DIY: "Start Engine" button...
 

This is a how-to for an aftermarket "Engine Start" button, it is not for the Right Hand Drive 'Mazda' version, just any old add-on button.

I used an S2000 Honda button, from ebay, about $35. ( Yeah, I know, Honduh! Ricearoni! Not kewl dude! Save it.....)

There are five pins, back view, left to right -

1-not used
2-not used
3-ground
4-power from lighter
5-power to clutch switch/start relay

Since I put the button in the hole for the lighter socket, I used the lighter's power and ground, and ran the signal wire back under the dash.....

S

The signal wire needs to go to the starter relay, and there are four or five options for that......

A-(Clutch still has to be pushed, key AND button start) - join the 'white/blue' wire on the lower clutch switch, (the one that makes contact to stop you starting in gear.) This keeps the switch in the circuit, meaning you still have to push the clutch to start.

B- (Clutch not needed, key AND button work) - join the 'green/red/white' wire, bypassing the clutch stomp, and allowing the car to possibly chug away in gear. (If you leave the connector OFF the switch, ONLY the button works.)

C- (Clutch not needed, key won't work) - Cut the 'green/red/white' wire off at the connector and splice into it, sending the new button's signal to the starter, this becomes the only way to start up.

D- (Clutch needs to be pushed, only button starts) - join the 'white/blue' wire at the connector and cut it further up, cutting the key signal. This keeps the switch in the circuit, meaning you still have to push the clutch to start, when you push the button.

B is my preferred method, because there is no cutting, and you can always put the car back to stock, for a valet situation for example. You have the choice of leaving the connector OFF the switchto make the button the ONLY way to start.


here is the clutch switch in question, the other is to dis-able the cruise control when you clutch.

S

Finished....
 

The finished item.....

The gear knob surround pulls straight up with 8 clips, and the lighter bin is held in by two clips, and two screws under that surround.

One hour, including recharging the old digi-cam!

S

Cute! I've never owned a car that had a start engine button, so what's the advantage of doing this mod besides the kewl factor? How do you start your car with it?

rx8cited

nice dude , always wanted to do this , but can you post this step by step ? I'm allitle slow on electronics lol

Very nice DIY, Stealth! :D

Just the "kewl" factor, you still have to partially turn the key before pushing the start button, kills the whole thrill for me. It's still kind of neat, too much of a hassle for me though.

Were these cars originally supposed to have a start button? My uncle thought they did, and i've seen pictures that looked like they had them in the area of where the traction control button is? BTW my uncle is a salesman, though not at a Mazda dealership.

WHAT?! Is there no solution where the partial keyturning is not needed. As brothervoodoo wrote: It takes away the entire cool-factor. Has anyone experienced this startbutton in real life, not just read about it?

My first RX-7 had a push start button right next to the keyhole (my uncle installed it). I had to turn the key to on and then press the start button. Hehe, but mine didn't have the cool factor cuz it wasn't in a place that people can view easily.

I bet someone inventive could figure out a way to go keyless, although you would need the key to be near the ignition due to the security chip inside it.

There are two circuites that are controlled by the ignition "switch" (the thing you stick the key into and turn). 1) Power to the car. 2) Power to the starter motor. The reason you have to stick a key in with conventional start buttons is that you need to turn the car's power on.

If you could get the key pulled out with the ignition in the ON position(or break the shank off inside the ignition while in the ON position) you could splice into the ignition wire to another button (could be placed next to DSC button) like someone used to bypass the DSC in another thread. This second switch would run in series with the key switch (down stream) and by placing this 2nd switch into the OFF position you would break the circuit. Placing the 2nd switch into the ON position would allow the circuit to continue as it was already intended to by the key switch. With the key ignition switch in the on position you would only need to flip your toggle button switch to "arm" the system (what I mean by arm, is reconnect the circuit created by turning a key in to the ON position) and push the installed start button as described by Stealth.

Keeping theives from stealing your car is the fact that your 8 needs to "sense" the microchip in the key (which you would have in your pocket or change compartment or ash tray, etc...)

The only downside would be if you killed your engine by means of stalling or running out of gas and got out without turning off your 2nd ignition switch/button you would run the risk of leaving the electricity on and killing your battery. This second button, by the way, is how you would turn off your car under normal circumstances.

I think this would be a killer mod. If I wasn't leasing my car, I'd do it. What do you think Stealth? Are you up to the challenge?

http://forum.mazda6tech.com/viewtopic.php?t=1723

The Mazdaspeed 6 will have keyless start.

I did this mod on my Miata a few years back. I too used an S2000 start button and fit it in the lighter hole. You still do have to put the key in and turn it, but to fire it up you hit the button. It's all in the "cool" factor I guess.


I still find it funny when I throw people my keys and they don't know how to start it when there is a BRB (big red button) starting them in the face! :D

Ummmm. The ad said keyless "entry". Much different than keyless "start".

It says "advanced keyless entry AND start system"

Genuine Mazda Engine Starter Installed
 

Just came across this thread, and wanted to share my work.
I have bought Mazda genuine optional parts from Japan, and installed it.
Its supposed to go under the trunk release switch of dash-board, but since brackets are made for right steering wheel, I decided to DIY it to fit inside the cigarette socket (which I don't use at all)
Notice I have also bought "non-smoker's box" inside the cigarette holder(?).

I have also installed automatic door lock/unlock, and rear foglights and such.

Thanks for looking. :)

Seriously, making the car start without the key is fairly trivial. I currently use a compustar system to accomplish the task in my 8. The thing I haven't figured out to do is how to kill the immobilization system. So I zip tied my valet key under the dash to the immobilizer sensor. You would have to take the dash apart to get to it though (for anyone who says I can't believe you left a key in your car) and even know where it was. Anyways, I am pretty sure you could also wire up the on sensor without having the key in and without using a compustar system. Might require another switch though.

Slavearm

They do the same thing with cadillacs, anytime you get a remote started on one, they put a valet key in the dash.

Problem.....
 

I would hesitate to wire a key or even just a chip, into the column.

You would lose 90% of your anti-theft protection. The'8 is REALLY easy to break into (less than a minute, by a U.K. tester!) and then it would be a simple 'pop-the-ignition' away from gone.

The average joyrider doesn't even know what an immobilizer is, he would just think he was lucky when he got the car started.

S

any idea on total cost? assuming if i got a shop to do this?

thanks!

I belive Mercedes has a keyless start system that has been out for a while...
They give you a card chip you carry in your wallet and you just walk up to the car and touch the sensor on the door handle to open/close the car..
to start the car, you touch the sensor on the shifter :)

im pretty sure thats just to start up to warm the engine. thats what i was told at the dealer at few weeks ago. you still have to use the key to do everything. but like i said i have no basis but a salesman and you all know the reliability of that sometimes!

Where can you get this at? cool....

What is the "non-smokers box" I had a dealer mention options for the ash tray, but she just meant it pulled out

Smartkey system
 

I like the looks of the Engine start button.

The Toyota Avalon has a smartkey system with the driver does not even need to pull out keys to unlock or start the vehicle. It utilizes a Engine start button similar to this mod with some extra integration.
Here is a demo that explains the integration: http://www.toyota.com/vehicles/2005/...ey_system.html

As for the key under the dash for remote start systems to disable the immobilizer anti-theft system. An installer should cut the key to prevent it from being used in the ignition if found. It is placed in a bypass switch box which only is engaged when the remote start is activated. Once the remote start is turned off the bypass disables signal from the cut key.

For this mod to be secure for a truly keyless start a person would have to install a smartcard type of system to have something to enable a signal to the bypass in order to use the Engine start button. Otherwise the bypass would always need to be on bypass and the car could be started by anyone. Which would make it a village car like some of the commercials where the keys are passed to the next person to use the car, except the keys would not need to be passed. Village bicycle concept: you see it not being used you can drive it.