Starter "Button"

I _so_ don't get it.

Why add an extra step to starting the car?

What's wrong with the "starter button" that's built into the ignition switch assembly?

Well, it's not logical obviously but it's just sort of "retro cool" for lack of a better term. To each his own.

Chris

Based on my experiences, I would be wary. For some reason beyond me, starter buttons on the miata need a very good earth or you get into trouble starting. This one does not seem to have one. Also, note that if the button is accidentally touched during driving it will supposedly do major damage.

On one long trip along Route 66 deserts, I suffered random starting problems, which did not make me particularly happy in view of my reluctance to be stranded in impossibly hot deserts. It was always a challenge whether the car would start, and when. Near the end of the trip, I discovered that the earth on my big red starter button had come loose. Since I had already become increasingly wary of the possibility of the button being depressed with the engine running, my answer was to take the entire thing off. Bingo, no more starting problems.

I later replaced it with the KG Works one, which has a lock-out and is located in a spot where good earths are readily available. The KG Works also allows me to use ignition I or II at choice (say, to raise the power windows without turning on the radio.) or take the steering wheel from the lock without turning on any electrical circuits.

Further, both the big red button and the KG Works came with a plug and play connector. I would be wary of having to splice into my starter and ignition wires (which, despite the apparent claim of "connectors" it seems to me you will have to do; the Miata does not have spade connectors there AFAIK.) My policy has become "solder and wrap thoroughly"; the patent connectors always seem to fail before long for me.

Leon

The starter button requires no earth connection. It's a simple momentary switch connecting the starter solenoid to battery voltage. I agree major damage can occur if it is depressed while the engine running. Personally, I think it's a waste of money and time that would be better spent driving the car.

But they all come with an earth, and not for nothing. Based on my actual experiences, they need them; they will not start the car reliably if they do not. Like, as I mentioned, the earth becomes disconnected.

If anybody can educate us *why* they need an earth to start the car, please do. I can only guess at random. Inductance? Capacitance? Static voltage? To the ECU?

Leon

Anyone know where I can get a crank handle fot the retro-extreme look?

The only reason a starter switch might need an earth (ground) is if it's wired to connect one terminal of the starter relay to ground, rather than interrupting the +12vdc feed.

That would be exactly the same as activating the starter with the stock switch while the engine is running.

-- Larry

No earth is required, nor is it provided. There is none on the push button that is referenced in this thread. I question your experience with push buttons because mine is very different.

I prefer "rope-pull" lawn mower look LOL

I always liked the "pull-to-start" button in my MGA... never thought about why it was a pull rather than push, the above might be the answer - harder to accidentally trigger.

miker

Untrue. In that case it would not have started the car at all.

Except the stock switch is *much* more difficult to activate accidentally.

Leon

Well, the manufacturer of my re button must now know his/her own product then.

True, That is why I warned the OP about this push button.

You are free to do so, but the facts are beyond dispute. My starter button came with an earth. When the earth got loose, starting became a random event. This was observed for several weeks several times a day until I finally caught on.

Facts are funny things. :)

Leon

Actually, facts are rather boring. It's observations and conclusions that are funny.

Apparently you either don't understand basic electricity, or you don't comprehend English well.

A starter switch activates the starter by completing the circuit providing 12vdc to the starter relay or solenoid. It can do so by completing the circuit in one of two ways:

1. If the negative side of the relay coil is permanently wired to ground, the switch must provide +12vdc to the positive side of the coil. In this case, no ground is required at the switch; the ground side of the circuit is permanently completed.
2. If the positive side of the coil is permanently wired to +12vdc, the switch can apply 12vdc to the coil by connecting the negative side of the coil to ground. The +12vdc connection is permanently completed. In this case, the switch connects the negative side of the coil to either a solid ground or a direct wire to the negative side of the battery. The +12vdc connection is permanently completed.

The second possibility is the one I posited above.

-- Larry

Looking at the wiring diagram it doesn't look like lack of earth would be a stopper as the starter requires 12v not earth. Also if wired in correctly any switch would be protected by the existing interlocks. One reason for an earth might be spark suppression for the switch as the starter solenoid represents a highly inductive load. However it looks like there is some setup in the starter motor for combating this already.

Maybe I was incorrect then to ascribe the starting problems to the loose earth then. At the time I was so POD that I took the entire thing out instead of experimenting.

I guess it might have been a coincidence that the earth came loose at the same time that the button developed some second problem. Though I still have no clue what other problem. The button had a connector plugging between the ignition key connectors and I guess one of the wires could have developed a poor connection in the heat. Though I still have no clue why this then would only show up during starting and not driving.

Leon

I just turn the ignition on, put 'er in neutral, release the parking brake, start rolling to about 5 mph, put 'er in 2nd, disengage the clutch, and off we go. No starter button (or battery) needed...

Adding a starter button to a perfectly good starting switch on the ignition is like mounting a windshield wiper on a duck's ass. Why do it? Just one more redundant feature to fail and leave you stranded. Just my two cents. Love the '06' MX-5. Can't wait to own one!