Half-decent S2000 Start Button Install

[J-Ro]

Lately I've been wanting to do the S2000 start button install, but as with everything I do, I wanted it too look like it was meant to be that way, otherwise it looks dumb.
So I bought an S2000 start button and relay and set about my business :)
I bought the start button/relay from "American Customs" on ebay (and yes, it is the genuine Honda start button, not aftermarket). I was provided with plenty of information to do the install, so I'd definitely like to thank American Customs for that.
I wanted to install the button where the hazard switch is; I managed to fit the start button into that location with very minor trimming, so that went well. To move the hazard switch, I chose a location, drilled a 1" hole and widened it for the hazard button, then glued two nylon blocks sanded to shape in behind to make the button sit properly. Then I machined and polished an aluminum ring to go around the button so that it would match the ring around the start button and to hide the hole in the dash.
Given the fact that the setup looks pretty close to what an OEM setup might look like, I'd say this project was a success.
For those looking for more photos, I apologize for not having more, since this was kind of a rush, one-day job.

Mid project, with the car torn apart :) :


Start button, finished:


Hazard button, finished and a few fingerprints:


Driver's view... the hazard button is no longer visible, but I really don't care:


I know the "start button mod" is kind of a love-it-or-hate-it thing, but I thought I just post mine since it's a bit different.

J

[atruhondagrl]

I think it looks pretty darned good. How's everything working?

[CivicDude]

that looks really good, You did a much better install then the last guy that chopped up the dash on the drivers side!

[brooklynscat69]

Nice do you have to turn the key in all the way then press the button? Or do you just slide key in and press? Also do you still need to press the clutch in to turn the car on?

[hoanger]

sweet, how was the wiring? was there a lot of things to mess around with or pretty simple?

and how DOES it work?

[J-Ro]

Originally Posted by brooklynscat69

Nice do you have to turn the key in all the way then press the button? Or do you just slide key in and press? Also do you still need to press the clutch in to turn the car on?

Apparently there is a pink "key-detect" wire, but I didn't see it. Plus I'm not really sure I just want the key sitting there in the ignition... I can just see it falling out halfway down the freeway... that would suck At least if you have to turn it to ON (II) then the key is locked in.
And yes, you do need to push the clutch in. I believe there is a limit switch on the clutch pedal which acts as an interlock. You could probably bypass it, but that would probably also prevent the clutch from disengaging the cruise when it's on, so I wouldn't want to mess with that either.

[J-Ro]

Originally Posted by atruhondagrl

I think it looks pretty darned good. How's everything working?

Thanks Dawn :) Everything works great! The only hang-up was that I was in such a hurry to put everything back together that I forgot to plug the climate control harness back in
I had a classic "oh-no-second" and then pulled it apart and fixed it :)

Originally Posted by hoanger

sweet, how was the wiring? was there a lot of things to mess around with or pretty simple?

and how DOES it work?

The wiring wasn't too bad, except that I spliced the starter wire BEFORE cutting it to test it. I didn't feel comfortable cutting it without being absolutely sure it would work. You can also splice the starter wire if you want to keep the START (III) function on the key as well.
The only wiring thing that I had to "figure out" myself was I had to cut the hazard button harness and splice in additional wire lengths so I could move it to the left side of the steering wheel.
As far as how it works, it just replaces the START (III) function on the ignition cylinder. Simple as that :)

[Nomar06]

Looks good!

[BATANG CITY JAIL]

Originally Posted by CivicDude

that looks really good, You did a much better install then the last guy that chopped up the dash on the drivers side!

is that me that your talking about???? shame on you...
and i didnt chopped the dash FIY.


you know y it looks good?? coz the first poster said so and plus shes a MOD.. (no hate dawn)


theres alot of kiss a** on 8th...
and yes mine suck.. and i did admit it.. so +1 on me..

[8thgenuser]

Looking good so far! Keep up the good work!

[J-Ro]

^^^ I also probably had access to a bit more equipment than you did... I'd like to thank my work so I could use the lathe

*EDIT* Dammit 8thgenuser, you beat me to the post... this is for BATANG CITY JAIL :)

[panthro]

Great job, looks clean

Just wish you did more of a step by step, I would love to try this mod myself.

To anyone who is going to dis mod please, please take pics of the wiring and do a proper write up. thanx

[Nomar06]

Originally Posted by BATANG CITY JAIL

is that me that your talking about???? shame on you...
and i didnt chopped the dash FIY.


you know y it looks good?? coz the first poster said so and plus shes a MOD.. (no hate dawn)


theres alot of kiss a** on 8th...
and yes mine suck.. and i did admit it.. so +1 on me..

No it doesnt look good just because Dawn said it. It looks good because it does.

[panthro]

*edit

sorry double post

[BATANG CITY JAIL]

Originally Posted by Nomar06

No it doesnt look good just because Dawn said it. It looks good because it does.

yeah..yeah.. i know..

[BATANG CITY JAIL]

Originally Posted by J-Ro

^^^ I also probably had access to a bit more equipment than you did... I'd like to thank my work so I could use the lathe

*EDIT* Dammit 8thgenuser, you beat me to the post... this is for BATANG CITY JAIL :)

yeah.. i did'nt expect that it will sit like that... but im redoing it and messing up with that little platic part is cheaper than makinga mistake on the dash it self... did you use a T splice connector?? i didnt cut my ignition wire though..

[atruhondagrl]

Originally Posted by J-Ro

Thanks Dawn :)
I had a classic "oh-no-second" and then pulled it apart and fixed it :)

Everytime I work on something for the first time this happens to me. I should tell you about when we put the suspension on my delsol. I'll just say the hood had to get fixed.

[J-Ro]

Originally Posted by panthro

Great job, looks clean

Just wish you did more of a step by step, I would love to try this mod myself.

To anyone who is going to dis mod please, please take pics of the wiring and do a proper write up. thanx

Frig, sorry, now I feel bad for making this post an "almost-DIY"... and I threw out the instruction sheet I got with it.

Well if you get the button/relay kit from American Customs (yeah it's a little more expensive than just the button and a relay, but I figured that's the price for convenience :)), the button and relay come pre-wired.
If I remember correctly, the red wire on the 87 post on the relay is spliced onto the 12V IGN wire, the other red wire (forget which relay post number) goes to the starter side of the starter wire (if you cut it; splice it if you want to keep the START (III) function on the ignition cylinder, and the brown wire goes to ground. There's a big 12mm nut just above the steering column that makes a good ground.
The 12V IGN wire is BLUE on the ignition harness and the starter wire is YELLOW. You can't miss the ignition harness when you take the cover off the steering column because, not surprisingly, they're all HUGE wires :)
Sorry for the lack of info, Panthro... hope this helps a bit :)

[panthro]

Originally Posted by BATANG CITY JAIL

you know y it looks good?? coz the first poster said so and plus shes a MOD..

Its a start button, placed in the location of an original factory button. whats there to look good or not too look good. i think he did a clean install and kept it looking stock. +1 for him. not to take away from your install it also does its job the way you wanted it to, so relax.

[J-Ro]

Originally Posted by BATANG CITY JAIL

yeah.. i did'nt expect that it will sit like that... but im redoing it and messing up with that little platic part is cheaper than makinga mistake on the dash it self... did you use a T splice connector?? i didnt cut my ignition wire though..

No, I soldered everything. For anything electrical, I use ONLY solder and shrink tubing covered by split-loom tubing because it's the only thing that can reliably stand the test of time. And I HATE T-connectors because they're totally unreliable and finicky...not to mention bulky... those things aren't worth the powder to blow them to hell Okay I'm done ranting about T-connectors now :)