Push button start questions......

[abadsvt]

My father in law came up to see me at work ( I work out of town) and he rented a 07 Nissan Altima or was it a Maxima. Anyways it had a really cool push button start for the ignition. I didn't even see a spot for a key. All he had was keyless entry buttons. No key! It was sweet! I was wondering how hard it would be to take that or something similiar and incorperate it into my truck. I am not ready for it quite yet but want to start planning it out. Any comments about these setups would be much appreciated. Thanks Josh

[RACINJASON22]

It would make it alot eisier for someone to steal your truck but, anyway. I have only ever done it with a toggle switch and momentary on push button combined. (circle track stuff) switch is to supply your 12 volt to the ignitinon and also a jumper to the button. Then from the button to the starter. You can install with 12 volt always to the button and turn the engine over with out the switch on and no ignition that way. Alot of racers do it this way for oil priming reasons. RJ22

[GREASEMONKEY72]

and if you wanted you could even put a master switch somewhere or even hide it somewhere

[PBFAB.COM]

Josh, Check out www.isqe.com They have an extremely cool management system for all the eletronics. I have spoken to the owner/developer a few times. Features such as push button start (the security feature is a small transmitter that goes on your keychain, if the transmitter is within a certain distance of the car the button is activated and awaiting your push) other cool features can be incorporated as well... automatic headlights... all sorts of cool stuff. This component is similar to a body control module they have on new cars. Read up on it, I am sure you'll want one... this system is a must for all my own builds.

[mac]

I'm working on a "Start Button" set-up right now. When I built my flat instrument bezel, I eliminated the lights and wiper switches. I smoothed the dash and eliminated the radio, ignition switch, ash tray and heater controls too (no heater, no controls).

I bought an ARC touch-pad switch panel and relay set-up (from JEGS I think) to run everything. My 7 switch bag controller uses a round key for a lockout. Master power will be the round key with everything else ran from the touchpad. I'm mounting it under the homebrewed console with a polished stainless strip down the center and the only thing you will see is the billet "skull" boltcap buttons just above console center that will actually touch the control pad underneath. This panel has a dip switch that allows each switch to be set for normally on, normally off or momentary on. It also has an LED for each of the 8 switches that is red when off and green on.

At this point I'm not intending to use all 8 switches and will only cut in what I intend to use and the rest of the panel will remain hidden until I add more stuff and do cutouts for those buttons.

I found a billet starter button on eBay UK that has "Start" cut into the button and is backlit with a blue LED. And like you, I got this all rollin in my head when I saw the start button on a Honda S2000.

[Bowtie001]

I used to work for a company that used that type of technology, but at that time, we were only selling the 'push to open' type of Remote Keyless Entry. It isn't very complicated, but it will be hard to retrofit an OEM application if you cannot locate the pinout diagrams for the receiver. Basically, the Rx will just act like a remotely triggered switch - sort of a wireless relay - in this application. Just get a key fob like the one you saw and a corresponding Rx from the same car (you can find directions online to program them). At this point you simply have to figure out which pins need voltage and ground and which pins will switch when the key fob is activated. You may be able to get this information somewhere - but I am not sure a regular tech line would tell you, you may have to dig deeper.

At that point it's purely DIY. Get a start button that looks cool and wire it up to the starter. Wire the Rx to the ignition and away you go. Take apart the key fob and have an aluminum bowtie (or GMC) branded case made at your local machine shop (or at work) and go to town.

Let us know if you proceed.
-Brian

[dan42]

Or, if the tumblers are worn, you can use a screwdriver instead of the key. That's pretty cool, too.

[Joe67]

The Corvette is using that technology as well. I think it's cool

[1972CheyenneSuper]

I know a lot of people like the start buttons in Honda S2000's. I don't know how they'd look in our trucks, but I think it would be decent. The wiring may not be heavy enough though.

http://www.handa-accessories.com/s2000-04.html

~ $36.09

Near the bottom of the page.

I just found that BMW Z8's have starter butttons that are commonly used. I think one of these would be the best looking. I haven't found any for sale yet, but here's what it looks like.

http://128.83.80.200/mcoupe/startengine.html