Date:         Sun, 14 Aug 2005 05:15:34 EDT
Reply-To:     Oxroad@AOL.COM
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Jeff Oxroad <Oxroad@AOL.COM>
Subject:      Re: (no subject)
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="US-ASCII"

FWIW some of the fancy cars I sometimes used to see at my old job had
switches underneath the floor carpet up where it's easy to reach that had  to be
actively held down in order to start the car. It was a push button on  switch
like a doorbell in that it was on "engaged" when actively  depressed.

I assume they were just a kill switch for the starter. And I know it  had to
be actively held down for the starter to run--this of course in  combination
with turning the ignition key. The driver knew "exactly" where the  carpet had
to be pushed and assumably no one else could easily find it--til the  carpet
wore out in that spot ;)

(In a sports car set up remember the reach to the floor carpeted area is
pretty close because you're sitting low unlike in the Vanagon.)

I'm not so sure this is the best set up, but I'm just passing it  on . Seems
if the theives jumped the starter or even better jump started  the car ---you
know by rolling and popping the clutch--they'd be on their  way.

And so a kill switch for the fuel pump or the ignition system or what have
you may be more effective BUT and it's a big but, what happens the night you
forget to flip the kill switch as you get out of the bus to go to sleep.

The kill switch for the fuel pump is only as good as the last time you exit
the vehicle. And the most painful part of getting your bus stolen would be
endlessly wondering if you forgot to flip the switch when you got out or if the
thief found it--or worse your wife told them where it was when she hired
them.

I wonder if it'd be over kill to have a started kill that had to be  actively
depressed to allow the starter to turn over AND a kill switch for the  fuel
pump.

Incidently I've had kill switches on cars and it does give you peace of
mind, and I think appropriatly so.

Best,
Jeff
83.5 Westy
LA,CA




In a message dated 8/13/2005 10:04:38 PM Pacific Standard Time,
jbange@GMAIL.COM writes:

> A  battery shut off switch would be the easiest, and fool proof.
>
true, but who wants to reset the dang clock every time you get in to
go  anywhere?
I opted for a push-pull aircraft circuit breaker inline for both  the
starter solenoid and fuel pump, both unlabelled and on the same  panel
with eight other breakers under/behind the driver's seat. reach  back,
pull 'em out, no more starter or fuel.