Remote Central Locking.

[windywatson]

Love my Bongo Camper (1997 reg) that much have bought a second unconverted (2001 reg)for daily use. However my original and older vehicle has remote central locking using an extra fob on the key ring. Would this have been an add on or do some vehicles have it as standard? I ask as the newer 2001 model hasn't got it. It only has key operated central locking, which I intend to convert to remote having bought a kit to do so.

So the question. Is there anyone out there that has installed their own remote locking? If so any advise on best places to locate the control box and pick up the necessary wiring?

Cheers

My other car is a Bongo to

[dave_aber]

There's a factsheet in the member's area about this.

Basically, from your favourite online auction site, purchase a remote central locking kit. Fit the receiver and one actuator inside the driver's door, and link the actuator to the existing lock plunger which sticks up through the door card. It can be a basic slave actuator, no need for a master one.

When you 'bilp' the fob, the actuator unlocks, pushing the driver's door into "unlock", which then triggers the vehicle's own central locking to respond. Same for locking. Fairly simple, if a bit fiddly. There is a decent 12v supply in the door (for the standard locking) which you can use for the receiver.

the one I bought had modern 'flip keys' which were supplied with the correct blank blades. Any local key cutter place can copy your key onto the blanks.

Whilst you are in the door, you can pour waxoyl into the bottom of it to hold back the rusting.

[windywatson]

Cheers for that, off to view the fact sheets now. Sounds that the kit I've bought off e-bay is same type as yours as has the flip out keys. What is the range like for picking up the remote signal? assume it will be limiteds as the reciever ariel will be sheilded by the metal work of the door.

[dave_aber]

It is pretty crap, as you say shielded by the door. On a good day, about 10 feet, on a bad day about 2 feet. As demonstrated on Top Gear some years ago, holding the remote against your head does help.

[321Away]

its usually being placed in the locality of power wiring that disrupts the range of remote pickups,any alar installer/autoelectrician will tell you to always seperate the antenna from the rest of the loom and put as much room between the 2 as poss.
Julian