Hidden kill switch?
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Cross-Country
Joined: Sep 2022
Posts: 97
Likes: 15
Hidden kill switch?
Has anybody ever added a hidden kill switch for their 7.3 or 6.9? My area is horrible for stolen vehicles. I'm looking to add kill switches to all my vehicles, but I'm new to the idea. Perhaps someone has a fool-proof and simple idea they could share?
Logistics Pro
Joined: Nov 2013
Posts: 3,928
Likes: 1,199
From: Mojave, Ca
A small hidden toggle switch under the dash would be a convenient place to put a kill switch, and just splice it into your fuel cut off solinoid. Or you can hide it in plain site, and wire your starter switch throu you running lights, so you need to turn your running lights on to engage the starter.
Cross-Country
Joined: Aug 2022
Posts: 75
Likes: 38
From: SE LA
On American cars with pedal parking brakes, like these trucks, I've found that you can usually rig something up near the release, most people will never see it and it can be activated very easily, conviently, and discretely as you release the parking brake. I have been thinking about adding one to my newly acquired 7.3, but wasn't exactly sure how to do it, since I usually have it deactivate the coil on gassers. Proto's Fuel cut off solenoid suggestion seems like the better idea to me. You don't want to run the starter through something that's not rated for that kinda amperage and burn up the electronics and potentially even start a fire. I don't know how exactly you'd rig it up though. I didn't even know about this solenoid until just now.
Last edited by Type65; Sep 23, 2022 at 10:12 PM.
More Turbo
Joined: Dec 2021
Posts: 554
Likes: 186
On American cars with pedal parking brakes, like these trucks, I've found that you can usually rig something up near the release, most people will never see it and it can be activated very easily, conviently, and discretely as you release the parking brake. I have been thinking about adding one to my newly acquired 7.3, but wasn't exactly sure how to do it, since I usually have it deactivate the coil on gassers. Proto's Fuel cut off solenoid suggestion seems like the better idea to me. You don't want to run the starter through something that's not rated for that kinda amperage and burn up the electronics and potentially even start a fire. I don't know how exactly you'd rig it up though. I didn't even know about this solenoid until just now.
Mountain Pass
Joined: Apr 2021
Posts: 144
Likes: 16
From: Fratt, TX
You don't run the starter itself thru the switch, just the red/blue wire that comes out of the ignition switch - it's low current so any decent switch will work. But starter can be jumped at the relay on the fender easily enough, the fuel solenoid is also vulnerable but it requires someone who's familiar with these trucks and also has the time to identify the problem and work around it, which ain't how most vehicle theft is usually done. So I think the FSS suggestion is the better idea, bonus points for it also draining batteries while the thieves attempt to start it - after like 3 good cranks there won't be enough juice to it going even if they did figure out the issue.
Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Sep 2016
Posts: 1,519
Likes: 224
From: Nevada
The automatics have a neutral safety switch,
and the Manual trans have the Clutch safety switch.
You can run this wire to a Toggle switch.
I broke my clutch safety switch trying to get it off a few
years back. I just looped a wire between the 2 contacts
on the plug to by pass it. That could be easily run through
a switch.
Charlie
and the Manual trans have the Clutch safety switch.
You can run this wire to a Toggle switch.
I broke my clutch safety switch trying to get it off a few
years back. I just looped a wire between the 2 contacts
on the plug to by pass it. That could be easily run through
a switch.
Charlie
Tuned
Joined: May 2019
Posts: 480
Likes: 141
From: NJ
Nathan Fuentes beat me to it!
If you read the new posts here, half the people who *aren't* stealing them have a hard enough time starting them!
Unscrew the fuel filter 1 or 2 turns, any thief that can deal with that is a wizard
On a serious note, if it was my truck, I'd put a master battery disconnect somewhere inconspicuous, but easily accessible for me, inside the nose clip somewhere. Or maybe a toggle switch for the fuel shutoff solenoid.
Just curious, is the car theft in your area driven by criminals looking for disposable getaway cars, or by thieves hoping to resell the stolen car? If the latter, don't even bother losing sleep over it, cuz they'll just take the whole thing on a flatbed without even trying to start it in the first place.
If you read the new posts here, half the people who *aren't* stealing them have a hard enough time starting them!
Unscrew the fuel filter 1 or 2 turns, any thief that can deal with that is a wizard
On a serious note, if it was my truck, I'd put a master battery disconnect somewhere inconspicuous, but easily accessible for me, inside the nose clip somewhere. Or maybe a toggle switch for the fuel shutoff solenoid.
Just curious, is the car theft in your area driven by criminals looking for disposable getaway cars, or by thieves hoping to resell the stolen car? If the latter, don't even bother losing sleep over it, cuz they'll just take the whole thing on a flatbed without even trying to start it in the first place.
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