Car theft is a massive problem for car owners. In the US alone, there are over 715,000 car theft reports every year, leaving car owners wondering how to safeguard their cars from theft. Some car owners use an aftermarket alarm or steering wheel lock as additional security, but the kill switch car is the best form of protection for a vehicle.
A kill switch is a switch box that connects to any of a car’s crucial starting parts, intending to cut off power to the car engine when it activates. It prevents a vehicle from starting or running after a short time, thus preventing car theft.
It is the most efficient way to prevent car theft because its location in the car is often in an inconspicuous spot, so no one but the car owner knows where to access it. In this article, we have highlighted everything you need to know about how a kill switch works, its type, and how to install one. Ensure you read to the end to get comprehensive knowledge about kill switches.
Kill Switch For Car
A kill switch for a car is a switch that connects to any of the car’s critical starting parts to prevent the car’s ignition. Usually, it is located in the ignition and fuel system. The interruption of power flow to the vehicle part due to its connection restores whenever the control is off, allowing the car to ignite as it should.
Kill switches come in different models to suit various features and car models. There are simple ones with only an on/off switch for manual control and more complex types that use remote controls for external control. However, they all serve the same car theft preventive purpose.
Before installing it to your car, you must consider some factors to ensure its maximum functionality. For starters, determine the type that best serves your purpose – do you want a manual or an automatic kill switch system? And how complex do you want it to be?
You should also figure out the best place to install the switch that will be inconspicuous to the public or thief. Most people choose the car starter as a hidden position, but the choice is yours. Choose the style and type of kill switch preference while keeping in mind what best suits the model of your car.
We must state that a kill switch is only a preventive measure against car theft, not a fail-safe during emergencies or a means of escape in dire situations. When the car is stalling or losing power, it’s best to stop and reach out to a mechanic than drive in a poorly performing car.
Car Kill Switch Ideas
Using a kill switch in your car cannot be effective without having the correct location. It has to be in a hidden place, a place not easy to identify by a thief. The best site for it is an invisible and difficult area difficult to access, like beneath a seat or under the ignition box. The control should also not be where fluids will damage it.
There are various ways to install a kill switch to get the best effect, which can be in the fuel system relay. With it installed in the fuel relay system, the fuel will not get to the engine for ignition to commence. It can also be in the battery to disconnect the car from starting.
Consult a professional installer to help when unsure of the best location for it in your car. The kill switch is only one method out of an entire security system of vehicles. To fully secure a car, car owners should also consider getting a GPS Tracker (in addition to figuring out how to find an AirTag in my car) and an alarm system. Using all these precautions, one can be sure their vehicle is safe and impenetrable to theft.
Though a kill switch is great for car security and safety, it is important to keep alert about your car while enjoying its use than putting life at risk. When a car theft becomes violent, it’s best to lose the car than to lose a life.
Car Alarm With Kill Switch
In addition to a kill switch, car alarms are a great security source for a car. Car alarms give out loud piercing sounds when a car opens the wrong way, and they can also sound when people lean on them or try to get inside.
Most car alarms come with kill switches to disable the car in case of theft. When the car alarm sounds and the car goes on to ignite without turning the kill switch off. The car alarm system automatically activates the kill switch, which prevents the car from starting.
Some car owners see the car alarm with a kill switch as the best combination to use for security, but it has a significant disadvantage. It has the burden of blaring at every touch of the car. There is no way to determine when there is an actual risk to prevent and when it’s just an innocent bypasser. The alarm can be quite disorienting and annoying.
Classic Car Kill Switch
Classic cars are rare and, most times, difficult to replace or buy their parts. Hence it is very crucial to safeguard classic vehicles from theft. Though kill switches are one of the best methods of safeguarding a car, not all of them are very efficient in classic cars.
The widely used kill switch for classic cars is the battery kill switch. It cuts power from the battery, and even if the thief hotwires the car, it will not start up because the energy from the battery is off. The ignition can turn, and the engine can spark, but the car will never start without a power supply from the battery.
This kill switch is the best for classic cars. Ensure to install it with a professional to avoid damages that will cost replacement. Also, consider getting a more sophisticated security system if you are skeptical.
Best Kill Switch For Car
The automatic kill switch is the best kill switch for cars. It can kill the power from a vehicle when not in active use. It does this through motion sensors and GPS tracking devices and comes with a remote that allows you to turn off or on the button from a distance. This switch can also lock, unlock, start, and stop the car and even get the car’s location in case of theft. These configurations come with the kill switch and connect directly to the car system.
Another reason why it is the best is its accessibility. The car owner has no need reaching to the hidden switch to turn on and off at each car start-up. The remote turns on or off, alerting anyone of a kill switch in the car as a warning.
There are also different kill switches with different installation modus operandi, and they all work efficiently in preventing car hijacking. They include the battery kill switch, relay system kill switch, etc. read on to see how each switch operates.
Car Battery Kill Switch
When connecting the car battery kill switch, the switch is between the negative connector. The negative connector with the kill switches inside blocks power from the battery from reaching the engine. When the kill switch activates, it imitates the actions of a dead battery, but when it is deactivated, the power flow restores, and the car will ignite normally.
Since the disconnect switch is at the battery location, the on and off switch will be in a reachable hidden position inside the car for easy access. The car battery kill switch resets the car clock and radio settings whenever in use. This reset is because the battery holds the settings memory.
Remote Kill Switch For Car
The remote kill switch uses a remote control for operation. Using the remote, the car owner can easily access it from a remote location and activate it when there is suspicious activity.
It is installed in the battery, just like the car battery kill switch. At the same time, it uses magnets in the remote’s switch to control the control of the kill switch. The remote type has the same disadvantage as the car battery kill switch; it resets the car radio and timer settings.
Hidden Kill Switch For Car
With the rising population of cars in our society, finding a secure place to park is almost like wishing for a unicorn, hence the use of hidden kill switches for cars. It disrupts fuel flow to the fuel pump or electricity from the battery and ignition switch.
Hidden kill switches can be in the car hood, glove box, dashboard, under the seat, or anywhere out of sight. Installing more than one of these is not abnormal for maximum security. We can call all kill switch types hidden due to the aim to keep them away from thieves and vandals.
Magnetic Kill Switch Car
A magnetic kill switch uses magnets to control its switch. The attraction aids in turning the switch off or on. The use of magnetic in the remote gives the user remote access to it at all times.
With a standard kill switch, there is a risk of the thief locating the button, but with a magnetic type, you outsmart the thief by being with the remote magnet kill switch control right where you are. This switch can work with any kill switch type based on the location of a power disruption in the vehicle.
Fuel Pump Kill Switch
The fuel pump in a car controls the fuel flow to the engine, and it is impossible to start a vehicle without the fuel pump intact. The fuel pump kill switch disrupts the flow of fuel in the pump. Splice the fuel switch relay wire and insert the kill switch to install.
The fuel pump kill works so that the car will spurt and crank but not start. The car thief will assume it is an engine problem and go away. But the disadvantage of this type is its location. To turn it off, one has to go under the car to turn it off constantly. This is not an ideal switch for daily drivers.
Car Ignition
The ignition kill switch causes a break in the wiring. It is installed by cutting the ignition wire and inserting a connector on each side of the wire. The button is then attached to a hidden area inside the car.
Professionals often do the installation because one must cut through the correct wire to avoid severe damage. It has the advantage of misleading the car thief to assume the car has an engine problem and the switch location at any reachable hidden place.
Fuse Box
The fuse box kill switch cuts power off directly at the fuse box and not at the ignition. Car owners might prefer to pull out the ignition box and return it when they want to drive. But installing it to the specific fuses that need to disconnect to stop ignition and control it using a switch is easier.
How To Install
It is pretty simple to install a kill switch in your car, and you only need a few basic tools and the type of kill switch you prefer. The tools for installation include; wire cutters, a screwdriver, pliers, and cover tape. There might be a need to remove car covers and some panels to access the kill switch location. Ensure to read the instructions and follow them accurately.
- Before proper installation, determine your car’s composition to kill with the switch and find the correct wire it goes along with.
- Next, splice the correct wire and insert the kill switch into the wire.
- Tape the spliced wire up to avoid the wires touching.
- Run wires from your car part with the kill switch disconnector to where the on and off switch will be.
- Install the switch in a private hidden place.
With the right knowledge and proper tools, you can install it and have the safety of your car assured. If you do not have adequate knowledge to install the kill switch, contact a professional to install it.
Cost Of Purchasing
A kill switch costs an average of $10 to $100 for the part and the installation. The cost depends on the type of kill switch, model of car, and installation location. One can cut off the cost by installing it themselves, but it is not a good idea if there is no professional installation knowledge.
Compared to using a kill switch, it is much better to spend on it than on a new car. For $100 or less, a car owner can help safeguard their vehicle from theft. It is better than a steering wheel lock and a car alarm because it is not bulky and doesn’t give false alarms.
How To Bypass
To bypass is to override the function of the kill switch and start the car engine. There are only two reasons to bypass a kill switch:
- If you want to find fault with the kill switch and find out if it needs replacement.
- Avoid a car breakdown before you get to your destination in the event of a fault.
While there is no specific way to bypass a kill switch, you can do that by using a USB drive to connect to the car computer system. You can also use a cable to connect to the car’s diagnostic port and override from there. Access to the car’s Bluetooth module using a phone can also aid in bypassing a kill switch.
DIY Anti-Theft Kill Switches for Cars
- A vehicle is stolen every 42 seconds in America.
- A simple and relatively cheap alternative to high-priced car alarm systems is to install a hidden car kill switch that disables your car from being started.
- Most kill switches work by stopping the electrical flow from your ignition system, or battery, or through a fuse that works on a needed part, like your fuel pump.
- Low-level thieves are generally the ones who steal cars, and they’re not knowledgeable enough or willing to risk the time it takes to find out why your car isn’t starting.
- There are various ways to install a kill switch in your car, such as fuel line shut-off valves, car battery disconnect switches, remote-controlled car battery switches, fuse box kill switches, and ignition wire kill switches.
- Adding an inline fuel cut-off switch is a fairly straightforward way of physically stopping the flow of gas to your engine, but it’s not the best kill switch to install if you plan on using it daily.
- The car battery disconnect switch is one of the easiest kill switch options to install in your vehicle, but it requires you to open your hood each time to get to your battery switch.
- A remote-controlled battery disconnect switch is one of the most convenient ways to quickly disable your car on a regular basis.
- Fuse box bypass switch allows you to put in a fuse bypass switch in an easy-to-reach area for you to switch on and off, but the wire that goes into the fuse box may stick out a bit.
- An inline ignition cutoff switch is the type of anti-theft method that might come to mind when you hear of a car “kill switch,” and it works by adding a switch to the wire that comes off your car’s ignition switch.
Frequently Asked Questions
Here are some popular FAQs:
What Is A Kill Switch
A kill switch is a safety mechanism with an on and off switch that allows you to remotely disable your device if it is lost or stolen. The power restores when the switch turns off and cuts off when it is on. It is usually in car parts such as the ignition, fuel relay pump, fuse box, and battery.
How To Tell If Your Car Has A Kill Switch
You can tell if your car has a kill switch from signs such as unusual devices like sensors or wires in the vehicle, tampering around the dashboard or steering wheel. You can also check the battery for any attachment when it develops a fault. Looking under the car, you can see if any kill switches are sticking out.
How To Install A Kill Switch On A Car
You can install a kill switch by splicing the wire in the car part you want it in and inserting the kill switch disconnector inside. Then you attach it on and off to any hidden location in the car. Ensure you know the correct wire to splice, or use a professional to avoid damage to your car.
Where To Hide Kill Switch In Car
You can hide a kill switch in any place in the car. The location should be discreet and private to you to prevent easy detection. Hide it in an easy-to-access position, and always remember to turn it off once you want to start the car. Though most kill switches now use remotes, most still have a manual switch in the car.
How Does A Kill Switch Work
A kill switch works by cutting off the role the essential car part it connects with plays. In the fuel pump, it disrupts the flow of fuel to the engine. In the ignition, it stops the wires from connecting to ignite. It disconnects the negative wire from the battery power in the battery. Generally, it cuts off the energy source to the engine preventing the car thief from driving the car.
Where Is The Kill Switch Located On A Car
The kill switch is always in essential parts of a car, mainly in the battery, ignition system, fuel relay pump, or even the fuse box. Any component a car can not start without is a perfect location for its installation.
How To Make A Kill Switch For A Car
A kill switch comes with all its components in any car part stall. It is not a device that can be made manually or using DIY. It is better to buy a ready-made kill switch for maximum effect. Remember, it protects your car from theft and should not be inefficient.
How To Disable A Kill Switch On A Car
You can disable a kill switch by removing it from its location. Trace the wire back to the connection and gently disconnects the attachment. If you are facing difficulties, you can also call a mechanic to do the disconnection if you are not sure of the position of the kill switch.
Is It Illegal To Remove Kill Switch From Car
The legalities surrounding the removal of a car switch depend on the car’s ownership. It is not illegal to remove it from a car you have owned and paid for entirely. However, removing it from a car that is not yours is illegal without the owner’s permission. Removing it from a car without a fully paid lease is also unlawful.
Conclusion
A car kill switch is vital to prevent car theft. It is discreet and only known to the driver. A kill switch has the advantage over a steering wheel and an alarm due to its small size and quiet nature. It is put into an essential part of the car and works by interrupting the power flow to the car engine. If you want to install a car kill switch, it’s best to use a professional than do it yourself. You might end up doing significant damage to the car.
There are different types of kill switches you can use. They all depend on what you want, the type of car you drive and the result you are looking for when you put on the switch. However, for better security, you should consider installing the type which is most compatible with your car and is well suited for all situations.
