So Ive been thinking about fabricating a cut off switch to the starter and mounting it under my seat so that it has to be turned on in order to start the car... (help prevent people from steeling the car) how hard would this be? I have a nice solid switch that I would use and I would have it tucked under the drivers seat so would it be a bad thing having that much wire in between the starter and the power source? or should I fabricate it some other way?... I would like to do it somewhere other than the glove box because it seems to obvious of a spot.

 

bump... would there be an easier way to help prevent teft?.... I live in tucson which is like an hr drive to the border so im just worried about my car. But who here isnt worried about there car?

 

I would think that if a cut-off switch is what you want to do, then putting it somewhere under the dash would be a better spot. However, you are looking at a very long battery cable if I understand your hookup correctly. Why not just hook up a toggle switch under the dash to turn on and off your ignition switch at the key?

 

I would like it to be right before the starter because that way everything else will work with the key turned except starting the engine that way if the thief knows how to hot wire, jump the starter solenoid, or steel the keys some how it wont matter.... but I didn't realize that it was the battery cable that went to the starter so what about the alternator? or the distributor? is there a way after the starter solenoid to disable to car with a switch?

 

I think what you want is a battery emergency shut off switch, like the ones found on drag cars. On a street car yes this will prevent thft but it is also a safety feature. This is in case a fire starts you can cut off the power to say a fuel pump etc. Youd wanna mount it in a place easy to get to in an emergency but hidden from the public if you are using it as a theft deterent.

 

You don't want a switch on the big fat cable going to the starter. It is impractical to do that. If you want to kill the starter with a kill switch you need to wire the switch in series with the small wire that actuates the solenoid. It will do the same thing and that wire originates at the ignition switch. Very simple to do. Just need to get a schematic for you car, figure out what color wire it is and wire in the switch. What year is your car?

The other way is to do the same thing with the hot wire going to the coil. That too comes from the ignition switch. On this method the car will crank but wont start. On the first method it won't crank but would start if you could get it to crank, like if you push started it or jumpered the solenoid with a screw driver. Both ways have thier draw backs.

 

So cutting it at the starter is a no go.
So disconnecting the coil would be a safer and more practical way?
I know that neither of them are full proof but which would be the safest and easiest way to do it?
what if I got a relocation kit to put the battery in the trunk and then put a switch in the line that goes from the trunk to the starter? or is that impractical?

Edit: Oh yeah its also an 1966 cupe Automatic (not rare by any means)

 

bump, i also have a 66 coupe and am thinking of this, but i dont have very good wiring skills

 

Well have you thought of an alarm system? One that either pages you or makes alot of noise that also kills power to the coil and starter solenoid? Old Mustangs are the easiest to steal, most times you can push the window down, and with a spare ignition switch you can just pull the harness from the switch and plug it in the spare. Poof, cars gone.

An alarm that disables the car mixed with some other not so easy to find ideas like you have thought of would work. Put an electric fuel pump on it and hide the switch to that. It will go untill the bowl is dry then stop. A quiet pump in back will not be noticed so easily, so dont put it under the hood.

Remember whatever you do to it, make sure you set it up so its not obvious as to what you are doing. Dont make it so you have to reach anywhere you normally wouldnt, like in the trunk or under the back seat, or someone watching you will know how to start your car. A button by the dimmer switch would work well, or a switch hidden near the sterring column right under the dash. A relay is a good idea so you dont have a fire that destroys your car instead.

Its easy to wire up the small things, and even though most of them can be gotten around or found, the idea is to make it take so much time to get it running that they leave. If you cant tell anyone has been there, if they are really serious about it, they will just come back later and get it with a roll back or trailer. I used to repo cars, so getting around stuff and gettin them started I had to learn.

 

Ok, I saw a bar (like the ones for steering wheels) for the break peddle so that they cant press on the break.... are they any good?
Because I'm thinking if I do some sort of cut off switch to the engine along with a break peddle and steering wheel bar should do pretty good right? I just know that locking the door isn't going to stop someone who wants my car... I'm sure that nothing will stop a very motivated person but the more safety percussion's the better.