Popular among those wanting a different style to their project car, the push button starter comes in many different styles. These push-button starter kits allow you to start your older vehicle with the simple push of a button. Today I’ll be showing you how to install push button starter in an Acura RSX.
While this push button install is for the RSX, you can follow the same steps for any car or truck. This kit is very different than a remote starter, which requires a brain unit to be wired into your vehicle.
How to install push button starter
Before you begin the installation of your push button starter, you must first buy a kit of your choice. There are many choices online from you to choose from. As with any electrical install, make sure you have the tools needed before you begin.
These tools can include but are not limited to; electrical tape, wire strippers, and electrical terminals. If you are unsure of where your starter is, or how to wire anything up take your vehicle to a professional.
Our test vehicle is a 2004 Acura RSX, and we’ll be installing a Pivot push button starter. This kit is common on Ebay and is very affordable. This particular one comes with a backlight wire (green) which we won’t be installing for this particular writeup.
Push Button Starter Install
To begin, you will need to find a place to mount the push button. We’ve chosen the location next to the dash panel that houses many RSX functions as shown below.
Measure and mount the button before you go to install push button starter. Make sure to measure and slowly cut the opening until the button sits flush.
As with anything that you are cutting or trimming, start slowly. Make slow incremental changes to the size of the hole so that you don’t make too large of a hole.
Once you have the kit mounted, you can begin wiring the unit up.
There are typically three push button wires you have to worry about. One is switched power / backlight which is red in our kit. The other is a ground, which is black. The last wire goes to your starter solenoid switch, which should always come from an automotive relay.
We’ve opted to wire up both power and ground to the internal ignition switch. Now that these wires are completely wired up, you can go ahead and run the starter solenoid wire into your engine bay.
Make sure to run this wire directly to the relay that came with your kit. The relay will then feed the solenoid of your starter. When you have this wire connected, you can test the push button kit. The testing of this kit can be done with the key in the OFF position. Simply measure the output wire for voltage.
Once you’ve got this part of our install push button starter guide complete, you are done! Have any questions about how to install one of these push button kits? Leave me a message below and let me know!
