Kill switch nearly killed me…

Are you using both of your heater controls next to the emergency brake? My Speedster only utilized one, and the other one controls the fuel pump- it's hiding in plain sight

You could hook up an idiot light (what pilots call an annunciator light) to remind you the switch is off.

You might have to substitute a double-throw switch for the one that's in there now (if it isn't already double-throw) and get power from the accessory tab on the ignition switch to make this work.

There are some unused idio... uh, I mean annunciator lights in the combi gauge just waiting to be used for stuff like this.

So your kill switch disables the fuel pump?  My kill switch disconnects the battery in the front of the car from the engine/starter(basically everything).  I also take the kill switch key with me.  This also can be handy working on the electrics.  Are we talking about 2 different things.  Is your kill switch for theft deterrence?

Hook it up to your coil instead, that way it won't start at all,  just a little embarrassing when there is a group of admirers watching and you forget.   Ask me how I know. 

Phil IM356D posted:

So your kill switch disables the fuel pump?  My kill switch disconnects the battery in the front of the car from the engine/starter(basically everything).  I also take the kill switch key with me.  This also can be handy working on the electrics.  Are we talking about 2 different things.  Is your kill switch for theft deterrence?

Yes... In my case, I'd say it's for theft-deterrence. 

It's to stymie the joy-rider who's been lucky enough to hotwire the car and get a quarter-mile down the road, where I know he'll then have to get out and start walkin'.

Simple pleasures.

Believe the "Kill Switch" ought to kill everything.  It's what I have.  And yes even so, I have gotten in the car and hit the starter, and given an audible WTF when nothing happens. Oh f*$#, battery dead again??  And then a light dawns: check the kill switch, you dummy.  My further understanding is that these gizzies were put in race cars so that all the possible sparkies you might get in an accident could be doused in one flick of the finger, and so reduce the chances of a fire.

Been lots of talk off and on here about theft prevention, and how often that theft might be a real problem for a Speedster.  General consensus is that thefts are very rare or non-existent.  Car can't really be physically secured, so having a kill switch, or taking the coil wire with you are very popular approaches.  Using your time-delay method is a new one on me.  Would only be useful if you had opportunity to pursue, and then apprehend/kick ass.

I can see the benefit to what Cory has, Kelly. The guy gets the car started, thinks it's an easy joy ride and then it dies in the middle of the road, attracting attention just where you don't want to be in a stolen car (especially something as recognizable as a Speedster).

If a guy couldn't start it and saw the car in the neighborhood on even a semi-regular basis it might become a challenge, to figure out what's defeating him. It dying after getting it started would just present another hurdle. I think the thing seemingly starting fairly easily and then dying on him out in the open 30 seconds after getting it started would be more of an "oh sh*t" moment and he'd be hoofing it out of there as fast as he could. (I think) he'd be less likely to have the presence of mind to look for a fuel switch and just be thinking about not getting caught. Al

PS- all that said, you're right; these cars don't get stolen all that often. They're too recognizable (it's not like you can drive around in it all day and no one will notice), not too many kids drive stick these days, and there's not enough of a market for the parts. 

PPSS- All that said, a hidden GPS tracker would be the trick should your baby ever disappear with a stranger....

Best theft (and break and enter) deterrent remains:

Hot VW's once did a series of theft prevention articles- the tiger they got to sit in a bug has him beat hands down...

Unless you have a manual shifter lock and a pedal lock, a hidden main cut off switch and fuel pump kill switch ....there are a few of us that can borrow your ride in 20 seconds or less ........My HS Principal really got tired of me firing up his 62 Beetle and parking it under the school flag pole :~)

My security list:  Main cut off switch, Fuel pump switch, Steering column lock (always lock with wheels turned)  a small piece of wooden dowel between the coil wire and dizzy cap center electrode ( in a pinch a piece of branch will suffice) ....A Large Dog ~

ALB posted:

Hot VW's once did a series of theft prevention articles- the tiger they got to sit in a bug has him beat hands down...

uh-huh 

He's gonna be in big trouble when momma finds out he was beatin' up her baby...