
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 432
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From: Manchvegas NH
Mine came with one installed by a previous owner, along with an aftermarket alarm. I disabled the alarm, but use the kill switch each time I park it. I also use a Club. These 2 items will not deter a real thirf intent on taking the car, but it gives me a little insurance from the joyriders.
Which leads to a question: What do other here do about protecting their car when having to park it to run errands, etc.?
Which leads to a question: What do other here do about protecting their car when having to park it to run errands, etc.?
Racer
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 383
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From: Columbia SC
Do whatever you want it's your Vette right. But I am glad I have one on mine and it is easy to get to and I know for a fact unless you start taking stuff off my car or run jumper wires all over the place you will not start it. And that's enough for me.
Take my car keys, but you won't start her up. And for the bad guy who is looking to steal a car and not make a project out of it...that's where the kill switch makes the difference.
Take my car keys, but you won't start her up. And for the bad guy who is looking to steal a car and not make a project out of it...that's where the kill switch makes the difference.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 1,205
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From: "Too Low, Too Fast, Too Loud" TX
I don't run errands in the vette...are you crazy? I don't park that car anywhere I can't visually see it..if I did that here in Texas it would be gone by the time I came back from my errands...eek gads! 
Last edited by 81' Corvette Guy; Oct 7, 2004 at 01:42 PM.
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Joined: May 2004
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From: Chippewa Lake Ohio
I've got two switches on the '68. One grounds out the ignition so it wont start (so long as one uses the switch.) The second one turns on the electric fuel pump. Every time the car is turned off the pump shuts down, after you start it you have to turn the pump back on. Thief would only get about 150' if I left the keys in it. Saved my neighbors Cadilac 7 times. Kept finding right down the street.
Regards,
Heli
Regards,
Heli
