Converting a Key Ignition To Starter Button
 

Hi Guys.

Truck I have has a key ignition to start it. There is 4 wires soldered onto the side of the ignition barrel, then a 2 pin plug that pushes onto a 2 pin contact to the other side of the barrel..

Im presuming the 2 pin plug is what fires the starter, and the other 4 are ignition related.

Ideally want to rip the key ignition barrel out completely, and replace this with a push in stick barrel.....then have a starter button to actually fire the old girl.

Does anybody have a link to a company that could sell these push in stick ignition barrels? Is it just a case of transfering the 4 soldered wires onto the new barrel, then relocating the 2 pin plug to the starter button......looks fairly simple but wondered if anybody has done this before. Ive seen alot of trucks that have this system, perhaps less security thats true but eliminates the key getting lost and the key barrel ****ing up.

Thanks for any advice.

Hi dave,

disconnect the wires from the barrel and put a multi meter on it to find which poles are which then Maplin sell the stuff you need.

Components : Switches : Push Switches : Maplin Electronics

Graeme

Hi Graeme,

Thanks for the link. Have found out which wires are doing what so pretty happy the relocation of the wires is okay. Just looking for a new ignition stick barrell.......I basically want one that doesnt turn....I want one where you just push a special key straight in, no 3 or 4 positions if you turn the key, this is what I want to avoid.

Pushing this special key in completes the circuit and brings ignition on, then press button to start.

I did the conversion a few weeks back, here is some information if anybody needs it.

This was for a 1990 Mercedes 1617 NG, OM366 engine. I think alot of Mercedes models from this era were the same in terms of wiring, so may be useful for 1017's and unimogs etc

As it existed before:

Remove trim around sterring column below steering wheel (4 long bolts), this exposes the steering lock mechanism, built into which is also the ignition wiring and ignition barrel.

On the left hand side are 3 wires soldered on.....one red (constant feed), one black (turns ignition electrics on). and a black/yellow wire which runs to 86 on the starter relay to fire the starter motor.

On the right hand side of the mechanism above the ignition barrel is a 2 prong wire plug (both black from memory)......these will cause the steering lock to come on (connect them and disconnect them with the ignition on and you will hear a click in the mechanism, this is firing the steering lock pin).

So, I completely removed the whole mechanism (will have to use a grinder to cut it off unless you have a special tool, the 2 bolts have a peculiar shaped head). Therefore the 2 prong plug is no longer needed as I have removed the steering lock (I dont want it as it could be a real pain to be in the ass end of nowhere and find its jammed on and you've lost or snapped the ignition key!)

I then got an earlier Mercedes NG ignition switch that can be mounted through a hole in the dash. It has a unique shaped key, which is pushed in.....once in, the ignition becomes live. There is no need to turn the key to position 1 or 2 UNLESS you want to wire your headlights onto the additional attachements........but our 1617 has a seperate switch for headlights so there is no need to do this.

So red wire goes to one side of the barrel, black goes to another port which becomnes live when key is pushed in (brings electrics on), then run an additional red wire from the other main port of the ignition barrel to one side of your starter button, then connect the exisiting black/yellow wire to the other side of the starter button to trigger the starter relay when you press the new starter button.

Very primitive and simple, and removes the danger of steering lock coming on when you dont have the key......true, you could just remove the 2 prong plug so the steering lock pin never fires, but the way ive done it now also removes the danger of snapping the ignition key, as with the different ignition switch/barrel I have installed, you dont need to turn the key, just push it in and then push the start button.

Hope some of that helps anybody who wants to do the same.