Hood pin switch

Printed From: the12volt.com
Forum Name: Car Security and Convenience
Forum Discription: Car Alarms, Keyless Entries, Remote Starters, Immobilizer Bypasses, Sensors, Door Locks, Window Modules, Heated Mirrors, Heated Seats, etc.
URL: https://www.the12volt.com/installbay/forum_posts.asp?tid=47318
Printed Date: September 16, 2025 at 8:00 PM

Topic: Hood pin switch

Posted By: kosoku
Subject: Hood pin switch
Date Posted: January 09, 2005 at 8:45 PM

If you have a remote start or alarm that uses a hood pin switch, can you post a picture of where you mounted the switch? I installed my RS without one but one of these days I'd like to install it.
I'm having difficulty figuring out where / how to mount it in my 03 mazda pickup (same as a ranger).

Replies:

Posted By: stang351w
Date Posted: January 09, 2005 at 9:11 PM

put the hood pin where it's not going get hit if somone's doing work under the hood and also where it's going to catch your hood, if you have to make a "L" bracket with a hole to fit your hood pin switch and bolt it to the side of your fire wall, i've always been told one of the better place's to mount the pin switch for a remote starter is at the back of the engine bay. there nothing hard to install, just look for a deicent flat spot where you oculd mount a bracket or drill through to mount you pin, run your wire, and there ya go ( just make sure there's no wires or cables under the metal where you drill...drills and live wires don't mix posted_image )

Posted By: 3forty7
Date Posted: January 11, 2005 at 1:13 PM

you could also use a mercury switch, i like a hood pin better but a mercury switch can do the job as well.

Posted By: Jschult3
Date Posted: January 11, 2005 at 2:15 PM

If your car has a light under the hood it most likely is controlled by a mercury switch that given if you have the time and and know how you could interface the neg trigger with. When you install a hood pin trigger it tends to rust and stand out. What you would do is probe the 2 wires and determine which one is constant and which one is triggered by the movement of the hood. If it's negative attatch your alarm's neg trigger to that lead.

Jeff

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Jeff
Always Verify Wire information before Connecting! Just a Darn Good DIY'R

Posted By: kosoku
Date Posted: January 11, 2005 at 9:07 PM

My truck didn't come with that feature unfortunately. Could I find a "mercury switch" from another vehicle at a junk yard and use it? I'm particularly worried about the pin switch that came with my unit rubbing the paint off my hood over time and allowing rust.

Posted By: gtchida
Date Posted: January 11, 2005 at 9:37 PM

Check this out.....

https://shop1.outpost.com/product/1908343?site=sr:SEARCH:MAIN_RSLT_PG

Posted By: DDexter
Date Posted: January 11, 2005 at 9:53 PM

It is recommended to have the switch installed as close to the front as possible. This way the alarm would trigger with the smallest openning angle of the hood possible.

Posted By: OmarR
Date Posted: January 11, 2005 at 11:48 PM

DDexter wrote:

It is recommended to have the switch installed as close to the front as possible. This way the alarm would trigger with the smallest openning angle of the hood possible.

I second that.