Plymouth, Dodge, DeSoto, and Chrysler are old cars with push button start.
Technology is the spice of life. It makes life easier for everyone. Innovation in every part of life is what makes life less stressful.
In many cars, the engine is switched on by turning the key in the ignition. Manufacturers thought, “how can we make this better, how can reduce the stress of putting a key in the ignition before the car comes on?”
That was where push-button start came in. Push-button starts were installed in cars to eliminate the need for the keys. By pressing down on a button, you can easily switch the car on or off. It’s as simple as that.
This feature did not just roll out in recent years though, many fancy and classy cars had it in them in the previous century. In this article, we consider the old cars that had push button start in them.
Do Old Cars Have Push Button Start?
Yes, some old cars have a push-button start on them. Push-button starts have been made to wipe out the ignition key. Not all cars have this feature though. A push-button allows you to start your vehicle automatically, without needing an ignition key.
Cars equipped with push-button start usually have a button drivers can press to start the engine. Although you do not need an ignition key to start the car, you cannot turn on the engine of the car if you do not press on the brakes of the vehicle.
Push-button starts are available in keyless ignition systems only. The first brand to produce keyless ignition systems in commercial quantity was Mercedes Benz. Many other brands followed suit in recent times, such as Lexus, Rolls Royce, and Acura.
Cars equipped with push-button starts are widely known nowadays but market dominance is yet to happen because many major vehicle manufacturers still produce cars with manual keys.
The targeted customers to use push-button start cars are people that suffer from arthritis or elderly people.
Do old cars have pushbutton start? Yes, many old cars had the push-button start in them.
When Did Car Manufacturers Start Making Cars with Push Button Start?
Car manufacturers started making cars with push-button start in the late 1990s and early 2000s. Just like other luxury and tech features, they were only available for luxury model vehicles at first.
However, many old cars had a push-button start in them. Those cars were developed in the 1950s.
Old Cars with Push Button Start
The first car with a push-button starter (electric) was rolled out by Cadillac. It was introduced in the year, 1912. This feature in the earlier Cadillac cars helped to save lives, and reduce injuries, and people were finally provided with a car to drive without needing to crank the engine.
Old cars with push button start in them include:
- Plymouth
- Dodge
- DeSoto
- Chrysler
These were the main brands that had the push-button start feature equipped in them. The push-button start has now been innovated to remote start. Most recent cars are now remote connect compatible.
1. Plymouth
Plymouth was a brand associated with some cars manufactured by Chrysler Corporation. It was launched in 1928 by Walter Chrysler. Plymouth has released different models from the 1920s, 1930s, 1940s, 1950s, 1960s, 1970s, 1980s, and 1990s up until 2001.
It is important to note here that Plymouth cars were completely withdrawn from the marketplace in 2001. All the models of Plymouth were discontinued at that point or rebranded into Dodge or Chrysler.
The automobile industry was shocked in 1955 when Plymouth stuck the automatic transmission control lever very close to the driver’s kneecap through the dashboard.
In 1956, a major update was announced. Plymouth drivers were made to learn how to use their left hand to operate the transmission. Why?
Plymouth introduced push-button transmission in their cars and it was placed on the left. The heater and defroster controls were moved to the right to avoid inconvenience for the drivers.
2. Dodge
The earliest Dodge vehicle came with some features from the Ford Model T. However, Dodge made more improvements by providing features to ease the driving experience in the vehicles.
One of such improvements was the electrical start in the car compared to the engine cranking start of the Ford Model T. It was a go-to car for the elite class due to improvements in the engine, ruggedness of body, and elegant style.
Dodge is now managed by the Chrysler Corporation since 1928. Dodge has some models that were discontinued such as the Aries Coupe, Avenger, Caliber, Caliber SRT4, Caravan, Dakota, Dart, Magnum, Neon, Nitro, Polara, Stratus, and Viper. The current models are the Durango SRT, Challenger, Charger, Journey, and Ram.
3. DeSoto
DeSoto was a brand manufactured by the DeSoto Division of Chrysler Corporation from 1928 to 1961. The brand produced as many as two million cars and trucks during that time. It was founded by Walter Chrysler.
The brand was discontinued soon afterward due to low patronage. DeSoto failed to adjust to the changing emerging market trends and it was easily put out of business by other new car models.
Can You Put a Push Button Start in an Old Car?
You can install a push-button start in your older car. Push-button start kits are priced between $25 – $150 in today’s market depending on the type.
If you employ the help of a professional to install it for you, you should expect to pay up to $100 depending on labor rates.
Push-button start is such an important feature in cars; it gives room for convenience and luxury. You do not need to carry your manual key everywhere with you.
For this reason, people who own older cars might want this feature in their cars. Installing a push-button start in our car will give your car new technology.
How do you install push-button starts in older vehicles? You need the right tools to make this work. When you purchase the kit from the stores, read the instructions that come with the package carefully and follow them. Major tools you will need include:
- Screwdriver
- 10mm wrench
- Multimeter
- Soldering iron
- Wire stripper
- Electrical tape
To install the push-button start in your old car, follow these steps:
- Get rid of the cover of the steering column.
- Check the voltage of the ignition harness by placing the left pin on a grounding point and the right pin on the harness. Switch on the engine by turning the ignition key to test the voltage.
- The ignition wires you will be using for the job should be marked with the aid of a supplied wiring diagram. Switch on the engine and observe the voltage through the multimeter.
- With the aid of the 10mm wrench, disconnect the negative battery terminal.
- Disengage insulation from the wires using the wire stripper.
- Study the key instructions now. Use the instructions that came with the kit to find and connect the matching wires in the kit to the car’s ignition wires.
- Look for the wire of the brake switch carefully. When you find it, connect the ring transponder to the wire.
- At this point, connect the transponder with the two systems.
- Test the setup. Check that the ignition system is working as it should.
- Fix the steering column cover and put it back in place along with the wires.
Final Thoughts
If you have a car equipped with a push-button start, you can count yourself fortunate. However, If your car does not come with this feature, you can install it in your car for a little fee.