[Jcverive]

My FIL has dementia and keeps driving when he shouldn't, so I'm looking for an easy way to disable ignition with a hidden switch that my sister-in-law could activate when she takes them shopping, etc. Has anybody here done this?

Alternatively, if anyone has the wiring diagram I can figure out how to disable the power to the starting relay.

 

[DrivenDaily]

Lift the hood, pull the cover off of the fuse box, and find the starter relay. It sends juice to the starter solenoid, which does the actual "heavy lifting" part of starting the engine. Remove it and it won't start.

Alternately, you can pull the fuel pump relay, but I think that it's in the trunk and harder to access.

If you want an actual switch or module, you can see about a cheap remotely-operated relay that turns off with the key and then has to have the key turned on before it can be turned on, which could then interrupt either the fuel or starter activation.

A simple switch under the hood could be used to stop the starter from being activated.

 

[Jcverive]

Lift the hood, pull the cover off of the fuse box, and find the starter relay. It sends juice to the starter solenoid, which does the actual "heavy lifting" part of starting the engine. Remove it and it won't start.

Alternately, you can pull the fuel pump relay, but I think that it's in the trunk and harder to access.

If you want an actual switch or module, you can see about a cheap remotely-operated relay that turns off with the key and then has to have the key turned on before it can be turned on, which could then interrupt either the fuel or starter activation.

A simple switch under the hood could be used to stop the starter from being activated.

Thanks for the reply! A switch on the interior would be ideal, because it's extremely unlikely that my FIL would even think of looking for it, and my SIL isn't going to want to fiddle around with anything under the hood.

If I had the wiring diagram I'd be able to figure it out (I'm an electrical engineer with ample experience with automotive, embedded controllers, switches, relays, blah blah blah). I was just looking for the wiring diagrams or real life stories from anyone who had done this for this particular car.

 

[DrivenDaily]

I have the diagrams for Gen7 but yours is a Gen8. Consider a subscription to All Data DIY and you can get the diagrams plus other data that might help you do a nice, clean install.

 

[Protocol]

I'd just get an faraday cage lockable box and toss the key fobs in. Problem solved.

 

[mike_823]

Would a vehicle interlock system used for drunk driving offenders be a source for ideas? I personally don't have any experience using one, but I thought I'd throw that out there.

 

[jjkeely]

Order a fob and key that looks like a duplicate of the one that starts the car and swap it with the fob and key you do use to start the car.. Maybe put a scratch or mark on fake one so you can know which is which. Take the key to a hardware store and tell them to purposely screw the copy up. He won't be able to even get in the car. You and SIL have you rown set of actual keys you hide.