key cylinder to pushbutton conversion... Possible???

[StammesOpfer]

I have an SL with intelligent key and after driving it only about 2 days I love the car but hate starting it and turning it off. There just isn't much to grab, to turn I have to pinch it with two fingers.

I was wondering if anyone had looked at the possibility of pulling the cylinder and placing a button there instead. Or maybe I need to rig up something that fits in the key hole that gives me a little more something to grab (maybe a piece of plastic that has a nub that fits the hole)

I would really prefer the button though, any thoughts?

P.S. No I don't want to just use a normal key that defeats the purpose.

[Codelicious]

I also thought about making this conversion.

At first I wanted to just replace that piece that acts like a key where there And just try and out a button there but than I just figured I could buy one of those remote starters and could start it before I even got in.

Than I realized that I'm not sure if it would even work because the intelligent key would have to be inside the car... Right? Or would it just bypass that like it would normaly?

Anyways I have thought about it. I'll try and research it a little more.

[StammesOpfer]

Ok so I have been looking around and thinking about this and a single push button doesn't seem like an option since it requires the computer to determine what it is supposed to do with each press and the versa is most likely looking for inputs on different wires from each position of the key cylinder. Soooo...

What if I was to install two push buttons one normal one, and one momentary. The normal one would correspond to the "on" position of the key and the momentary would be the start position. Mounted on the underside of the center stack right by the gear shift just hit the buttons as you reach for the gear shift and no risk of them being hit accidentally located there (could even use a switch cover if paranoid).

Should be as simple as splicing into the proper wires from the normal cylinder and it would remain functional. As for acc, as often as that is used I can deal with the stock cylinder function.

This method shouldn't affect the security of the car since iKey still needs to be there.

Am I missing something here, or is this reasonably possible?

[StammesOpfer]

So who would have thought this was going to be so difficult to do.

Well I think I have it figured out now. I am waiting on a few electronics in the mail to complete the project. I am hoping to get the install done either this weekend or next. I'll let you know how it goes and if all works well I may see if there is enough interest for me to build a few kits for others.

Other projects in the works are light sensing automatic headlights, remote start, and sat radio in the center console/rear radio aux connector. Oh and eventually a capacitive touch strip so you can grab door handle without pushing the button to unlock.

Oh and I still need to install my spoiler and subs. I have really been slacking on this car (in the middle of a move).
Modified by StammesOpfer at 6:41 PM 8/3/2009

[Codelicious]

Let me know how this goes with some pictures of course. I am interested in doing this also.