Although I don’t often leave the Tempest unattended out in public, I would like to be able to run into a store and have the peace of mind to do so. I planned to add a simple “kill switch” but saw this great product that takes that idea up a level. It’s a relay that will honk the horn instead of start the car if the switch of your choosing is turned off. I decided to still use a toggle switch and put it in the lockable glove box.
The Toggle Switch
Gardner Bender GSW-18 Heavy-Duty Electrical Toggle Switch (Amazon)
I choose the above toggle switch because it was heavier duty than the others I saw and the wires coming from it were 16awg which paired nicely with the wire I ran to the fuse box. I also didn’t want a switch with bare terminals that someone could easily jump if they had the time.
The new glove box I recently installed had a punch out in the top left corner which the toggle switch fit in perfectly.
The Relay
American Autowire Anti-Theft Relay Kit
I mounted the relay behind the battery where it wouldn’t be accessible and would be kept relatively safe from any water that may get into the engine compartment.
Having just installed a new engine and forward lamp harness, I did not want to cut any existing wires to fit in the relay. Doing so would have made my setup more secure, but I just want to make things harder for a would be thief so they’ll move on.
I purchased some Packard 56 connectors and was able to use the existing starter wires/connectors to wire in the relay. Easy to disconnect and hide the relay wires during a car show if I want too. 🙂
