Start / Power Disable

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(phelper @ Aug 9 2007, 03:47 PM) [snapback]492885[/snapback]</div>

My bet is to install a toggle switch through the brake lamp switch line.

Ken@Japan

 

I've been wanting to implement a similar switch myself since I've been doing a lot of work on the car and would like a quick way to disconnect-reconnect the battery.

My thinking is to insert a switch on the ground wire from the 12V battery to the car chassis. It's a very short wire. You can easily see it and access it by removing the right rear cover.

I haven't tried it yet and would like to hear from the experts on this forum whether that should work.

 

My favorite place is the fuel pump but I don't think it's a good idea with this car.

I'd run one off the ING wire in the fuse box. That way you can get to it easily and you won't lose your settings when you flip the switch.

 

I've played with disconnecting the fuel pump, and was thinking of a
permanent kill switch to try and help simulate out-of-fuel conditions
for tech training and the like. The fuel pump wire passes through
the connector blocks under the leftmost kick panel next to the
driver's footwell.
.
But it sounds like the stated question involves keeping the location
of the switch a deep dark secret. If the elderly person in question
thinks it's capable of driving, why would it not be able to scrape
up enough clue to find the switch? Unless you make it some sort of
well-protected keylock thing..
.
_H*

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(hobbit @ Aug 9 2007, 11:01 AM) [snapback]493098[/snapback]</div>

I really really doubt it - I sometimes think I'm intelligent I would have a hard time figuring out that there's a kill switch in the first place and it's not a mechanical problem, let alone finding a somewhat hidden switch.

 

Would using a FOB work? That way anyone who does not have one would not be able to start the car? Or am I missing something here? In fact I use two FOB's one for me and one for my wife and I don't have any problem with "elderly women" stealing my car.

Ok now someone explain this to me. Do you want to leave the FOB in the car? I think that will run down both the FOB battery and the accessory battery.

Also, the 12 Volt battery being cut off from the car would be bad for the clock and I think you might get a red triangle too.



I do have a traction battery lock out on my car I use when charging so the car can't be driven off while plugged in. I think it could be adapted to run off the accessory battery and a magnetic switch placed under the dash.

All you would have to do is put a magnet in the right place and the car would start, but I think the FOB would be easer. Move the magnet while driving and you would get a big red triangle.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(ken1784 @ Aug 8 2007, 11:59 PM) [snapback]492887[/snapback]</div>

Ken, doing so would prevent "ready" mode, but the woman could still place the car into "ign-on" mode.

Leaving the car in that mode would run down the 12v battery. (Or could it run down the traction battery?)

 

Yeah, what cheap said: why not just keep the fobs with the child and the caregiver, and not leave any at grandma's house?

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(phelper @ Aug 9 2007, 11:50 PM) [snapback]493403[/snapback]</div>

That sounds like a good mod. Basically when you press the start button the car is not reading it because of your kill switch. However, if you are driving and you flip your switch by accident, I don't know what would happen. Would the car just stay on and not shut off when you press the start button, or will it shut the car off? I don't know it if the Prius must continue to receive a signal from the start butting or if it is just an “off or on†thing.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(phelper @ Aug 9 2007, 11:50 PM) [snapback]493403[/snapback]</div>

Very elegant solution. Where did you hide the toggle switch?

BTW, disabling the 12V battery wouldn't work well for your situation because it'd reset your system settings every time. Come to think of it, my idea of inserting a switch in the ground wire may not be that great if the switch is installed near the battery, behind the inner wall of the trunk. If you have it switched off and close the hatch, you're kinda screwed!!!

 

Solve the correct problem: The woman must not drive.

Place the fobs into a lockbox. Give the lockbox keys only to the children and caregiver.

Don't alter the car; why risk the possibility of problems during normal driving or during service?

You have a more serious problem if the woman is left unattended. She can walk out of her house and become lost. It has happened here in my county twice in the past twelve months. Last year, a man wandered off; after a 48-hour manhunt, he was found in a canyon with only minor bruises. They mobilized everyone including local California National Guard troops.

Several months ago, a woman walked off. She has never been found.

Please be sure this woman is not left alone...there can be a tragedy.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(zenMachine @ Aug 10 2007, 10:47 AM) [snapback]493518[/snapback]</div>

Somewhere in the car I'll bet!!! :lol: :lol: :lol:

Perhaps the OP shouldn't release this info in the event the demented is cognitive enough to read PC!

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(phelper @ Aug 10 2007, 01:50 PM) [snapback]493403[/snapback]</div>

That's a perfect solution, I think, and no ill effect can be seen.
The white-black line is just for GROUND signal.
Pushing the START button means you send the GROUND signal to the ECU. You can't do anything when the white-black line is open (your switch is off even on Prius running).

As Rick wrote, my brake switch line method can't eliminate to move to ACC or IGN-ON mode.

Ken@Japan

 

OK So this house has only the old lady living there? The car is there only for the caretaker or kids to use once they have already driven there? I think we're making up hypotheticals before thinking through the scenario. If a person can't be trusted to drive, take away their license and tell them not to drive, how hard is that.

 

When someone suffers from dementia (aka Alzheimer's), you can't just tell them not to drive. They can't remember that they're prohibited or don't have a driver's license. She may just think things are normal and take the car out.

But there are other, more serious situations if she's left alone. She can go out for a walk and wanders away, lost. It happens quite often.

Another risk is that she puts something on the stove and forgets about it, starting a fire.

This problem is really larger than just disabling the car. Her children are putting her at risk by leaving her unattended.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Rick Auricchio @ Aug 11 2007, 08:49 PM) [snapback]494130[/snapback]</div>

I would think just figuring out how to get the prius running would be tricky enough to deter her from trying to drive. I know that if she doesn't have access to the keys she won't be able to try to get in and drive.