Unfortunately it looks like I have some people in my new neighborhood paying a little too much attention to my 96 XJ and for the first time I'm feeling a need to add some security system(s) to old yeller. She's stock and still looks great so it's no wonder someone hasn't tried something before now. I think just a basic remote arm system would do, not interested at all in remote start or unlock. I'm not familiar with modern alarm systems, but here's what I 'think' I need...

- Door switches for all 5 doors. Probably a PITA to install but that's only an initial idea.
- 'Bump' alarm (not sure what it would be called) for if a window breaks or if something is jarred
- Geo-location function like a low track or something similar

Additionally I'd like to install possibly 2 start kill switches. I'm not sure where inline these are normally installed but my impression is that directly in line with the key ignition switch would be common. But then what if someone jumps the starter with a screwdriver...would this type of switch work in that instance? So that leads me to the idea of a second ignition kill switch which would either be wired between the battery and starter motor, or between the starter motor and ground.

And last...security lugs.

So am I over thinking this here? What's your recommendation for what I really need and maybe a good but economic alarm system that can get this done?

 

Personally, I would say you are overthinking things a bit. I lived many years in NM, where vehicle theft is a real and persistent problem in many locations...and a theft attempt was made on my XJ at one point. (Not knocking NM, love it and would move back in a heartbeat).

In my opinion, all you really need is something to disable the vehicle. There is an ancient Clifford disabler (not alarm) that I like and has worked for me in the past. I've also come to really like the Revelco devices. They do the same thing.

You can install an alarm if you'd like - personally I don't think they do much. If someone is going to break a window or jimmy a lock, they are going to do it. For me it's less about keeping someone out of the vehicle and more about keeping them from taking it.

A switch in-line with the starter motor is a bad idea. That's a high current application and you don't really want to pipe that into and out of the cabin. If you want to pursue that route, look into a 200A 12VDC contactor. It's basically a big relay for high-amperage loads. You can reasonably switch the contactor in the cabin, and all the high-amperage stuff remains in the engine bay.

In the meantime, you can pop the hood any time you park and pull the starter and/or fuel pump relays. A bit of a pain, but very effective.

Security lugs are a toss up. I have them on one of my vehicles, as the wheels are large and expensive. I don't bother with the stock steel Jeep wheels.

 

no immobiliser in a '96, so makes them a bit easier to steal

If you have a smart phone, I would certainly get one of those new-fangled setups that alert you to the movement and location of the vehicle,
some can even disable the vehicle, suprisingly cheap now

a kill switch would normally be on the ignition or fuel pump circuit

I had one that went off if there was movement inside the vehicle, trouble is, no one gives a fig when a vehicle alarm goes off nowadays, mainly false alarms etc

the worst vehicle i ever owned, got stolen a few times, I had bodged some wires to keep it running, and it broke down on the thieves, causing them to abandon it in the middle of the road with doors open

 

NM Yes I've def put some though into this but the reason is the ppl looking at her are the mechanically inclined type of redneck that would know to pull it off before you even knew it. I was having serious reservations about running that kind of current into the cabin just like you mentioned so thanks for that relay advice. Gets the same job done and saves running all that heavy line at the same time. I'll check into the Clifford and Revelco things.

awg Yes I'm looking forward to seeing how much the price has come down on those tracker systems. Trade in value isn't much anymore but sentimental value couldn't be higher. I'm lucky she's parked in a place where you never hear car alarms go off so if something happened it would attract attention from a fair number of neighbors. Everyone around here is nosy af..

 

Personally I wouldn't be trying to "tamper" into the starter system main feed, just the trigger feed if anything. I know the trigger feed can be bypassed with a short across the starter itself but, if anything ever went wrong with what you put in place, you can always get it started with a short across the starter. If for example the relay failed, you'd have no way of easily bypassing it. This leads onto what I'd personally do.

Depending on how many switches you want to add, the PDC has many relays, Auto-Shutdown, Fuel, Starter. The trigger for these circuits could easily be interupted by a switch which would stop many different curcuits from operating. Here's an example (Wiring diagram is '95 RHD so colours and fuses may differ):




If you were to cut into the wire that gives the ASD relay it's power feed and run that wire to and from a secret switch, no matter what the PCM wants, it cannot turn the relay on without the switch in the ON position. The ASD relay not operating will kill (cut off in image) the generator, ignition coil and all 6 injectors.

As the '96 is an odd year, there aren't many wiring diagrams about so I couldn't go through and find exactly the colours that you'd need to do this. If you decide that you'd like to give it a go I'd be more than happy to try and guide you through working out which colour wire it is though. It would mean removing the PDC, working out which connector it is under the relay, and then find out out which colour that is. From there it'd be cut into that wire and run your switch wires to and from.

One last thing about the starter, if you only kill the ingition but allow the starter to still spin, unless you also fit an alarm, there's your potential only audible warning that someone's trying to steal it.

 

I'd really like to add a kill switch to my 96 but it sounds like quite the task.

 

Yeah, kill switch on the ASD relay would do the trick. They'd crank away but it wouldn't start. Normally you don't need to add door switches. Most aftermarket alarms just connect to one of the door switches, so they go off if any doors open. You might add a hood switch though - a tilt switch being the simplest to install and it can detect if someone raises the front to tow it. I don't know that I'd bother with a motion sensor. If it's sensitive enough to go off with someone fiddling with the door, it's going to go off when you don't want it too..

 

the widest used sensor would be a proximity sensor - but you see all those alarms going off in parking lots for no reason right? Super annoying!

sure , there are smartphone apps and disables of all kinds out now

but the truth is I don’t think anyone’s gonna bother bringing tools to jack a Jeep Cherokee lol

best thing you could do is either put a relay/switch on the asd system somehow or put an switch on the entire electrical system like race cars have .

if it were my personal xj?

I think I might put a relay on the crankshaft position sensor wires and really hide the relay enough to where nobody bit you can find it but it’s easy enough to replace if need be, we all know for a fact that xj isn’t going anywhere at that point lol

 

Now that is a good idea. I may do that. Tap into the sensor wire so you're not messing with the factory wiring and it's by the firewall so it's easy to run a wire in.

 

Crank and cam position sensor wires are usually shielded to protect from noise. I would stick with blocking power distribution relays like fuel pump and ASD.

 

Nonsense.

one rocker switch in line is going to do nothing besides break the 0-5v pulse when you want it to. That’s it.

 

Best Idea I've heard so far.

 

Well,tapping in is kind of asking for a problem , in mobile electronics we never use the t taps or anything of the sort because of that.That may not be what you meant I’m not sure but I don’t recommend it.

HOWEVER I will look around on my jeeps and gladly find a way to do this In a professional manner which is reliable and professional, possibly with the same shape male/female-female/male plug Pattern so that it is in line and corrosion resistant/reliable connection etc, it’s not exactly a marketable product for obvious reasons-but sounds Like a fun Project to me.

(I’m looking for ideas to market in the 12 volt world daily) And love the smell of solder joints in the morning lol.

 

Consider a blinking LED on the dash or doors to simulate an alarm system. Obviously it is just a visual deterrent.

 

Yeah, sorry taping isn't what I meant. I'll be very interested in whatever you come up with.