I have a momentary toggle switch interrupting my starter.. is a 60 amp switch ok or should I put in a relay with it?? It doesn’t have constant current going through it. The reason I’m asking is can it cause a fire for some reason not using a relay? Also how many amps travel through the solenoid wire??

 

Your 2001 should have a starter solenoid on the passenger fender. I take it you have modified the typical starter circuit and eliminated this? A solenoid is always the best route as you trigger the solenoid with small gauge wire in lieu of having larger gauge wire running all over.

See below for the Starter No Load Test. It says no more than 170 Amps for a starter that is not loaded. So 60 amp's is not near enough.

Starter Motor — No-Load Test
1. Connect a fully charged battery to the starter.
2. Connect the Alternator, Regulator, Battery and Starter Tester (ARBST) as illustrated.
3. Connect a remote starter switch between the starter solenoid Terminal S and the positive battery
terminal post.
4. Press the remote starter switch. The pinion should shift to the crank position and the motor should run
smoothly.
5. While the starter motor is running, record the voltmeter and ammeter readings.
6. The voltage reading should be greater than 11.0 volts and the amperage should be no more than 170
amps.
7. If voltage is lower than specified or amperage is higher than specified, refer to the results chart below
to determine possible cause and corrective action.

 

If you're making an anti-theft device (and you don't have to reveal that here), it's better to interrupt the solenoid wire, which only draws 1-2 amps (to hold in the switch). Interrupting the starter feed wire is not a great idea (as woodandthings said). yes - a dedicated/smart thief can figure out how to jumper the '01 solenoid and still steal the truck, so this is not a perfect solution.

For the record, I don't see how an unloaded starter could possibly draw 170 amps, unless that was the inrush current just as it starts spinning.

 

You might look at this..

https://www.ravelco.com/

Yes its pricey...but its the only thing I trust. It was put to the test this past winter unfortunately. Paid for itself that night.

 

Or a Cyclops relay on the IDM / PCM slot

 

Pretty sure I tapped into the 12 gauge wire

 

SpringerPop has a sleek, but elaborate, engine disabler.

 

The problem with disabling the starter is that the thief will look for a switch. A mechanically inclined thief that knows our trucks can start the truck, even if the starter is disabled.

The IDM or fuel pump are much more effective ways if disabling your engine.

 

I’ve got that switch somewhere it would take days to find.. I might integrate a fuel cut off switch also.