[Darth Menace]

Hi, last night my garage was broken into and this got me thinking how I can further prevent my cars from getting stolen. Sure they can always steal it if they want but I had might as well make it difficult. I was advised to hook up an ignition circuit interruptor and hook it up to a toggle switch of sorts. I dont know if I am using the wrong lingo but I have come across no tutorials on this. I have a 69 custom s and 98 viper I want this done to

Sent from my GT-P3113 using Tapatalk

[PurelyGTO68]

On your '60 Custom S, there may be dozens of different ways to accomplish your goals. Some of them come with a variety of dangers/drawbacks. One pretty safe method is to get a simple toggle switch (mounted inconspicuously). Run a wire from one side of the switch to the negative side of the coil (the side that connects to the distributor). Then run another wire from the other side of the switch to chassis ground. When that switch is closed, the engine will not start. It will crank, but not start. Open the switch and the engine will start and run normally.

Your Viper will be more involved. If your relays are easily accessible, then find the relay that powers your fuel pump or the ECM/PCM. Then locate the ground wire for that relay (usually terminal 85). Interrupt that wire and the relay will not operate. You interrupt that wire in the same way as your 1960 car however this time the switch will work in the opposite fashion....meaning you will need the switch to be closed for the engine to start and open to prevent starting.

Note, if you interrupt the fuel pump relay...then the engine may start but should quickly die. I like to interrupt the ECM/PCM relay instead....that will ensure the engine doesn't start at all.

Again, there are dozens and dozens of ways to accomplish what you wish. Generally speaking, it's usually safest to control the negative side of the circuit. Trying to switch the positive side of things can sometimes cause problems if you don't size your wires or switch correctly or create reliability issues.

[kyle_blake]

question for the coil method:

Run a wire from one side of the switch to the negative side of the coil (the side that connects to the distributor). Then run another wire from the other side of the switch to chassis ground. When that switch is closed, the engine will not start. It will crank, but not start. Open the switch and the engine will start and run normally.

Q: Could you run the the distributor wire to one side of the switch and the other side to the negative side on coil, essentially just breaking the circuit path?

[PurelyGTO68]

Originally Posted by kyle_blake

question for the coil method:

Run a wire from one side of the switch to the negative side of the coil (the side that connects to the distributor). Then run another wire from the other side of the switch to chassis ground. When that switch is closed, the engine will not start. It will crank, but not start. Open the switch and the engine will start and run normally.

Q: Could you run the the distributor wire to one side of the switch and the other side to the negative side on coil, essentially just breaking the circuit path?

You could, but I would not recommend it. That would end up turning your toggle switch into a set of points and cause problems. Congratulations on the question though....I thought this method was virtually fail safe but your inquiry shows that every modification has the potential for a fault.

The method I described earlier is nice because it's simply an additional wire on that coil terminal. You don't have to cut into any of the existing wiring harness or otherwise modify anything. It's simply an additional wire that runs to a switch that grounds the circuit when closed. It has the net effect of rendering the coil inoperative which prohibits the engine from starting.

I learned this trick from the 1961 Chevy manual. Here is a page from that book.

[kyle_blake]

I really appreciate this, that you very much for the post and the answers!

[Darth Menace]

Thanks guys. I think this one is above me. The Pontiac would likely make me go nuts and take half the winter. Tapping into the viper would scare me, last thing I would want to do is try something. I will eventually get this done by a reputable shop. I like to try a lot of things myself but this is making my head hurt

Sent from my Nexus 4 using Tapatalk

[kyle_blake]

Darth, all this stuff can be bought from a circuit city in edmonton. When i buy mine, my friend who is a journeyman electrician will also do it on his 69 gto. Between the two of us if you want we can just buy the same parts and wire for you. We'll make 3 of them.

Then you just have to literally connect two wires and mount the switch somewhere!
I'm sure it's less than $10!
2 Wires and one toggle switch!!!

[rexs73gto]

The toggle switch idea works great as I had to do it on a car once because of an x-wife. It will only take you about 1/2 hour at most to do this so don't let it scare you. Its very simple, plus you don't want any one in your town to know you've done this as something like that will spread fast & the least amount of people who know its there is the better.

[Darth Menace]

Originally Posted by kyle_blake

Darth, all this stuff can be bought from a circuit city in edmonton. When i buy mine, my friend who is a journeyman electrician will also do it on his 69 gto. Between the two of us if you want we can just buy the same parts and wire for you. We'll make 3 of them.

Then you just have to literally connect two wires and mount the switch somewhere!
I'm sure it's less than $10!
2 Wires and one toggle switch!!!

Do I know you?

Sent from my Nexus 4 using Tapatalk

[kyle_blake]

we met on this board , I was interested in buying your wheels when you first joined. we never did the deal. i never thought of the negative aspect of it, just of helping a fellow member protect their car.

[Darth Menace]

Originally Posted by kyle_blake

we met on this board , I was interested in buying your wheels when you first joined. we never did the deal. i never thought of the negative aspect of it, just of helping a fellow member protect their car.

Oh my bad. Nothing negative. I was just wondering if you had seen my cars at a car show (only time they made it to one together was at rockin' August). I have met some online guys from the AIIPC so I thought maybe we had met once you mentioned Edmonton. I should drive my car to where you are when you do your ignition cut off so I can copy you.

Sent from my Nexus 4 using Tapatalk

[kyle_blake]

ok... no i live in vancouver,bc but grew up in calgary so you know, that is why i know edmonton and it always stuck in my head during our conversation about the wheels. i was visiting there way back and thought i could drive up north to see your tires during my visit. guess i have a good memory!!!

So I doubt you want to drive 1028 km to vancouver for the ignition cut off install marathon, hahahahhaha...

to be on safe side i will document the parts I buy and send you that list, then when you're ready you can buy the parts.

not a bad idea to take extra steps to protect the investments!

[Darth Menace]

No, true enough. My viper was appraised way above purchase value but with the canadian$/american$ exchange I would be hard pressed to find anything in the same price range.

The Pontiac on the other hand, no more site unseen for me. I believe I broke even buying it there and fixing it up vs buying it here. But that is two years of my life on a damn cold garage floor

Once you get it done send me a list of possible. I don't think the parts would be hard to come across but the unknown pain in my ass might be...especially since there are two different era's of cars I would have to learn on

Sent from my Nexus 4 using Tapatalk

[TedRamAirII]

On the Viper, just remove the ASD relay. Its under the hood in the relay/fuse box.

On the Pontiac, A simple switch between the Ignition switch and the coil power wire would be good. Or between the NEG terminal of the ignition coil and GROUND.

Crooks are not likely to do a trouble shooting contest in your garage. ; )