Topic: Time to install my killswitch. I want your thoughts...

[Sine Deviance]

My idea was to take one of those foot-operated high-beam kicker switches, like the kind that can be found in most classic cars. My first car, a 1969 Mercury Comet, had one of these. This would be my killswitch. I'd mount it under the carpet to the left of the clutch pedal or to the right of the gas pedal, meaning nobody but me (and you guys ) would know where it is. Click it once to start the Jeep, click it again to disable the Jeep. It would have the added benefit of being invisible to anyone that was riding with me, and it wouldn't add unnecessary extra steps to getting me rolling, unlike if I hide it in my console or similar. I can get the switch from Rock Auto for about $4, and it looks like this:



So, what do you guys think about this idea for a killswitch?

[Jeffy]

Too big and a bit obvious.  Having it on the floor leaves the wires open as well.

[aka-justin]

Seems like a good idea.  If you have carpet keeping it up high would keep it from notice or even mounting maybe sideways on the left kick panel.  Good thought.

[Sine Deviance]

Too big and a bit obvious.  Having it on the floor leaves the wires open as well.

Huh? The switch is a lot smaller than it looks in the picture, and everything is going to be hidden under the carpet. So, I don't see what you mean?

[Torch_Ind]

Huh? The switch is a lot smaller than it looks in the picture, and everything is going to be hidden under the carpet. So, I don't see what you mean?

I could see lots of corrosion in the near future!! just like the old high low beam switches on the floor back in the day!! tell me there won't be a lot of water and in the "northern Ontario like me" salt on the floor!!

[Jeffy]

Huh? The switch is a lot smaller than it looks in the picture, and everything is going to be hidden under the carpet. So, I don't see what you mean?

I have a '79 that has the same switch on the floor.  Those switches aren't that small and if you're going to have it buried under carpet, then are you going to step on the lump to trigger it?  You'll also have wires running down from the firewall to the switch so those will be easy to spot.  The other problem I see is that those switches are prone to failing since they sit on the floor.  Mounting it on the transmission hump seems more of a PITA location and a bit more obvious.  You'd be better off with a standard HD switch mounted under the dash someplace.

[Sine Deviance]

I could see lots of corrosion in the near future!! just like the old high low beam switches on the floor back in the day!! tell me there won't be a lot of water and in the "northern Ontario like me" salt on the floor!!

I live in North Carolina. There's no salt here. And corrosion? Bah, my Jeep is galvanized.

I have a '79 that has the same switch on the floor.  Those switches aren't that small and if you're going to have it buried under carpet, then are you going to step on the lump to trigger it?  You'll also have wires running down from the firewall to the switch so those will be easy to spot.  The other problem I see is that those switches are prone to failing since they sit on the floor.  Mounting it on the transmission hump seems more of a PITA location and a bit more obvious.  You'd be better off with a standard HD switch mounted under the dash someplace.

I think maybe you misunderstood me. The switch is going to be inset in the floorpan so that everything underneath the foot switch itself will be below the floorpan. It will be mounted almost flush. So that will leave maybe a half-inch that will actually be visible above the floorpan, and THAT will be underneath the carpet. My switch is going to be wired through the starter and fuel pump circuits, not the main ignition. I still want the radio and such to work with the key on, this will give any potential thieves the false impression that something is wrong with the Jeep. So the wires will run underneath the floorpan to the solenoid on the starter and up to the engine bay, and as such, will not be visible.

[sharpxmen]

I live in North Carolina. There's no salt here. And corrosion? Bah, my Jeep is galvanized.

I think maybe you misunderstood me. The switch is going to be inset in the floorpan so that everything underneath the foot switch itself will be below the floorpan. It will be mounted almost flush. So that will leave maybe a half-inch that will actually be visible above the floorpan, and THAT will be underneath the carpet. My switch is going to be wired through the starter and fuel pump circuits, not the main ignition. I still want the radio and such to work with the key on, this will give any potential thieves the false impression that something is wrong with the Jeep. So the wires will run underneath the floorpan to the solenoid on the starter and up to the engine bay, and as such, will not be visible.

i suggest soldering the wires in that case and even have a silicone filled housing covering the switch (it's not sealed and not waterproof)

[st.chevrolet]

I have a '79 that has the same switch on the floor.  Those switches aren't that small and if you're going to have it buried under carpet, then are you going to step on the lump to trigger it?  You'll also have wires running down from the firewall to the switch so those will be easy to spot.  The other problem I see is that those switches are prone to failing since they sit on the floor.  Mounting it on the transmission hump seems more of a PITA location and a bit more obvious.  You'd be better off with a standard HD switch mounted under the dash someplace.

X2

[Jeffy]

I live in North Carolina. There's no salt here. And corrosion? Bah, my Jeep is galvanized.

I think maybe you misunderstood me. The switch is going to be inset in the floorpan so that everything underneath the foot switch itself will be below the floorpan. It will be mounted almost flush. So that will leave maybe a half-inch that will actually be visible above the floorpan, and THAT will be underneath the carpet. My switch is going to be wired through the starter and fuel pump circuits, not the main ignition. I still want the radio and such to work with the key on, this will give any potential thieves the false impression that something is wrong with the Jeep. So the wires will run underneath the floorpan to the solenoid on the starter and up to the engine bay, and as such, will not be visible.

The idea keeps getting worse and worse.    You will either need relays or high amp switches.  One of the reason why cars no longer have those floor mounted switches is that they are prone to failure.  Dirt, dust, water mud and anything else will damage them.  Like sharpxman said, those switches aren't sealed.  I'd probably use hot glue or use epoxy rather the silicone to shock and waterproof them.  Also, when the switch fails, that means you'll have to climb under the Jeep to fix it.

I would also recommend keeping the starter and the fuel pump on separate circuits.  Oh and when cutting and splicing all of the wire be sure to solder the joints and use heat shrink tubing to protect them otherwise, you'll just end up with a mess of problems later.

[Sine Deviance]

This was why I asked you guys for your thoughts. So that idea is out, it would be too complicated. Still, I don't want to hide a switch under the dash somewhere; that's too obvious. I could add an OEM-style fog light switch from another car in the dash somewhere but that would also be obvious to someone who wasn't a complete idiot. I could hide the switch under the hood somewhere but that means I have to pop the hood every time I want to drive it.

What would you guys do in this situation?

[sharpxmen]

since you have a soft top i would just use a rear defroster switch in the stock location, nobody would think that's the kill switch. If you want to really make it bulletproof add another one hidden under the dash somewhere in series with this one.

[Jeffy]

All of my switches are unlabeled and out in the open. 

There should be room to put a micro switch on the driver side sort of under the dash but above the E-brake handle.  It's pretty small and even if you were looking you might not see it.  You don't even have to use a toggle switch but a Push on/off would work and be a little bit less obvious.

Running switches in series like sharp said would be good as well.  You can have a master switch someplace hidden and two switches for the Starter and Fuel Pump out in the open.

[Sine Deviance]

This install needs to be well planned and it would be successful if you can find a way to make it really invisible to others...
Its a good idea but there real security concerns...

Yeah, that's the idea. I want to make it invisible but not in an obvious place like under the dash or in the console. I also don't want it to be under the hood or in the cargo area in the back because then I have to go out of my way to start the Jeep.

[Jeffy]

You can always put a waterproof switch in the rear wheelwell or behind the plastic liner near the filler for a fuel pump switch.  Then it would be hidden.  You wouldn't have to use it all the time if you have a starter kill as well.  How about a battery disconnect?