This may sound like a stupid idea, and make no sense what-so-ever, so if you want to ask why I'll go ahead and tell you I really don't have a "logical" reason.

So here we go...I'm going to have a remote start put on my truck. Once the truck is started, before you can hit the brake to put it in gear, you have to turn the key to "run". I want to be able to rig up a toggle switch next to the steering wheel that I can flip that will act as the "run" position so I will not need a key...however I still want the key to work also. Is there a way I could tap into the ignition to be able to do this? If that's possible, I would also like to be able to have a switch for every single key position. Can this be done...safely?

 

The key also mechanically locks the steering doesn't it? If that's a show stopper, then you will have to turn the key.

 

Mechanical problems I can handle. It's the wiring I'm not so sure about. I'm sure there's a simple way to permanently disengage the steering lock.

 

And once you do that and someone "borrows" your truck your insurance company won't cover your claim. Once you bypass the ignition colum interlock it is disengaged until you put it all back together. Sooo you are basically replacing the ignition switch and cloum lock by removing the safety features and rewiring to a switch. Also, if some one happens to turn off the ignition while driving it may not re-start on the fly properly. My $0.02

 

Ok, well in my original post I said that I will only do this IF I can rig up switches AND the key still work too. As for the truck shutting off while moving, a key will always be in the truck like there is now, it will just be a little better hidden since I won't use it near as much (but the only time my truck has been shut off randomly was when there was an electrical problem on my old Tacoma). Not saying it can't happen, but on the rare occasion, I don't think that risk would be worth not doing it. On the insurance note, I already keep a key in the truck at all times in the in-dash cup holder so this wouldn't be much different. This would actually be better because once the key is totally hidden, at best all they can do is listen to the radio, unless they can find a way to get the engine to turn over, in which case they're probably going to steal it anyways. As for the steering lock, I was playing with it today and I don't even get the purpose of it...mine rarely locks anyways. And about people "borrowing" my truck, as you were implying it getting stolen I guess...I'm not sure what kind of friends you have or who you're letting borrow your truck, but I only let close family or close close close friends who I trust extremely well with my truck. And even if I had no modifications done to the truck at all and I let someone borrow it, I don't think insurance would cover it because I handed the key over to them....so that's kinda redundant.

So thus far, I haven't heard any GOOD reason not to do it, so if anybody knows HOW (which is what the original post is about), I would be extremely appreciative. Please let me weight out the "why's" and "why not's".

 

OK, so your going to do it either way. I thought you were looking for ways to do it and/or reasons not to do it. Another thought is that most remote starts say they don't work on diesel trucks/vehicles because of the wait to start mode and the remote starter does not read this correctly or so I've been told by radio installation techs. I don't know for sure as I don't do electronics for a living or hobby. As for the number of switches you wish to install I guess that you would be replacing the factory ignition switch with the toggle and/or push button switches, as I don't see how you use both. Unless, you have a 3 position switch installed first in line that allows the power to go to either the ignition, or nothing at all (like a kill switch), or the installed switches. Then there is still the steering colum lock out (which you said you could do).

I just re-read the original post and the last thing is "Can this be done...safely?" I'd say no

 

Yeah there's tons of guys in the diesel forums that have them. You just hav to make sure they're done right. But as far as the wait to start goes, you just have to set the delay timer for longer than it takes the glow plugs to heat up on a good cold morning.

 

I do remote start installs "for a living" and if you find a remote start unit that does not have a wait to start light input it is a POS that isnt worth putting on a vehicle. Every half way decent unit today has the feature.

 

If someone installs a remote start this way they have no business doing 12v installations. I just made another post in which I referenced the wait to start input on most units.

 

Just looked @ Crutchfield and the have ones w/ delays for diesel veh w/ WTS w/ 15, 30, or 45 sec delay as well as crank duration and run time. So that should be a go. The colum lock disengagement just doesn't sound like a good idea to me. Its supposed to do a few things: 1) Lock up the steering so the vehicle can not be steered w/o the key. 2) Be a part of the brake/shift interlock system so someone can not take the vehicle out of park w/o the colum unlocked. Although this does not work on most manual trans vehicles as you just have to push in the clutch or yank it out of gear 3) Not allow the key to be turned off and removed once the vehicle is in motion (or out of park) so the steering doesn't lock up while moving down the road.

I understand what you are trying to do, bypass the ignition switch when it's inconvienient to use. I get the hidden key. I think quite a few of us do that. I just don't see a safe way to bypass the ignition/colum lock thats all.

As far as the trucks use, yeah borrows meant steal. Don't know how things are in your neighborhood but it happens. As far as loaning your truck out: 1) as long as you give permission, 2) your friends are 100% legal (have a valid lisence to drive), and 3) your policy does not have limits, provisions, or exclusions they are covered on your policy (at least in PA as I've inquired about this w/ my ins co & agent several times).

 

Futuresweets-10

So your saying the good ones take input from the vehicles WTS light/signal to signal them it's ok to crank/start the vehicle?
The bad ones use a have nothing, or a timer/delay, which may or may not be the right time for that days conditions, I guess?
Have not looked at alarms, remotes, or remote starters in years because they wouldn't work on diesels back then. Showing my age a little.

 

Yep, anything put out by major companies like dei (viper, python, etc.) or Omega (Excaliber, crimestopper, etc.) has a WTS input. It wires into the light and wont let the truck start until it senses no voltage. I Cant recall anything that doesnt really have it, maybe a bulldog or something. DEI makes an add on timer that wires into the WTS input of the remote start for use in vehicles that dont have WTS lights or newer disels that dont have a wait to start wire (ie, the cluster has an led on the circuit board and gets a signal from the computer, meaning there is a light but no way to tap into it.)

 

Thanks for the info

 

Do you do a lot of installs on 6.0s? The reason I ask is because I just asked a question a few days ago about the WTS on viper's SmartStart (https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/1...glow-plug.html). According to everyone that's posted there so far, you shouldn't just let anyone (BestBuy for example) install a remote start on a 6.0 because there is a lot of potential to do some pretty big damage. They also said that it's not the issue of having the WTS option on the remote start itself, but wiring it into the WTS indicator on the truck is the tricky part. Just wondering if you know anything specifically about the 6.0s and could help me out. I'm pretty much ready to order a system, but everyone on the 6.0 forum has me scared to let anyone touch it.

 

All of the schematics that I have access to for the 6.0 (the ones provided specifically for remote start installations) say to use a timer. Im sure some guys have found a way to wire it in to the glow plug circuit on these trucks so that it works like a WTS light, but DEI says to use a timer on the remote start's WTS in put. Its been a while since ive done a 6.0 and I cant remember the exact reason you cant just tap into the light.

If I remeber correctly, the WTS light on the dash doesnt have a wire running to it because its computer controlled and if you tap into the glow plug wire there is some reason that it could keep the glow plugs on all the time thus blowing them up. I would assume the way around this involves a relay or diode on the WTS line from the remote start. I tend to try to wire how the RS manufacturers wanted it. They all call for a timer on the WTS input of the unit, so thats what ive done.