Best hood pin switch?

I just had a Viper 5900 alarm installed (two weeks ago) in my 2000 Toyota Sienna XLE. The hood pin switch installed with the alarm is already loose and looks kind of cheap to me. What is the best hood pin switch? Is there an OEM hood switch from another vehicle that would be better (I see some used ones on eBay that have rubber grommets and look more substantial)? Thanks for any info!

Harrison makes nice Euro style switches with a boot... but i've used thousands of the standard pin switches that come with starters with no issues at all.... i'd say you got a sloppy install, not a poor quality pin switch..... Kevin Gerry

Certified Electronics Technician

MECP First Class Installer

Owner/Installer

Classic Car Audio

since 1979

Hood pins are a issue they rust up very quick in my area also, we are experimenting with booted ones this year. I haven't had one loosen yey, maybe they didn't tigthen it all the way..

I used to have problems with them rusting. When you install it, cover it with a good bit of dielectric grease or some vaseline. Get it all over the pin where it slides, and all the metal contact parts. Also cover where your wire is connected to it. Try this, it helps a LOT. You will have to regrease it about every 6 months to a year.

CutDog have you ever tried battery terminal coating, I was thinking about trying that experiment also?

I always just use dielectric grease on my battery terminals also, never used a "battery terminal coating". Maybe that coating is just dielectric grease. I used some type of battry terminal spray in an aerosol can, and it didnt do crap. They sell "spark plug boot lube" which is just dielectric grease, "bulb grease" which is just dielectric grease also. I've also used vaseline on the battery terminals before and it did the same thing as the dielectric grease, worked just as good. I also read in "TRUCKIN" magazine that a lot of truck enthusiasts use vaseline on thier battery terminals.

Now hold on here... You put dielectric grease on your battery terminals? Dielectric means it does not conduct electricity. Wouldn't that be the last thing you'd want to use in these applications?

Well I've never had any problems with it.... And why to they sell it to put on your spark plug boots and your light bulb bases if it doesnt conduct electricity? Just ask any mechanic what dielectric grease is used for. Or ask anybody at your local parts store.

CutDog... I don't know. I just want to know for certain why dielectric grease is used. Because dielectric is defined as: "A nonconductor of electricity, especially a substance with electrical conductivity of less than a millionth (10-6) of a siemens."