Kill switch

[Lachy459]

Hi im no wiring guru so there fore wondering if anyone cluld steer me in the right direction. I own a 1985 fj73 i have put a soft top on it and looks good only issue know is its less secure therefore i want to put a kill switch in. If i cut the wire running to the start position on the ignition barrel and interupt it with a switch will this work?
Cheers

 

[typhoeus]

Is it petrol or diesel?. If petrol, you can do it a couple of ways. You can interrupt the ignition by cutting the wire to the distributor and fitting a switch.also you can install a switch which earths the ignition. This is better because if a thief tries to hotwire it, the shorted ignition still wont let it start. Diesel is abit harder. You could fit a fuel shut off so that if they got it started, it would run out of fuel after a few minutes.

 

[Lachy459]

Is it petrol or diesel?. If petrol, you can do it a couple of ways. You can interrupt the ignition by cutting the wire to the distributor and fitting a switch.also you can install a switch which earths the ignition. This is better because if a thief tries to hotwire it, the shorted ignition still wont let it start. Diesel is abit harder. You could fit a fuel shut off so that if they got it started, it would run out of fuel after a few minutes.

Its petrol, so which is the easiest way?

 

[typhoeus]

easiest way is to trace the wire from the distributor to the ignition, attach a wire to it, attach the other end to your kill switch, ftrom the switch attach a wire to earth. when the kill switch is on , it will short the ignition if it is switched on with a key, or hot-wired at the coil.

 

[Rusty Panels]

If it's a petrol (I suspect FJ would designate petrol) go the distributor with a switch from the points to earth if it's a diesel there is a fuse in the cabin for the engine. You can put a switch in the line and it will start but stop after a second of running. It will leave any would be thief scratching their head!
Sorry! I just read that it is indeed petrol. Totally agree with Typhoeus.

 

[Lachy459]

If it's a petrol (I suspect FJ would designate petrol) go the distributor with a switch from the points to earth if it's a diesel there is a fuse in the cabin for the engine. You can put a switch in the line and it will start but stop after a second of running. It will leave any would be thief scratching their head!
Sorry! I just read that it is indeed petrol. Totally agree with Typhoeus.

Okay thanks ill have a look

 

[Lachy459]

If it's a petrol (I suspect FJ would designate petrol) go the distributor with a switch from the points to earth if it's a diesel there is a fuse in the cabin for the engine. You can put a switch in the line and it will start but stop after a second of running. It will leave any would be thief scratching their head!
Sorry! I just read that it is indeed petrol. Totally agree with Typhoeus.

Hey mate just want to double check in the photo attached there is red wire, do u reckon splice a switch in there?

 

[Lachy459]

easiest way is to trace the wire from the distributor to the ignition, attach a wire to it, attach the other end to your kill switch, ftrom the switch attach a wire to earth. when the kill switch is on , it will short the ignition if it is switched on with a key, or hot-wired at the coil.

Hey mate there is a photo above is it just that red wire?

 

[Triton14]

You can also make it easy & put in a battery disconnect like this-

Or you can get a keyed version as well

 

[Lachy459]

You can also make it easy & put in a battery disconnect like this-

View attachment 70447

Yeah thats the easiest but id rather have to pop the hood everytime

 

[CaptainBanana]

I would put a switch inline to starter wire under the dash/column. Don't muck around too much with the ballast wire on the coil. If more keen trace the coil wire and use that but at the steering column end, don't be tempted to run wires from the coil back inside and then out again.

 

[Lachy459]

I would put a switch inline to starter wire under the dash/column. Don't muck around too much with the ballast wire on the coil. If more keen trace the coil wire and use that but at the steering column end, don't be tempted to run wires from the coil back inside and then out again.

When u say starter wire do u mean the wire that runs to the start postion on the ignition barrel or a wire that runs to the starter motor

 

[CaptainBanana]

When u say starter wire do u mean the wire that runs to the start postion on the ignition barrel or a wire that runs to the starter motor

Yes ignition barrel, honestly you could trigger it from outside if you want but it's probably not likley these days.

 

[Triton14]

Yeah thats the easiest but id rather have to pop the hood everytime

Still I see a theif looking all over the interior looking for a switch, if they have to open the bonnet its going to attract more attention.

Besides if its just a switch & they find it then its just a flick, if you use the later key disconnect thats going to throw a spanner in the works for them!

Thats how I think anyway.

Good luck with it.

 

[Rusty Panels]

You can do all of the above but you will need a switch with heavy duty contacts when you are dealing with starter current. My personal preference would be to switch the wire to the points in the distributor with a switch in the dash. You can disguise it by using a switch with a diagram on it like a rear window demister or fog lights. Nobody's going to be looking at your back window to see if you actually have a demister. In addition, that way you only need to run a single wire to the points from the switch with the other side of the switch going to earth.
I had a BJ40 which is the SWB Diesel. I used the fuse mentioned in my earlier post and had an external key switch in the guard next to the Land Cruiser badge which was hard to spot.
Your photo shows the ignition coil and resistor. You could tap into the black wire which goes to earth and run 2 wires from your switch so that you open circuit the earth. I would cut the earth rather than the power wire. There's no major problem doing that but the contacts in your switch will eventually fail.