Remote starter switch

[Belize]

I know it is a starter because, well I started the engine with it. I will post a photo as soon as I get the van back from being detailed after a long trip through Mexico.

[Belize]

Sorry, been on assignment. Here is a photo of the mystery switch. It does start the engine. The button to start is on the fat end, wires to starter come out thin end. This just doesn’t look like a temporary addition with all the wrapping and tie wraps.

[Twoxentrix]

If I'm not mistaken, the wiring is attached to one of the side-step brackets someplace just forward of the barn doors? I'm wondering...and just thinking outside the box here,
***if you have a flat plate water heater & and outdoor shower hook-up, is it possible previous owner installed the switch so anytime they wanted to use the shower (with hot water) they could just flip the switch without having to go inside the cab (for some reason - wet/dirty/etc)???
***Guess if you have a rear A/C the same principle could apply.
***They spent a considerable amount of time working underneath on something which just made it more convenient???
***Van has an Air Compressor underneath they used frequently, so starting the engine supplemented battery amp draw???
***Using Inverter for 110 outlet a lot, again engine running would supplement battery amp draw???

In any case, I'd of arranged the installation much differently - but thats just me.

[BrianW]

Have you traced the wires up to see where they connect? I’d do that and completely disconnect it. I see no reason to have it there. I still agree with @shenrie that it’s probably a temporary mechanic’s starter switch that someone wired in more permanently for some strange reason.

[TomsBeast]

Once upon a time, while trouble shooting my neighbor's 1970 Chevelle, that would intermittently 'fail to start', I wired up a similar back up starter switch so the car wouldn't leave him stranded again. It also helped us properly diagnose the 'no start' issue, that would never happen on Saturday afternoon in his driveway, but only happen at the most inopportune time possible, running late for work, headed out on a date, out in some remote area away from a pay phone.



We eventually disassembled the steering column and replaced the ignition switch, but the culprit could have just as easily been the starter solenoid or connector, or starter itself.



The temporary bypass helped us diagnose the issue without just 'replacing random shit until the symptoms go away', that oft used methodology so prevalent in car repair these days.

[carringb]

When I had some German friends visiting, they broke the shift interlock on their E350. They hadn't driven an automatic before, and didn't know about needing to hold the brake to shift out of park. But... this ending up wiping out the ignition interlock as well. Because this happened about 30 min before leaving for a 2-week roadtrip, we wired one of those switches directly under the hood so the trip could go on.

Fast forward to 3 weeks later after dragging a trailer around the country, and the brake fluid got low. Low enough to trigger the low-fluid sensor under hard stops. Which stalls the van when you come to a stop, as a safety. Guess what happened when it stalled out on highway in Los Angeles, and the driver hopped out to hit the start button under the hood? He had accidentally thrown the shifter into reverse, not park. And with the safeties all bypass, it started right up and took off backwards without him...

Anyways... if you aren't having any intermittent no-start conditions now, I'd remove it, so you don't run yourself over if you forget to put it in park.

[Vanimal]

Originally Posted by Twoxentrix

If I'm not mistaken, the wiring is attached to one of the side-step brackets someplace just forward of the barn doors? I'm wondering...and just thinking outside the box here,
***if you have a flat plate water heater & and outdoor shower hook-up, is it possible previous owner installed the switch so anytime they wanted to use the shower (with hot water) they could just flip the switch without having to go inside the cab (for some reason - wet/dirty/etc)???
***Guess if you have a rear A/C the same principle could apply.
***They spent a considerable amount of time working underneath on something which just made it more convenient???
***Van has an Air Compressor underneath they used frequently, so starting the engine supplemented battery amp draw???
***Using Inverter for 110 outlet a lot, again engine running would supplement battery amp draw???

In any case, I'd of arranged the installation much differently - but thats just me.

What about ignition. It will crank but without ignition on it will just crank!