As an editorial staff member, part of our job is to travel to events and find cool trucks to photograph. Sometimes we have the luxury driving our own vehicles, but a lot of times we fly to the events. This usually means I'm stuck with a rental car that is no bigger than something a group of clowns would drive. On occasion we are lucky enough to rent cars that have things like navigation and high-end sound systems, but what struck me as really cool was that some of them come with a touch-start ignition. While touch-start is nothing new in the today's latest car market, it is however, relatively innovative in the hot rod market.
Wandering around at the 2012 SEMA convention I noticed something that caught my eye, you guessed it, a touch-start system. This particular keyless start was in the ididit booth and was displayed in several different configurations. Options ranged from inside several of the ididit steering columns or as a replacement for the stock ignition keyhole in the dash.
So why replace the traditional key with something as unfamiliar as a touch start? My first thoughts are theft deterrent and how the traditional ignition can be hotwired by any guy off the street. Add a self-contained ignition box and let the average thief be confused on how to overcome the touch system.
Second thoughts are how cool it is to touch something and have everything at your fingertips. No more losing keys or having two keys, one for the door and another to start the truck. One of the other cool features is that you can hook the ididit Touch-N-Go to an aftermarket alarm or aftermarket door locks that would get rid of all the keys for the truck. For those who like shaved door handles, this maybe the something to look at.
01. ididit announces the release of its new Touch-N-Go Start System. The Touch-N-Go has the industries only patented touch-sensitive start button with interactive LED display. Made as a direct replacement for standard keyed ignitions, this unit simulates the five common ignition positions. The easy-to-install kit comes complete with all the hardware needed to install in just about any vehicle.
02. The same basic wiring is required, similar to installing any ignition switch, but with a few added options.
03. It can be used as a simple start button system or you can utilize more advance features, such as keyless entry. Two key fobs come with the system and can be replaced if somehow you lose one.
04, 05. The touch button can either be mounted where the ignition key goes or inside the ididit steering column. The button is available in 22mm dash mount or 25mm column mount. Other custom button options are available.
06. An antenna is supplied with the kit so that the key fobs will pick up the signal when near the truck. If you have electric door locks, the system can also adapt to those to unlock the vehicle.
07. When selecting the placement of the antenna it is very important to place it near the windows so that the doors or sheetmetal will not interrupt the signal. I will find a location under the dash near the speaker vents or near the driver's door. You can play around with the location of the antenna and see what works best for your vehicle.
08. This on-off toggle switch acts as an override for the security. In event of a dead key fob battery, this switch will can be turned on to allow the Touch-N-Go system to deactivate the security, thus allowing the user to operate the system. This is a good option if you went out to dinner often and can put the vehicle in a valet mode for parking attendants, etc.
09. Every ididit Touch-N-Go system has a touch button that will illuminate several different colors depending on what mode you are in. When the system recognizes the key fobs it will glow red. Touch it once and it will glow blue in accessory mode where the radio and other such items can be used. Touch it twice and the ignition circuit is activated and will turn on things like the fuel pump or engine computer. Press in the brake and press the button for the third time and the system will engage the starter and start the vehicle. Now if your truck has not run in the vehicle prior, then it is recommended that you get the engine running with a standard ignition switch first before installing the system.
10. Programing the unit is simple, but reading the instructions is necessary. A series of four small switches needs to move in order for the system to program to the engine. With the 3 and 4 switches in the "up" position, it is now OK to press the brake pedal and touch button to crank the engine over. Once the engine is running, flip 3 and 4 switches down and the system is now calibrated. The starter is automatically disengaged once the Touch-N-Go senses the engine is running.
