Negative shut off switch

[NastyNate98]

I just purchased a clean 98 two door tahoe and I cant park it in my current garage because my garage was apparently made for a miata. I am moving in May but in the meantime I would hate for my hoe to get stolen from my driveway. Instead of an expensive alarm system I was thinking I could install a negative battery wire shut off switch under the dash. That way I can shut it off overnight, and even if someone broke in and tried to steal it, they would never have battery power. Thoughts?

 

[Big Mama]

Good thing you’re moving sounds like a good idea.

 

[Tonyrodz]

Years ago I knew a guy that rigged some kind of switch under his driver's seat. If the switch was pressed down(sitting in the seat)the car wouldn't start. You actually had to start the car, standing up. Actually pretty smart, until the 1st time it's pouring as you're trying to start your ride. This would prevent a thief from driving your rig away tho.

 

[inmypassatlife]

Pull the fuel pump relay

 

[HiHoeSilver]

Agreed. Fuel pump relay is the thing to disconnect /switch.

 

[NastyNate98]

I want to be able to switch it on and off from inside the truck, instead of popping the hood every time. I'm going to move forward with this plan. Was just curious if anyone had done this before.

 

[swathdiver]

I want to be able to switch it on and off from inside the truck, instead of popping the hood every time. I'm going to move forward with this plan. Was just curious if anyone had done this before.

Yes! I had a hidden switch under the dash for the fuel pump. It was covered/hidden by a vacuum hose but I could even activate with my foot if I were carjacked. Such was a popular pastime of hoodlums in the early 1990s. This switch was placed in between the computer and fuel pump.

We also had a device that was then called the Touch-N-Go. No, it was not for pilots, you had to touch two parts of your car to complete the circuit so it would start. Here it is:

https://www.kirbanperformance.com/p...T+DETERRENT+STARTER+CUT-OFF+SYSTEM+#7230.html

 

[NastyNate98]

Yes! I had a hidden switch under the dash for the fuel pump. It was covered/hidden by a vacuum hose but I could even activate with my foot if I were carjacked. Such was a popular pastime of hoodlums in the early 1990s. This switch was placed in between the computer and fuel pump.

We also had a device that was then called the Touch-N-Go. No, it was not for pilots, you had to touch two parts of your car to complete the circuit so it would start. Here it is:

https://www.kirbanperformance.com/product/43705/TOUCH+&+START+AUTOMATIC+THEFT+DETERRENT+STARTER+CUT-OFF+SYSTEM+#7230.html

Wow I've never heard of this. Pretty cool! Too bad I have airbags and cant use it. But with the negative shut off switch I can also save my battery juice if I let the hoe sit for a couple weeks.

 

[swathdiver]

Wow I've never heard of this. Pretty cool! Too bad I have airbags and cant use it. But with the negative shut off switch I can also save my battery juice if I let the hoe sit for a couple weeks.

I think the downside to that is that every time you start the engine after having cut the battery power, the engine and transmission will have to do relearns, same with the AC. And this can take days to settle down unless you hit the kill switch every night and then it will never really relearn.

 

[HiHoeSilver]

I think the downside to that is that every time you start the engine after having cut the battery power, the engine and transmission will have to do relearns, same with the AC. And this can take days to settle down unless you hit the kill switch every night and then it will never really relearn.

Yup. If you're going to leave it alone that long, just disconnect the battery. For everyday security, put a hidden switch on the fuel pump relay.

 

[NastyNate98]

Both good points. I might do both

 

[915_Tahoe]

why not just add a kill switch, i'm sure any auto parts store carry's kit that don't require in resetting the ecu's.

 

[SnowDrifter]

At risk of stating the obvious, why not invest in a car alarm with the fancy starter interlock stuff?

 

[NastyNate98]

At risk of stating the obvious, why not invest in a car alarm with the fancy starter interlock stuff?

Because a fancy alarm costs hundreds of dollars, and a thief can potentially still steal a car with an alarm since it has battery power and fuel. By disconnecting power or fuel, even if they get into the truck they will never drive it away.

 

[NastyNate98]

why not just add a kill switch, i'm sure any auto parts store carry's kit that don't require in resetting the ecu's.

I believe that is what I was talking about with the negative shut off switch. If you're speaking of something else please leave a pic or link and I'll check it out. Thanks.

 

[915_Tahoe]

here you go:

 

[SnowDrifter]

Because a fancy alarm costs hundreds of dollars, and a thief can potentially still steal a car with an alarm since it has battery power and fuel. By disconnecting power or fuel, even if they get into the truck they will never drive it away.

All depends on the alarm you get and how it's wired. Cost barrier is another issue though. What's your budget?

 

[swathdiver]

One night some thugs followed myself, my brother and two other friends home from the drag strip to three different locations. One of the cars had no protection and was stolen. Mine and another never made it out of the driveway and my father's car, which my brother had been racing that night was stolen. He left the touch-n-go in valet mode so they were able to get it started but he had the habit of cutting off the fuel pump thankfully. So when the bums got into the car and pushed it down the block, they then started it and got only a few blocks before the fuel in the line burned up and the car stalled and had to be abandoned. It still took us 3 hours to find it. We got the other one back too after a month and the bad guys suffered terribly for that misdeed.

 

[Tonyrodz]

One night some thugs followed myself, my brother and two other friends home from the drag strip to three different locations. One of the cars had no protection and was stolen. Mine and another never made it out of the driveway and my father's car, which my brother had been racing that night was stolen. He left the touch-n-go in valet mode so they were able to get it started but he had the habit of cutting off the fuel pump thankfully. So when the bums got into the car and pushed it down the block, they then started it and got only a few blocks before the fuel in the line burned up and the car stalled and had to be abandoned. It still took us 3 hours to find it. We got the other one back too after a month and the bad guys suffered terribly for that misdeed.

What happened to them? Put a whooping on 'em? Karma is a you know what....

 

[NastyNate98]

All depends on the alarm you get and how it's wired. Cost barrier is another issue though. What's your budget?

I still may get an alarm in the future, but for now I figure I can wire in a switch for under 20 dollars and 30 minutes labor. I am open to suggestions about which alarms have worked well for others. I also need to program a key fob, which I believe most alarm systems come with. But I have never had an aftermarket alarm installed on any of my vehicles before. Has anyone bought the parts and done it themselves? I would be interested to hear more about it.