Probably every driver wanted to make his car a little more comfortable in terms of functionality. Some people install a TV in their car, others install additional interior lighting, and there are those who are interested in the engine start button. This button greatly simplifies starting the engine and eliminates inconvenient manipulation of the keys in the ignition switch. In this article we will look at all the options for installing a button to start the engine, and also figure out how to replace the standard button.
What options are there for engine start buttons?
There are various ways to start the engine. Before installing such a button, you need to decide for yourself which option suits you best.
- A little about the key . The first option still involves the participation of the key in starting the engine. To do this, you need to insert the key and turn on the ignition. After this, you need to press the button, which will activate the starter. The ignition is turned off using the key. The second option involves the complete absence of an ignition key. That is, in order to turn on the ignition and start the engine, you only need to use the button.
- Button operation options . Here too there are two options. The first involves holding the button until the starter starts the engine to start the engine. The second launch option involves briefly pressing the button. That is, the button is pressed and released. The starter will rotate until the engine starts and shuts off automatically.
- Ignition control . You can make the button turn on the ignition, and then, together with the brake pedal and pressing it again, you can start the engine. Another method allows you to turn on the ignition along with the starter. Thus, to start the engine, all you have to do is sit in the car and press a single button.
Launch options can be combined, but the composition and complexity of the circuit will differ markedly. Below we will consider the main combinations in ascending order from the easiest to the most difficult.
Installing a start-stop button instead of the ignition switch
It is clear that the first point is more like an imitation of a start-stop button, but for adherents of this idea there is a completely reasonable justification. The button takes on the functions of an additional service mechanism, which is especially valuable in city driving conditions. At the same time, the lock is less likely to break, and the home-grown start-stop may well “earn extra money” as an additional anti-theft feature.
The first start-stop option is simple, but tasteful
The start-stop button can be made from two relays for the rear fog lights, No. 22.3777. A set of two pieces, with a backlit button, will cost about four hundred rubles. You can throw in any diode you find; there are no large currents there.
Starting the engine with a key using a button
This scheme is the most elementary and its use is most common among owners of domestic cars. It has the following operating principle. Without the key, the button cannot be activated. To start the car, you need to insert the key and turn it to position 1. After that, hold down the button and hold it until the starter starts the engine. To stop the motor, you must turn the key to position 0.
To implement this, you need to purchase an ignition relay from a VAZ 2109. It has 4 contacts, two of which are high-current circuit contacts, and the other two are low-current circuit contacts. Connect one of the wires coming from the contacts of the high current circuit to pin 15 on the ignition switch, and the second to pin 30 (the first wire should be pink, and the second red). Attach the third wire (low current circuit) to the vehicle ground, and the second to the positive wire (green wire). A start button is mounted between the relay and the green wire.
You can install the button in any desired location. It is very important that it is located as conveniently as possible and at the same time prevents the engine from starting by accidental touch.
How to connect a three-phase motor via a magnetic starter
Power supply 380 V (three phases) is carried out in the same way, only there will be more power wires.
The contactor includes not one, but three phase lines. In this case, the control button is connected according to a similar circuit (as in the single-phase case).
The illustration shows a starter with a 380 V solenoid control coil. The control circuit is switched between any two phases. For safety, there is a thermal relay, the sensors of which can be located on one or several phase wires.
How to connect a 3-phase contactor with a 220 V starter winding? The circuit is similar, only the control circuit is switched between any of the phases and the neutral wire. The thermal relay works just as accurately, since its mechanism is tied to the temperature of the power cables.
Engine start button using ZPF on relay
This method allows you to get rid of the ignition key and start the engine only with a button. The ZPF relay turns on the rear fog lights on the car. It can be used to start the engine. The red and blue wires go to the starter and ignition relays respectively. The gray wire can be connected to the red one or connected to the ignition contact. The remaining pink wire is connected to the vehicle ground through a thick terminal.
The button illumination is connected to the car alarm system. Thus, as soon as we remove the car from the alarm system, the backlight lamp lights up and signals that the car is allowed to start. After setting the car alarm, the lamp goes out and the voltage is removed from the button, which makes it impossible to start the engine without disabling the alarm.
Circuit operation:
- When the car's security system is turned off, voltage appears at the ZPF relay contact and the button backlight lights up.
- We press the engine start button, at the same time, the ZPF relay is energized, then the ignition relay and the starter relay. Thus, the starter begins to rotate simultaneously with the ignition being turned on.
- After the engine has started, the button is released. It turns out that the starter relay opens and stops it, and the ignition relay continues to work.
- Pressing the button again opens the starter, which stops the engine. Setting the car alarm system turns off the backlight of the button and removes the voltage from it.
Attention! If you decide to exclude the use of the ignition key, then do not forget to remove the mechanical steering lock. Otherwise, you risk losing control of the car due to a locked steering wheel when turning.
How to start a VAZ 2109 without a starter
The good thing about old carburetor cars is that they can work without a battery. Try to remove the battery from a modern foreign car and start it, this will never happen in your life, you will have to either look for a new battery or recharge the old one. With the VAZ 2109 it is much easier in this regard, they started it from a pusher and the car drives easily without a battery. The main thing is not to stall. If you know that your VAZ 2109 has a weak or completely dead battery, then try to park the car on an incline. Then when you come and it doesn’t start, you won’t need to push it, but you can just coast and start it. Although, the VAZ 2109 is a light car and on a flat road, or a little downhill, it can easily be rolled even by one person. So, closer to the point, if you turn the ignition key of the VAZ 2109 and hear the clicking of the retractor relay, or no sounds at all, it means the battery sat down and the car will have to be started from the pushrod. If you have an assistant with you, then this is very good. There is no assistant, it will be harder, but you can do it yourself. The sequence of actions is as follows: 1) Turn on the ignition of the VAZ 2109.
Starting the engine with a button, together with the brake pedal
You can take the same circuit with the rear fog lamp relay as a basis. This scheme now lacks the disadvantages of the previous one - the ability to turn on the ignition separately. The algorithm of actions is as follows:
- Press the button and the ignition turns on.
- We press the brake pedal simultaneously with the button - the starter turns on and starts the engine. To disable the starter, you must release the button or brake pedal.
- Stopping the engine, as in the previous version, is carried out by pressing the same button on the ignition.
Regarding the connection of the brake pedal to the starter circuit. In fact, we are not connecting the pedal, but the pedal contacts, which complete the brake light circuit. This connection method has a significant drawback - if the engine stalls while driving, it can only be started by pressing the brake pedal. It's actually very inconvenient. This method is only applicable to cars with automatic transmission. For mechanics, it is best to place such contacts on the clutch pedal, since when we start the engine, we depress the clutch pedal, not the brake pedal.
Attention! If you used the brake pedal circuit, do not turn off the ignition with the pedal depressed. The fact is that pressing the pedal and the engine start button can turn on the starter, which can become damaged. Perhaps this is the only serious drawback of this scheme.
What's the result?
If the electric starter breaks down, you will need to carry out a number of diagnostic measures and eliminate the malfunction. You can close the unit directly in case of failure of the vehicle's electrical wiring or when carbon deposits form on the platforms.
If another type of breakdown occurs, the internal combustion engine will not be able to start.
When connecting the platforms, make sure that the second end of the rod does not touch the mass of the vehicle. Violation of this rule will result in a short circuit.
Have you ever closed the starter directly with a screwdriver? Tell us about your experience in the comments. Share the article on social networks with your friends and save it in bookmarks so as not to lose useful information.
How to close the starter directly, what to do if the starter does not turn? The author of the video will give the answer:
Video - Keyless engine start button
Other methods
Based on existing circuits, you can design your own. For example, to make a short press of the start button, you need to install a time relay that will turn off the starter with a certain time delay.
The last method is applicable only to experienced electricians - this is connecting a special digital screen with the ability to enter a key into the ignition switch. After this, the engine can be started from the button.
As you can see, there is nothing complicated about connecting the engine start button. A minimum of knowledge of electrical engineering and a little time is enough. We wish you good luck on the road
How can I close the starter directly?
You can close the starter directly by connecting to the battery or through contacts. Both options work if the device’s anchor is not damaged.
Closing the terminals with a screwdriver, pry bar or wrench
If the traction relay is faulty, the direct closure method is used with any metal rod of the required length. This could be a screwdriver, wrench or pry bar. Problems with the retractor are indicated by a characteristic clicking sound when turning the key in the ignition switch. The starter at this moment is unable to crank the crankshaft, since the Bendix teeth do not cling to the flywheel crown. By closing the starter's power terminals, it will be possible to send current directly to the electrical windings. A wrench or screwdriver will take over the functions of the traction relay.
On some car models (VAZ 2109, 2110, 2114), in order to bridge the starter with a screwdriver, you need to dismantle the air filter and disconnect the chip placed on the contact group. After starting the engine, everything comes back together.
Possible consequences
The disadvantage of this method of resuscitating the starter is the risk of burning the car's ignition coil. For this reason, it is not recommended to repeat the procedure - once is enough. If you can’t start the engine, then you need to look for the problem elsewhere.
Another unpleasant moment: at the points where the screwdriver connects to the contacts, regardless of the amperage of the car, a current of 40-50 A is generated. Because of this, the tool rod can become stuck and give a strong kickback to the hand. Solution: without panic, remove the negative terminal with an open-end wrench.
Connecting directly to the battery
A piece of copper cable, alligator clips and a flat plug is all that is needed to directly connect the starter to the battery. These three components are used to assemble a carrier that will make it possible to start the engine. You need to integrate the homemade device with the power cable going to the starter. It has a connector where you need to insert the wire.
Homemade crocodile carrier
If there are no other faults, the starter should work. After starting the power unit, you need to quickly disconnect the terminal from the battery. Pull the manufactured wire out of the connection, replace the removed plug
Everything is done simply, but caution is recommended. Otherwise, you may get burned or short circuit something.
Causes of problems
The most common reason why there may be problems with car silencing may be related to the condition of the batteries. In addition, the electronics in the key fob may be damaged. You cannot use remote controls that are not specified in the system settings. In this case, you can turn off the engine using an additional remote control or by opening the car with the key and entering a password on the control unit.
If the car starts successfully, but after a couple of minutes it turns off and the engine does not start, check how the temperature sensor works. It is located in the engine compartment. In addition, the security system itself may be installed incorrectly, resulting in a problem with autostart.
If the car owner uses a mobile application, the cash balance of the SIM card installed in the alarm system should be monitored. If there is not enough money, SMS commands and the Internet connection will not work.
Contact vulnerability
ATTENTION! A completely simple way to reduce fuel consumption has been found! Don't believe me? An auto mechanic with 15 years of experience also didn’t believe it until he tried it. And now he saves 35,000 rubles a year on gasoline! Read more"
In cars manufactured more than ten years ago, the starter wires are always connected directly to the ignition switch contacts. The engine starts only after the driver turns the ignition key to the extreme position.
This option for connecting the starter is simple and effective. But contacts are always a problem. Moreover, when the starter device is activated, a huge amount of voltage is generated, causing sparking. Where there is a spark, the contacts burn out, oxides accumulate on them, etc. As a result of this, over time, problems arise with starting the engine; motorists are looking for alternative ways to turn on the starter, including directly from the battery.
As you know, in cars of recent years of production, which do not have a button, an additional relay is provided that controls the starter. In this way, the lock contacts are relieved, which now bear less of a load.
- Systems with a separate relay are more reliable because they last longer.
- The ignition switch contacts also “live” much longer.
- An additional relay can always be upgraded.
Advantages and disadvantages
Initially, it seems that the button has a number of advantages. After all, the driver just needs to press it and the car will start. There is no need to turn the key.
But don't rush to conclusions. Also, don’t rush to Aliexpress for a new button. Even though the price of such devices is insignificant, I first advise you to study the strengths and weaknesses of such a step. Let's start with the advantages, which include the following:
- There is no need to use a key every time you want to start a car engine;
- The button launch scheme is extremely simple;
- Installation is possible on many cars;
- The level of comfort increases;
- Start-Stop can be linked quite effectively to the alarm and immobilizer;
- The price of the button is low;
- Many drivers can install the system themselves, relying on instructions and video lessons;
- The work takes no more than a few hours.
Everything looks very rosy and promising. But take your time. There are pitfalls here.
The driver will have to press the brake to start. Not the most familiar scheme, which will take some getting used to. There are also difficulties in installing an alarm system with an autostart system, where the engine start button is located.
