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MG MGF Technical Starter Button (S2000) BBS discussion at MG-Cars.net
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MG MGF Technical - Starter Button (S2000)
| I've looked at the archives about fitting a starter button to the ciggy lighter hole on the F. Seems that the S2000 button looks rather nice. Has anyone actually done this and got some pictures of it? Thanks Paul |
| Paul Lucas |
| Que Richard P... ;-) SF |
| Scarlet Fever |
| Did I hear my name? Paul, It's very easy if you have a small knowledge of electrical. The cig lighter has 12V and 0V to power it. Conviently they only become live when the ignition is in the engine run position. If the honda switch has a high enough current rating (5A+) then you only need to connect the +12V to the switch and the other side of the switch can be spliced into the appropriate wire on the ignition loom. Cable is fed down past the gear stick and upto the steering colomn. If the switch is lower than 5A, then you have to add a relay, such that the coil is connected to 0V and the other end of the coil to one side of the switch. The other side of the switch connects to 12V. Also the +12V connects to one side of the relay contacts and the other side of the relay contact connects to the ignition loom. It is an easy job, taking about 20mins. HTH |
| Richard P |
| PS my wiring skills are better than my spelling ;-) Conviently = conveniently upto = up to colomn = column |
| Richard P |
| Picture of Pascal's installation of an S2000 switch in place of the fag lighter: http://gallery.mg-rover.org/data/3095/690009.jpg He's got a very very nice looking car interior there, one has to admit! :o) |
| Rob Bell |
| Cheers Guys - a few more questions: Richard P - assuming that no relay is needed (what does a relay actually do?) they way you have described wiring the button up, would the button try to fire the engine if the engine was already running - i.e. if the other half starts fiddling around and accidentially presses it? I bought a button kit for my E30 beemer ages ago and this had a relay - regardless though, if the engine was running and you pressed the button it tried to start the engine!!! Have you any idea which colour wire I need to cut? BTW - where is essex are you from? Rob - do you know whether Pascal had to cut out the dash to make it fit, or did it go straight in. Also, I assume it lights up as well when the ignition is on? Apologies for all the questions. PJL |
| Paul Lucas |
| First off, excuse me if I am slurring. Been down the pub all night! :) A relay is usually used to up the rating of the current switching. ie if a switch was only capable of switching 1 amp, but you needed to switch 20A, you would use the switch to operate a relay and use the relay to switch the 20A. The relay is basically a switch, but controlled with an electrical signal rather than a finger movement. Yes. If the other half pushed it whilst the engine was running, the starter would atttemp engage. But this would be the same as if you turned the key to start the engine whilst it was running I'll check which wire it is in the morning. But you don't cut it. You carefullly remove the insulation, attach the new wire, and solder. (just one option). From Chelmsford. Work in Benfleet. If your in the area, and you have the switch, I don't mind fitting it for you. Like I said only bout 20 mins (recruitment drive) I'm part of the Essex Roadsters. It's a meet that happens twice a month, first and third Thursday of the month. First at the Dick turpin A127. third at the Halfway house A127. Good crowd of people, lots of cars. 19:30 onwards. Where abouts are you in the land of Essex? Come down, they are very welcoming. |
| Richard P |
| It's the black wire with a white stripe. (Not the white wire with a black stripe) Atleast it is for a 97 F > But you don't cut it. < You can cut it, if you want, but this will disable the normal key switch meaning you can only start it from the button. (I think it's better to have both options, especially when it comes to selling her) |
| Richard P |
| If anyone needs pictures, that's how it can look like (with relay , whole set from chromdesign.de, text in german): http://www.bodi.net/mg/starterknopf/index6.html Regards, Bodi |
| Bodi |
| >assuming that no relay is needed (what does a relay actually do?) For the starter line, the relay (from kit) switches power to a relay (part of immobalizer) which switches power to a soloniod (basicly a big ar*e relay on the starter), so no, you don't need it! |
| Will Munns |
| Also, the www.miata.net homepage has a great walkthrough of installing the S2000 starter button on an MX5/Miata. Just click the Garage section in the links, it explains all kinds of stuff (the wiring, tips and tricks, etc...). Ok, it's not an MG, but there's some useful info in there all right ! |
| Shinigami |
| Will, when I did mine I stuck an ammeter in the line and it drew around 3.5A. So like I said if the switch is less than 5A switching, it's a good idea to fit one. Rich fight fight ;-) |
| Richard P |
| 3.5 Amps on the starter line? http://www.mgfcar.de/schedules/sb12.jpg Are you sure - this seems like a very high current for thowing a relay! Note the line does not run to the solonoid - which I would expect to need that sort of current... |
| Will Munns |
| It spiked at 3.5A and then came down a bit. But it was still in amps not milliamps. Unless my fluke is up the swanny. |
| Richard P |
| Will, I owe you a large apology. Just been out with my trusty fluke, and it's only 0.2A peak. Guess I must have had a dodgy flue back when I fitted the switch. ;-) So forget the relay. Rich |
| Richard P |
| Much more like it - cheers you had me worried about the midget ! |
| Will Munns |
| From the archives: >> Posted 30 August 2003 at 14:01:54 UK time PPO Pascal, Luxembourg, pascal.poncelet@victor-buck.com I've installed an Honda S2000 starterbutton to my TF. Pictures and a small description can be found on this german site: http://www.roadstervision.de/technik/modifikationen/starterknopf/starterknopf.htm Here's a small translation of the installation: Besides the Starterbutton you will also need a 30 Ampere Relay and some fuses. You'll find all the information needed on the following sites: http://www.angelfire.com/mac/brb/brbindex.html http://www.angelfire.com/mac/brb/brbindex.html http://www.paladinmicro.com/MiataRelays.htm http://www.scuderiaciriani.com/rx7/start_button_installation.html >From the Starterbutton I only used 3 of the 5 pins: 1 -> connect to pin #86 of the relay 2 -> connect through a 5A fuse with the Yellow/Black wire of the keylock 3 -> connect to an earthpoint of the bodyshell 4 -> not used 5 -> not used The relay is connected as follows: Pin #30 -> through a 30A fuse with the white/brown wire of the keylock Pin #85 -> connect to an earthpoint of the bodyshell Pin #86 -> connect to Pin #1 of the S2000 Starterbutton Pin #87 -> connect to the white/red wire from the keylock Hope this is of any help for you Cheers... Pascal E-mail: pascal.poncelet@victor-buck.com << |
| Rob Bell |
| >> Rob - do you know whether Pascal had to cut out the dash to make it fit, or did it go straight in. Also, I assume it lights up as well when the ignition is on? << Paul, from Pascal's website mentioned above, translated from German to English: "I inserted the starter button in place of the cigarette lighter. For this one must file away all superfluous parts around the starter button housing, so that it becomes 'round.'" So no, it appears that the lighter hole in the dash trim needs no modification. However, it appears that Pascal has not chosen to illuminate the switch. Not sure which of the un-used pins on the switch (#4 or #5) would be responsible for illumination? |
| Rob Bell |
| Bodi, just translated your site - it's excellent! :o) Very very good step by step instructions, well worth following! German to English translation: http://babelfish.altavista.digital.com/babelfish/trurl_pagecontent?lp=de_en&url=http%3a%2f%2fwww.bodi.net%2fmg%2fstarterknopf%2findex.html Not Bodi's fault that the Altavista translator comes up with such creaky translations! LOL |
| Rob Bell |
| Guys - thanks for your help, especially...... Richard P - I grew up in Chelmsford (now live in Witham with the other half) and work in the City. Know about the Essex Roadsters as SF and Mr Bell has told me about them via email. Be there soon once I get the button and the K&N fixed. Rob - helpful as ever. Collated all the links and info to work out exactly what I need to do. You're right - the translation was quite funny in some places! Seems to be mixed views about the relay issue. Most installations include it, so I guess it can't hurt to add it anyway. Apologies for the late response. I was keeping and eye out all day at work, but it was very busy so couldn't reply until now. PJL |
| Paul Lucas |
| @Rob Bell: Thanks very much for the translation, und even more for the laughter we all have here in the office this morning ... Have fun - with your MG! Bodi |
| Michael "Bodi" Bodmer |
| Paul, let us all know how you get on! Bodi - LOL - the Altavista Babelfish is legendary for it's translating power - or rather lack of it!!! What's always fun is to run the translation back and forth... i.e. translate English to German back to English. Guaranteed not to have any resemblance to your original text whatsoever! ;o) |
| Rob Bell |
This thread was discussed between 26/04/2004 and 28/04/2004
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