I'm thinking about installing a kill switch somewhere under the dash so I can just reach down and turn it off and on as needed.So what I want to know is whats the best wire to do this with and are these affective or do most thieves know to look for the switch?

 

I use 20 gauge solid-core wire for my main relay kill, as well as some 3M female slide connects to go on the switch solidly. I relocated the main relay first off (re-loomed elsewhere, hidden away, requires removing a bit of dash) to prevent tampering, then cut the ground and ran the relay-side of the ground wire to the switch, then the other side of switch to chassis for ground.

Switch is hidden somewhere or another within stretching distance of driver. Just be sure to loom up/tuck your switch wire to make it difficult to ground out, and difficult to find in the first place.

PS I got the wire from Fry's, used a Weller soldering gun, and some Fry's heatshrink (long tube that you cut for each necessary piece, about 2 bucks for a good few feet :D).

 

You wouldn't happen to know where a writeup is would you?

 

Ahh I don't know of any. In my 6th gen (96-00) the main relay was to the right of glove compartment, bolted to dashboard. Had to drop glovebox to get to it, take off dash panel that's normally hidden by door when closed, and get the relay that way. Then I just found the ground wire with a multimeter (it's the black one in my case, as I figured it'd be), cut it, and did as I mentioned with some 20 gauge.

Just determine the location for your main relay and see about doing the same. Have some 3M Super 33 or comparable electrical tape handy.

 

So I find the ground to the main relay,wire the switch between the main relay and ground and then hide the switch somewhere...Correct?By the way what is the main relay for?The starter right?

 

Main relay controls shifter release (for A/T that is), fuel pump, and I'm pretty sure injectors as well

Yeah, basically as you stated. I drilled a custom hole to mount mine somewhere, to say the least. A Walmart "LED" switch will work fine, but some reason the tiny flip switches there break on me every time.

PS There's more stuff the relay controls. I just never learned what. :D

EDIT: I just read something from the 92-00 Civic forum that may correct me:
<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by .kyle &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">
[...]main relay, located above your hood release, little grey box[...]
</TD></TR></TABLE>

Maybe 5th gen stores 'em there instead...?


Modified by Davus at 4:42 AM 7/10/2008

 

As mentioned, install a switch on the ground lead to the PGM-FI Main Relay, "main relay" it is located above hood release, this may help... http://www.tegger.com/hondafaq/mainrelay.html

The PGM-FI Main Relay is actually two relays in one "box", it supplies power to the fuel pump, [fuel pump relay] controled by the ECU/ECM, it also supplies power to the fuel injectors, [injector relay] along with one of the powers to the ECU/ECM and a few engine sensors and power for the fuel pump relay, [internal].

Installing a switch on the PGM-FI Main Relay ground, [ground for injector relays coil] will cut power to all the above, fuel pump, injectors, ECU/ECM and engine sensors.

It is a low current ground, [less then 250mA] so a very small, [easily hidden] switch can be used. 94

 

Ok now I understand how to do it.Thanks for the help Davus and fcm.

 

so lemme get this straight... you're resetting your ecu when you flip the switch??? i'm not too sure i wanna do that =/ i don't wanna lose my fuel trim every time i turn the car off.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Mandark06 &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">so lemme get this straight... you're resetting your ecu when you flip the switch??? i'm not too sure i wanna do that =/ i don't wanna lose my fuel trim every time i turn the car off.</TD></TR></TABLE> Not.

The switch is on the ground lead to the fuel injector relay coil, The relay is switched on by the ign. switch, along with supplying 12V+, [hot in run and start] to the injectors and a few engine sensors it supplies 12V+, [hot in run and start] to the ECU/ECM the circuit is cut each time the ign. is turned off so keeping it from coming on is not going to "reset" anything. 94