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Looking for Good Hood Pin


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Zilverado 
Copper - Posts: 92
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Joined: October 03, 2004
Posted: February 18, 2005 at 5:02 PM / IP Logged  

Hey, is it possible to get a better hood pin than what came with my ProStart R/S? I assume the answer is "YES".  I have noticed that lately the hood pin does not connect the best (if at all) when I pop the hood. Sure, I can wiggle it around and get it to connect, but that's just a pain. I know the wire and spade connector are good - they're soldered and heat-shrunk.

I figured I'd look around at my local auto parts stores, but thought I'd throw it out there for comments.

Thanks.

Zilverado,
Backyard Mechanic
1986 Chevy Truck & 1992 Nissan Pathfinder
auex 
Platinum - Posts: 5,041
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Joined: December 23, 2002
Location: Arizona, United States
Posted: February 18, 2005 at 5:21 PM / IP Logged  
Yeah, it is called a mercury switch.
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Zilverado 
Copper - Posts: 92
Copper spacespace
Joined: October 03, 2004
Posted: February 18, 2005 at 9:49 PM / IP Logged  

auex wrote:
Yeah, it is called a mercury switch.

Are you talking about a switch you would mount to the hood to activate when the hood is lifted, in other words when the mercury flowed to the other side of the bubble to form contact? Or are you talking about something else? If you are talking about something mounted to the hood, how would a guy "flash" a switch like that?

Or am I missing something here?

Zilverado,
Backyard Mechanic
1986 Chevy Truck & 1992 Nissan Pathfinder
auex 
Platinum - Posts: 5,041
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Posted: February 18, 2005 at 9:54 PM / IP Logged  
Yes, you have the right idea as to what it is. What do you mean "flash"?
Certified Security Specialist
Always check info with a digital multimeter.
I promise to be good.
Tell Darwin I sent you.
I've been sick lately, sorry I won't be on much.
Zilverado 
Copper - Posts: 92
Copper spacespace
Joined: October 03, 2004
Posted: February 18, 2005 at 10:14 PM / IP Logged  

With my remote starter (ProStart) I have to "flash" the hood pin to enter the unit's program mode. This involves the following:

Once the hood is open (hood pin grounded), I hold the hood pin down for approx. 4 sec., release, and then press and release again. The unit is now in program mode.

To do this with a mercury switch could be done, but it would just be a little clumsier having to lift and lower the hood. Although, once the unit is programmed (like now), I don't really need to "flash" the hood pin unless I want to reprogram it.

A mercury switch might be the way to go, because I do need that switch to work. My wife has already remote started the vehicle once with me having the hood open. Fortunately I didn't have my head or hands any where near the engine at the time.

Where would I get one of these switches? And are we talking BIG $$$$$ ???

Zilverado,
Backyard Mechanic
1986 Chevy Truck & 1992 Nissan Pathfinder
chris354 
Silver - Posts: 253
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Joined: February 19, 2005
Location: United States
Posted: February 19, 2005 at 8:43 PM / IP Logged  
Why not just use a momentary switch tied into the hood pin wire and ground the other side of switch. Then you can use mercury switch for hood pin and the momentary to flash the unit.
swamprat323 
Gold - Posts: 1,335
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Joined: September 22, 2002
Location: Florida, United States
Posted: February 19, 2005 at 8:51 PM / IP Logged  
You have to use the hood pin for as a program button, not a
valet/program button. WTF. If that how all there alarms/RS are i will not install that crap. Just my opion.
mobilevt 
Copper - Posts: 73
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Joined: October 29, 2003
Location: Washington, United States
Posted: February 20, 2005 at 1:42 PM / IP Logged  

Why don't you just wire the mercury switch to the alarm, but just don't mount it yet?  Once programmed, just mount it?

Or better, install & connect everything but the hood switch wire AT the alarm, program it while taking the unconnected bare wire from the alarm to ground to get the "programming" done then make the final connection?

I've never seen a squirrel give up so easy, trying to figure out other ways to defeat the "squirrel proof" bird feeder!  I'm sure you can figure out something!!!

Sean

Emergency Vehicle Technician
Got Freedom? Thank a vet!
Ravendarat 
Platinum - Posts: 2,806
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Joined: February 23, 2004
Location: Canada
Posted: February 20, 2005 at 11:23 PM / IP Logged  
Alot of automobility units need to have the hood pin flashed to get into valet mode. Its just the way they are and have been for a long time. Its really a minor incovenience. As to the hood pin question itself, just find a stainless steel one, I have never had one fail but havent had them in stock for quite a while. They generally arent hard to find though. The reason why your hood pin is having issuses is because of rust on the pin, so if you take it out and clean it as well it will work.
double-secret reverse-osmosis speaker-cone-induced high-level interference distortion, Its a killer
Zilverado 
Copper - Posts: 92
Copper spacespace
Joined: October 03, 2004
Posted: February 21, 2005 at 8:53 AM / IP Logged  

Thanks for all the feedback guys. Actually the flashing of the hood pin isn't that huge a deal, since the unit is already programmed, and I don't anticipate needing to do it again any time soon. Also, if I need to, the r/s module itself has a Programming Assistance Button (PAB) that also acts as a hood pin. It just requires the hood pin to be grounded (hood up) at the time in order to work. The only reason the hood pin is handier is because the r/s module is stuck up in behind the dashboard and a bit of a pain to get to.

Sean, what's with the reference to a "squirrel proof" bird feeder??? Am I missing something, or was that a note to someone else???

Thanks again.

Zilverado,
Backyard Mechanic
1986 Chevy Truck & 1992 Nissan Pathfinder
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