Installing a "kill switch" possible?

[mikesparky]

I have a 95 ex and in the interest of conserving gas have been shutting off the engine at some of the longer lights I have to wait at, drive through at the bank, etc.. It has quickly become a hassle to shutdown the whole system(radio cuts off, door locks engage, etc) and since I have a manual I've been stalling it out instead. This prob isn't great to do regularly, so I've been thinking of a way to just cut the engine. Maybe a fuel pump switch or a dual ignition system (engine on one, everything else on the other) Prob not worth the trouble but it's been on my mind. Any thoughts, ideas?
Thanks!

 

[Burns]

I dont think it will be worth the trouble. You are really not wasting much gas just sitting there at the light.

 

[KPT]

I also think its more trouble than its worth. You could put a relay on the 12+ wire to the coil pack though. Won't run with no spark. You would still lose the radio when you turn the key to start. You could wire the ignition wire to it so its hot always but then you would have to turn the radio off every time you parked.

 

[DeRocha]

IMO I think it wouldn't be worth pursuing for the reasons stated by the other posters as well as the additional wear and tear on your starter. I have a fuel pump cut off switch in my X. The mod is fairly easy to do, but doesn't kill the engine right away (5-10secs) as the engine will run until the fuel line pressure to the point the engine stalls out. For info and pics of this mod take a peek at Fuel pump Kill Switch install see my posts beginning at #18

 

[BrooklynBay]

Vehicles with an integrated alternator/starter have a set up like this. It kills the engine at a light, then starts up when you tap on the accelerator pedal. Hybrids use a similar system which only allows the electric motor to run until about 25 MPH or possibly less until the gasoline engine kicks in.

 

[budwich]

yes but those systems were designed from the start to handle this and even with that, there isn't alot of "run time" and "data points" to indicate how much life expectancy the components will have in this mode. You might save 400-500 dollars on gas over the life span of the vehicle but have to spend $500 in parts. In addition, start up of a "normal" engine is probably one of it poorest performance times in terms of fuel usage, oil distribution, and a few of things like "misfiring" which can't be good in "continual" usage mode. But hey, green got to be good. I can hardly wait for the government to mandate a "retrofit" of all existing vehicles to "save gas and reduce your carbon foot print".

 

[mikesparky]

I actually got the idea from my mother's hybrid escape. =o] I'd do the mod if I broke even over the long run just to be a little more "green". Do you think there's a way to switch over to one of these dual alternator/starter systems?

 

[BrooklynBay]

GM has this for a while. I think Delphi makes them.

 

[mikesparky]

Thanks Brooklyn, I found writeups for the new ones coming out this year from Delphi so I guess I'll have to wait a bit. Didn't see any others available with a quick search, I'll look harder later.

 

[Ray Lobato]

I believe that you actually use more gas starting up your truck than a hybrid car or truck does, because of the setup. I don't think that hybrids have a normal starter, not to mention the drain on the battery and starter of a normal gas engine. The gas engine turns over by the hybrids electric motor, which is already in motion, or something like that.

 

[BrooklynBay]

That's correct about the hybrid not using a starter. They don't have a flywheel either, or a starter solenoid. The Prius only has a start button on the dashboard because a key switch isn't necessary to turn to a crank position. They use an electronic transponder key with a built in code so nobody could start it unless they have that key. They key also automatically unlocks the doors when you get close to it.

 

[mikesparky]

Definitely right, I've been doing some reading and the combo alternator/starters use a belt powered by an electric motor to turn over the engine and start things up.
I don't have data to back this up, but I've heard that if you're going to idle for more than ten seconds you'd use less gas starting up than leaving the engine on.

Still think it'd be a cool mod, but really far back on the to do list . =o]

 

[BrooklynBay]

You might find this helpful: http://www.delphi.com/manufacturers/auto/powerelectronics/stopstart/. It contains 2 PDFs on the 14 volt, and 42 volt alternator/starter combos.

 

[mikesparky]

Thanks Brooklyn, this is what I was looking at. Just have to wait until they're available I guess. If it doesn't cost more than my truck is worth...