Another kill switch

[tool pimp]

I like that unit but for $3.00 I just ran a kill switch and have it hiding...... just my .02

[Guest]

I like that unit but for $3.00 I just ran a kill switch and have it hiding...... just my .02

Hiding it is a good idea. I think you can buy something close (even though I did buy it). I remember being a kid in auto class and a guy had a switch, but it was a key switch. Color matched it to the body. Looked clean. When he got out, he turned the switch with his key after he closed the door. Truck wouldn't start. All wires were behind the metal hidden.

[headhunter]

I'm still waiting for mine to arrive.

I'm hoping that this will be simple to install and difficult to defeat.

Christian

[Guest]

I received mine in the mail. Any questions just PM me.

[snydercj7]

I like that unit but for $3.00 I just ran a kill switch and have it hiding...... just my .02

I had a kill switch in the Civic aka "shiny turd" but when I took it in for an alignment, smogging, tire shop I had to show them where it was due to being a button that had to be pushed... Kind of defeated the purpose in my mind. If some one finds the switch they can start the vehicle, where this is physically removed & will not start without it. Just a thought.

Yes Scott the turd got one. The insurance company got me all paraniod about hondas getting stolen. It was only $25 so why not spurge?

[Materdaddy]

In PM jeep4cern pointed out that my assumptions were very much incorrect. While there are 16 pins on the cap, there are a few things I was wrong about based on assumptions. The installation is much different than I thought.

PM if you have questions.

[headhunter]

I got mine today!

It looks like it will be fairly simple to install. I think that a very important part of its effectiveness will be how well you "camouflage" the installation in existing wiring harnesses, etc.

Christian

[Guest]

Mine is installed. Pretty straight forward. The wires seller says to use on my Jeep were wrong. Although, after checking 25 wires, I found it

Any questions on what I disabled, and what color wire, just PM me

[Shadly1]

OK, instead of talking about how to install or bypass these things, lets speak in terms of "best practices".

Should a circuit related to starting be interrupted or should a circuit related to running be interrupted?

I mean, if a theif can quietly hack on your ignition for 20min, he will. If your Jeep is cranking but not starting for a while, that will draw attention. If your Jeep starts relatively quickly and drives 20ft before it dies, will he continue hacking on it out on the street? I doubt it. The downside I see to wiring it to a circuit required for running is that this little gizmo will have to work perfectly the whole time your engine is running. I have no idea what the reliability is like.

[Guest]

OK, instead of talking about how to install or bypass these things, lets speak in terms of "best practices".

Should a circuit related to starting be interrupted or should a circuit related to running be interrupted?

I mean, if a theif can quietly hack on your ignition for 20min, he will. If your Jeep is cranking but not starting for a while, that will draw attention. If your Jeep starts relatively quickly and drives 20ft before it dies, will he continue hacking on it out on the street? I doubt it. The downside I see to wiring it to a circuit required for running is that this little gizmo will have to work perfectly the whole time your engine is running. I have no idea what the reliability is like.

I see your point. But, there is always pro's and con's in life. You personally just have to weight them out.

For me personally, $25 for piece of mind. I am good. If the product fails, in 2min (I know what wires need to be joined back together) I can by-pass the product and I am back on the trail again.

Since 1976. Can't be that bad of a product.
http://www.ravelco.com/history.html

[inVERt'D]

I've had similar thoughts, Shadly1--not just about the Ravelco, but about any kind of kill switch or similar. It's another variable introduced into the system, and the more variables, the more opportunity for something to go wrong. We have to weigh the risks and benefits of any mod we do. If the connections are made well (soldered would be good), and it the contacts are kept clean and dry, I think it's safe to say that there will be little opportunity for various forces (vibration, heat, cold, current, corrosion, etc.) to affect the Ravelco. Compare to say, a reed switch, which could be comparatively fragile.

I don't think disabling the starter is necessarily the best way to go. It's very easy to jumper from the battery to the starter. There are other things that would be more effective.

[Guest]

I've had similar thoughts, Shadly1--not just about the Ravelco, but about any kind of kill switch or similar. It's another variable introduced into the system, and the more variables, the more opportunity for something to go wrong. We have to weigh the risks and benefits of any mod we do. If the connections are made well (soldered would be good), and it the contacts are kept clean and dry, I think it's safe to say that there will be little opportunity for various forces (vibration, heat, cold, current, corrosion, etc.) to affect the Ravelco. Compare to say, a reed switch, which could be comparatively fragile.

I don't think disabling the starter is necessarily the best way to go. It's very easy to jumper from the battery to the starter. There are other things that would be more effective.

That wire for the starter is thicker than the others. Might weight the starter out. There is other options under there.

Like David said, a quick push start on a manual trans could over ride that.

[Jason]

I've had similar thoughts, Shadly1--not just about the Ravelco, but about any kind of kill switch or similar. It's another variable introduced into the system, and the more variables, the more opportunity for something to go wrong.

I agree and have experience with this. I had a ignition kill switch that was dealer installed. Worked great for years. On a trip out by Palm Springs in the summer one year, the Jeep kept dying. The device that would kill the ignition afer 30 seconds if you didn't initiate a step failed. In 110 degrees, I had to first figure out what going on then bypass the system. I do like the manual kill switch idea. I have a few switches to choose from.

[Materdaddy]

I agree and have experience with this. I had a ignition kill switch that was dealer installed. Worked great for years. On a trip out by Palm Springs in the summer one year, the Jeep kept dying. The device that would kill the ignition afer 30 seconds if you didn't initiate a step failed. In 110 degrees, I had to first figure out what going on then bypass the system. I do like the manual kill switch idea. I have a few switches to choose from.

x2. After first installing my ade system I had a similar problem where on the way to Ocotillo Wells in the pitch black of night, the Jeep died.

We were in Julian on twisty roads so it was very scary having cars scream around corners and we would just shine flashlights in their eyes. A couple people stopped to help which was amazing. Not something I come to expect in California after other road-side incidents.

I was protecting a running circuit with the system and I thought I was having some sort of problem with the system. I ripped apart the dash to get to be able to disable this thing since I didn't wire it to be easily defeated (otherwise why bother?).

Long story long, after arriving in Ocotillo Wells and inspecting the situation the next morning with sunlight, all that happened was a fuse on the same circuit blew. I checked, double checked, and triple checked later that it wasn't from a strange short or something with my ADE system, just a freak coincidence that it happened soon after the install and everything has been fine ever since.

[LEADFOOTjosh]

Yes Scott the turd got one. The insurance company got me all paraniod about hondas getting stolen. It was only $25 so why not spurge?

dont be paraniod... no its a fact.. My 91 honda got stolen last week.. right in front of my house.. damn theives.. stole my rims and bashed both front fenders in the process.. cops found my car 2 miles from my house sittin on a spare tire and the rest sittin on the ground.. I clicked on this thread.. in the instrest of gettin on for my TURD...(91 RT4wd wagon) but prob. will put on on the jeep too...