Bummer with trying to get central locking / alarm / immobiliser installed

[Grizzly_Adams]

G'day all,

For a while now I wanted to "secure" my vehicle to a standard that the insurance companies would approve of. Since I also wanted some central locking I figured I'd get all three in 1 kit if possible (central locking / immobilizer / alarm).

I approached a few companies and eventually decided on one.

They were going to fit a "Black Widow" alarm system with central locking / immobilisers / etc. All sounded too good to be true.. alas, it was.

She was in to get it installed today and I just got a call that:

A ) they can't fit the central locking because the actuators they use are too wide - where the window comes down makes it too narrow. They would need to get probably Mercedes ones (which are thinner) to fit.

B ) they don't recommend fitting the alarm either because to do so they need to remove the vacuum lines (for the front / rear diff-locks) and to do so would require disassembling the entire dash - they reckon about 2 1/2 days work.

So at the moment I get her back the way she arrived... quite a disappointment really. :cry:



Before you ask - no I'm not interested in fitting such a thing myself.. far too fiddly for my liking:(

If anyone knows of a company that has successfully fitted similar to their vehicle I would appreciate the input though...

[Utemad]

I haven't installed central locking in a Defender before but why on earth would you need to disconnect the vacuum lines to fit the alarm?

For your insurance company to be happy all you need is a black wire alarm (all wires black so once tags removed you don't know what they are for). Plus at least one cut of either fuel pump, ignition, starter. I'd do all three as it doesn't take much extra effort.
That's all AFAIK.
Personally I think you are better off installing it yourself or at least helping someone who knows what they are doing. If it chucks a wobbly and leaves you stranded at least you will then know how to bypass it.

[abaddonxi]

There are a couple of good threads on installing central locking. I think they were all generic central locking kits. Pretty sure one of the threads has pictures, too.

http://www.aulro.com/afvb/showthread.php't=34975

http://www.aulro.com/app/member.php?uid=8705&protype=1

http://www.aulro.com/afvb/showthread.php't=39081

Hmm, I think you might have seen these threads already.

As an aside, when I checked out installing an immobiliser I found that the insurance policy went up not down.:eek:

Cheers
Simon.

[Grizzly_Adams]

I haven't installed central locking in a Defender before but why on earth would you need to disconnect the vacuum lines to fit the alarm?


I have no idea... I'm beginning to think it may have been a cop-out so they didn't have to do it. Often I have found that people look at LR's (especially Defenders) as being "too hard" to work on (at least, neatly) so they come up with some crud as to why they can't do it...


There are a couple of good threads on installing central locking. I think they were all generic central locking kits. Pretty sure one of the threads has pictures, too.

Thanks Simon, as you had guessed I'd already seen those and they all looked and sounded fairly finicky which is why I wasn't keen to put my hand at it.. I tend to get frustrated easy and end up damaging stuff I don't want to damage, which makes me more frustrated :eek:

I guess I'll shop around again and see what some of the other mobs say. It's just a P.I.T.A. because the sales guys says it's do-able, you drop your vehicle off for the day to get it done and then the techo guy turns around and says it's not.. *sigh*

[jimbo110]

Yes them not doing it is a cop out. I have put alarms and c/lock in both my 110's and on average it took 2-3 days to do. Dick smith actuators will fit in the doors and do last well, no probs in 5 years with my 1st one, the current one's had them for 1 year.

[CraigE]

Took me about 6 hrs to install central locking to all 5 doors. About 8 hrs to install a Rhino alarm. They will fit just takes a bit of thought.
I can try and get some picture of my install.
Basically DSE central locking 2 sets = $70.
Rhino Alarm with remotes and central locking interface about $150.
Hardest part is the large amount of wiring and figuring out what you do not need.
Cheers
Craig

[zwitter]

I put a Rhino alarm in and then hooked up a Jaycar central locking kit. The whole lot did take quite a while to install.

The standard actuators do fit just fine.

The central locking just took quite a while looking where was the best place and trying to keep them as high up in the doors as possible. rear doors much easier than fronts. And I had to buy a bag of those black clips after i broke quite a lot of them.

I do understand why they dont want to do them but it is excuses not truth.

I spaced it out over several days and drove the car with no door trims for a few days.

Good luck.

james

[Captain_Rightfoot]

Bad news Glen. Our defender has central locking, so why can't they fit solenoids off current model defenders? Surely they would fit?

[jimbo110]

Bad news Glen. Our defender has central locking, so why can't they fit solenoids off current model defenders? Surely they would fit?
But they would cost about $200 each:(

[Captain_Rightfoot]

But they would cost about $200 each:(

I wonder if they are that much through a aftermarket LR supply such as MR automotive?