Push Button Start Switch - autoloc

[lino]

Has anyone here installed a Push Button Start Switch in their Q yet?

I remember that db_autotek was working on his and was going to do a write-up :



Hoffman Group has a kit that is on sale for $99

http://www.thehoffmangroup.com...pushb

But on ebay you can buy the same kit for $10

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors...74733

The kits are are the same (universal) as long as you buy it from an authorized Autoloc dealer. There are fake and cheaper products on the market. The only other difference that I was able to discover between the Autoloc products is that the newer ones are supposed to be better, but there is no way to tell if the one you buy is an old product or new one since they still use the same SKU. Why this is, is because The Hoffman Group started dealing with a new manufacture 18 months ago that has increased their cost by 80% (that's what they claim). So the newer product is supposed to be better in quality. The problem is if you spend $10 or $99 you won't know if you bought the new one or old one.

There is also a bypass kit that will be needed if you want to use the Push Button with no key. Here is the kit:

http://www.thehoffmangroup.com...YPASS

**If you don't use the bypass kit, you will still need to put the key in the ignition.

[Haitian_King]

That would be cool. You couldn't ever tell anyone though, lest you find your car (or don't find it at all) stolen.

I guess maybe if you installed a hidden kill switch (maybe a momentary push button) then you could decrease the possibility of theft.

It would be nice to not have to worry about keys. You could just walk around with the keyfob, get in and start the car with the button. Or perhaps an ignition code (ala The Transporter).

Nice, but it may not be practical? Who knows?

[SynisterQ]

I bought that exact kit for my Mustang and it was very difficult to fit into the dash. The electrical part behind the actual button is very long and hard to install into most dashes. However, it worked flawlessly and lit up at night.

[Skibane]

"Get the push button feature many new vehicles now offer at a fraction of the price."

Throw away your steering column lock.Throw away your transmission shifter lock.Throw away your ignition switch lock.Throw away your RFID key.Replace them all with a big, red, illuminated "STEAL ME!!!" button on your dashboard!

If your car is stolen, what are the chances that your insurance company is going to cover your claim - after they find out that you defeated most of its theft prevention measures?

I want one that installs on the outside of the door - Unlocks your door and starts the engine, all at the push of a button!

[Haitian_King]

"Get the push button feature many new vehicles now offer at a fraction of the price."

Throw away your steering column lock.Throw away your transmission shifter lock.Throw away your ignition switch lock.Throw away your RFID key.Replace them all with a big, red, illuminated "STEAL ME!!!" button on your dashboard!

If your car is stolen, what are the chances that your insurance company is going to cover your claim - after they find out that you defeated most of its theft prevention measures?

I want one that installs on the outside of the door - Unlocks your door and starts the engine, all at the push of a button!

Hence the addition of the hidden kill switch.

I don't think GEICO would cover me if my car was stolen anyway. They said the car was too old to have full coverage. All I have is liability. I've got full on the MDX though.

[Desmoquattro]

I've seen those for sale around 30-40$ at the local auto parts stores. Comes in lighted and non-lighted versions. If you wire it CORRECTLY you should only be able to use it with the key in the ignition in the ON position. In fact I don't see how you could wire the single button to turn on the ignition and power AND turn the starter on command without a key. You'd just take the contacts for the starter motor in the ignition and wire them to the button, so instead of turning the key forward you hit the button. Pretty straightforward, no risk if you do it that way. That's what most push button ignitions are like anyway, unless it's an expensive keyless entry system.

How do you think motorcycle ignitions work? Same principle, seperate the starter control from the ignition key. Hell it was the way most cars were designed before the 60s.

[qship96]

I cant seem to see any logic in these start button, since when did twisting the key become so difficult? Change for change sake alone?

[SynisterQ]

I cant seem to see any logic in these start button, since when did twisting the key become so difficult? Change for change sake alone?

Its not really a "laziness" thing, but more "a cool factor" thing. So many new cars these days come with starter buttons standard, so it must be a popular option.

[qship96]

Push-button starter is just a marketing FAD on new cars designed to get the attention of buyers- a short lived one I think, even the car magazine reviewers are commenting about how they are so "yesterday"

The only valid reason for being is on the top lux cars, where the key never leaves your pocket....touch doorhandle and car unlocks,touch starter button,car starts....walk away from car at destination and car locks itself-key and fob never leaves pocket/briefcase{friends 2006 bmw 750li is like this}

If you need key/keyfob in hand to enter vehicle or to insert in dash,the start button is just poser material.

[maxnix]

"Get the push button feature many new vehicles now offer at a fraction of the price."

Throw away your steering column lock.Throw away your transmission shifter lock.Throw away your ignition switch lock.Throw away your RFID key.Replace them all with a big, red, illuminated "STEAL ME!!!" button on your dashboard!

If your car is stolen, what are the chances that your insurance company is going to cover your claim - after they find out that you defeated most of its theft prevention measures?

I want one that installs on the outside of the door - Unlocks your door and starts the engine, all at the push of a button!

That would be kewl!

Don't see the point at all unless you have a seriously encoded fob like OEM new. Has to be cost prohibitive to integrate into existing security system.

[maxnix]

Same principle, seperate the starter control from the ignition key. Hell it was the way most cars were designed before the 60s.

Can't think of one street car from then. Maybe from early fifities late forties?

[oldmako]

My TR3 had one. Of course, it was an electric switch, which was wired to an electrical system powered by generator built by Lucas, who was the company that invented darkness and the short circuit, which rendered the switch useless.

[Haitian_King]

My TR3 had one. Of course, it was an electric switch, which was wired to an electrical system powered by generator built by Lucas, who was the company that invented darkness and the short circuit, which rendered the switch useless.

LMAO! "Invented darkness" Classic.

[franknitty69]

nah, push button start is hot.

i would add one, but my compustar pro alarm requires the ignition for a lot of functionality. so pbutton start is out. if it wasn't for that i would definitely do it.

[Desmoquattro]

I know late 50s Buicks had the starter wired into the kickdown switch on the throttle pedal - you turned the key and floored it to start. Talk about gimmicky. There were other various models in the US and abroad that used push button ignition (along with most tractors! Isn't it great that everyone is so worked up about something you find on a Massey Ferguson?), but I can't be bothered to dig through my library to list them.

[Desmoquattro]

My TR3 had one. Of course, it was an electric switch, which was wired to an electrical system powered by generator built by Lucas, who was the company that invented darkness and the short circuit, which rendered the switch useless.

I worked as a British motorcycle mechanic. The two things that pissed me off the most were A. kickstarting cantankerous old Brit iron and B. all things Lucas. We had a complete Lucas OEM parts depot, and some of that stuff was unbelievably crappy. They uses PLASTIC parts as a ground! Plastic! Often just to get things to work you had to go over the connectors with sandpaper and grease - we had a half-true joke where we said that the infernal vibration of a British motor kept the contacts from corroding, so you needed to ride them to keep them working.

[qship96]

[QUOTE=franknitty69]nah, push button start is hot.

So were digital wristwatches and clocks........For about 6 months

[StarPD]

I worked as a British motorcycle mechanic. The two things that pissed me off the most were A. kickstarting cantankerous old Brit iron and B. all things Lucas. We had a complete Lucas OEM parts depot, and some of that stuff was unbelievably crappy. They uses PLASTIC parts as a ground! Plastic! Often just to get things to work you had to go over the connectors with sandpaper and grease - we had a half-true joke where we said that the infernal vibration of a British motor kept the contacts from corroding, so you needed to ride them to keep them working.

To the cognoscenti, Lucas is known as "The Prince of Darkness".

[maxnix]

Lucas, who was the company that invented darkness and the short circuit, which rendered the switch useless.

Funny how all the German electronics went to hell after Bosch acquired Lucas. The curse lives on.

[db_autotek]

Don't kill me for coming back and digging up a half-dead thread...but.. I've been gone for awhile, and have some info for the push button start.

db_autotek was working on his and was going to do a write-up

For starters, I never got around to completing the project since my Q (^^^pictured above^^^) got totaled and I broke the second Q. Yet, I acquired all the parts and most of the specs, but still unsure if it would work due to the Q45's complex security system. (how many of us have spent hours trying to start your car, only to realize the security lockout had engaged, and all you had to do was open the trunk with the key...)

Secondly, It is important to say that you should use Quality parts in this process. The start button (pictured^^) is a real Honda S2000 start button which I purchased from the local Honda dealership parts department. Don't get the cheapo "Big Red Button" that is all over eBay and has even trickled into the auto parts stores. You will also need at least one relay. I purchased one from Parts Express ( http://www.partsexpress.com/pe...0-070) and also you should purchase the relay socket ( http://www.partsexpress.com/pe...0-075) which will make things much easier. Also, the socket at the back of the Honda starter button is the perfect size and fit for a floppy-drive computer cable connector. Sounds weird, I know. So find one of your old 3.5 inch floppy power cable and chop it off with a few inches of wire left on the connector. Lastly, you're gonna need lots of wire (a few various colors will help) and a good assortment of connectors.

Next is the research phase. As you know, my other car is a Miata, and many members of Miata.net are successfully installing these in old and new Miatas. So if you're serious about doing this, head on over to these Miata.net pages and read the complete write-ups and look at the wiring diagrams. Obviously this isn't what the Q ignition cylinder and wires are going to look like, but anything helps when doing this from scratch.

1.) http://www.revlimiter.net/mods/s2000_button.html

2.) http://www.angelfire.com/mac/brb/brbindex.html

here's an example of the Big Red Button not to use, but the write-up might help to familiarize things a bit more:3.) http://www.eunos.com/keith/brb/brb2.html

After getting the parts and doing the prior research, I began researching how to adapt the diagrams over to the Q. Good news is, Infiniti was kind enough to include amazing technical manuals in the Q45's. So I got out the wiring diagram and poured over it for days and days.....

And I'm very sorry to report, my friends, that is as far as I have gotten. I'm honestly not sure if the crazy Q45 security lockout would accept the slight modifications... But on the other hand, there is a chance that the system would never know the difference. I promise that when I get another Q, and I will scince I have the NicoECU and strut brace, I will complete the research and installation... final writeup to come someday. Hopefully someone with some more ignition experience with the Q will jump in and pick up where I left off.

Finally, for the S2000 starter button to work, with the relay schematics, you must have the key in the ignition. So it's not going to make the car any less secure. Remember: inserting the key powers the first stage of the system, powering the IGN wires. TURNING the key to start engages the IGN wires.. Without the key in the ignition, pushing the button will do nothing, except possibly engage the security lockout (thus requiring the opening of the trunk with the key, blah blah blah). So if anything, it would be making the car more secure, since some idiot would never be able to get it started. The start button only replace the action of turning-the-key-to-start with the action of pushing-the-button.

More good news: the Honda S2000 start button lights up quite nicely, and fits perfectly in the Hazard button location of the Q45. Now don't just disconnect the Hazard button because then your lights/turn signals won't work. There's enough room behind that dash panel to stuff it back there.

Pros: looks sexy, will gain you cool points with friends / women / office buddies, may theoretically improve security, adds a modern touch to a mid-90's car, lights up and has chrome.

Cons: huge pain in the arse to install, could require partial loss of Hazard function, might not even work with the Q45ignition security, cost about $100 from start to finish.

[Victor]

You are still going to have to turn the ignition key to unlock the steering wheel lock aren't you? So what have you gained except an extra step to start your car.

[MinisterofDOOM]

You are still going to have to turn the ignition key to unlock the steering wheel lock aren't you? So what have you gained except an extra step to start your car.

My thoughts exactly.

[maxnix]

You are still going to have to turn the ignition key to unlock the steering wheel lock aren't you? So what have you gained except an extra step to start your car.

Yeah, I thnk the reality is setting-in. But if the start switch can disable the steering column lock...? Even more unlikely is db_autotek finding a good G50.

[db_autotek]

Even more unlikely is db_autotek finding a good G50.

LOL yeah I'm having some bad luck with G50s.. Well the first destruction wasn't my doing, and the second one... well.. it was just a maintenance nightmare by the time I got it. Someone has a good signature about it, something about falling in love with a stripper is like buying a broken Q. Exactly what happened to me lol.

But as for the steering lock, I remember it not being a problem. Of course you still have to use the key and therefore still use the steering unlock button. All things considered, I still think it's a great idea and concept. It doesn't add a step, just changes the last twist of the key with a button push. "change for change's sake" is a little harsh too I think. I mean, it really does look good. I would never consider doing this mod with any other start button other than the S2000 start button.

[maxnix]

Well, at least you can re-build a G50. Not so sure about the other.

[db_autotek]

LOL yeah. I cracked the block in the second Q, and the rest of the car was in such bad shape that I decided to send it to the recycling yard instead of rebuild. If I had an extra spot in the garage I would've parted it out myself.. oh well.

There's a really nice Pearl White / Shamu White nearby that I might snatch up. If for no other reason than to keep the rare Shamu out of the hands of idiots.

[smalcom]

Its not really a "laziness" thing, but more "a cool factor" thing. So many new cars these days come with starter buttons standard, so it must be a popular option.

New, I think not. I remember when the key was on the left side of the column, (on the dashboard, which was made of metal) and there was a metal button on the right, also on the dash. You put the key in the ignition, turned it to on, and pressed the starter botton. If memory serves me, the key turned right for ON, and left for ACCESSORY.

There were also cars (Chrysler, I think) that started by pressing the accelerator. The key worked the same.

This was more than 50 years ago!

Nothing new under the sun.The more things change the more they remain the same.

[slybydesignq45t]

Just as a thought, isn't it cooler to have the push start button as part of the key remote which they have been doing for years. I have a friend with a 97 Acura TL and she has the push start as part of the remote, I still think thats hotter push start button in car.

[jonseyq45]

All,

I have a great idea for an anti theft device, cheap and easy. The problem is that it is so simple that if I post it publicly it loses it secret. E-mail me @ [email protected] and I will reply. let me know what you think.

Jonsey...

[db_autotek]

LOL ok I'm sorry but that really sounds fishy. Let me guess: disconnect the battery? Sorry but that's where it sounds like it's going. lol