Big Red Button

The first step is finding the perfect button. The cigarette lighter is a 22.5 mm hole. That's easy - Cutler Hammer carries a number of buttons in this size. You can download their catalog here - but be warned! It's a 5.5 MB PDF file. I chose an E22E2C - red, non-illuminated, NO/NC protruding button with a chrome bezel. There's a bewildering number of possibilities in button colour, bezel style, illumination, flush buttons, etc. You can even have "START", "RUN" or a few other words printed on the face.

If you want to install the button out of an S2000, they look great in the Miata. Adam Wolf wrote this one up and included some good diagrams. It's similar in style to Sean Archer's setup.

My particular choice cost $27 Cdn with taxes, purchased at a local contracting shop. It's possible that you could get away with a single NO button, which would also drop your cost. This will be discussed later.

(click for enlargements)

To install the button, you first remove the panel below the steering wheel. Two screws and it pops out. If you've got a Momo wheel like I do, it's a lot easier if you pull the steering wheel for some working space. There's not much room under there.

If you've got a C-H button like mine, it's modular. You only want to install the actual button and bezel right now. Leave the switching units out. To remove the cigarette lighter, you first unplug the connector that delivers the power. If you're dependent on a power source in your car for radar detectors or cellphones or 12v blenders, you can simply attach this to an extension socket that comes out behind the seat.

Once the lighter is unpowered, remove it. Turn it as you pull it out, and it should come out fairly easily.

You'll notice that there's a metal cup that surrounds the lighter. You can keep this or toss it. It's a matter of aesthetics, really. Since your BRB won't be getting hot like your lighter did, it's not really NEEDED. I liked the way it looked, though. You could also paint or polish this. Some other possible button locations include thespot where the power window controls would go if you had them - obviously a bad choice if you do have them - and the foglight switch location on the 1999 cars.

Now that you've got the button in, you can practice pushing it. It will help if you make engine noises. If you get discouraged at any point in the upcoming procedures, simply return to this step for a while.

My thumb is sore now, I'd better go on to the next step

Keith Tanner

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