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Topic: converting manual locks to power - what's needed? (Read 1736 times) previous topic - next topic

converting manual locks to power - what's needed?

Is converting to power locks as simple as installing the actuators and switches?  Is the necessary wiring already in the main harness and doors?

Thanks
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Twin '85 TCs
White/ Grey 2-tone
#1 (left): undergoing top-to-bottom rebuild     
#2 (right): DD, power everything (sorta)
[SIGPIC][/SIGPIC]

converting manual locks to power - what's needed?

Reply #1 –
Wouldn't it be nice if it was that easy?

The last time I checked, the big long harness starts in the right door with the actuator and switch, goes through the door jamb into the kick panel, back along the door sill under the carpet, under the passenger seat where the relays live, across the hump and under the driver's seat to the other door sill, up to the kick panel, then splits off (a) into the driver's door to the actuator and switch, and (b) to the fuse box for power.

If you wanted, you *could* run all the wiring behind the dash somewhere, but woe to you if you ever have to pull the dash later to get to a blown heater core, and find the wires are too short, or are wrapped around something and have to be cut.
Death awaits you all with nasty, big, pointy teeth.

1988 5.0 Bird, mostly stock, partly not, now gone to T-Bird heaven.
1990 Volvo 740GL. 114 tire-shredding horsies, baby!

converting manual locks to power - what's needed?

Reply #2 –
the only way to know is to look under the pass seat and see if there are connectors there.

You can also take up the carpet along the passanger seat area and reach under to locate any spared back wiring that was not extended through the carpet area.

Also taking off the door panel just along the rear lower edge will give you a peek as to what wiring is present.

There isnt a "standard harness" for the chassis.  It usually comes to us as a surprise when we find options are wired but no switches are in or fuses. This makes life easy and ill bet you find the wiring is already there waiting on you.  Power locks were a farily common option and ill bet you have less work in store for your project than you think.

converting manual locks to power - what's needed?

Reply #3 –
Thanks for the responses.  The car on the left didn't come with power locks, which was fine at the time.  Now that I'm considering a remote alarm system, it's a different story.  The shop wants $100/door to add locks.  A quick check at autozoo shows they want ~$140/actuator, wtf?  I can't believe they want to charge that much for a solenoid.  JC Whitney has a 2 door kit for ~$80.
__________________
Twin '85 TCs
White/ Grey 2-tone
#1 (left): undergoing top-to-bottom rebuild     
#2 (right): DD, power everything (sorta)
[SIGPIC][/SIGPIC]

converting manual locks to power - what's needed?

Reply #4 –
MasterBlaster is exactly right with the layout of the door harness.  But it also follows the driver sill back to the package tray.  Your car will not have the wiring for the door locks or windows.
One 88

converting manual locks to power - what's needed?

Reply #5 –
Princess Auto in Canada sells a complete power door lock kit for a two-door for somewhere around $40. It includes two motors, one of which contains the switches and relays inside it, so wiring is very simple. The only drawback is that you won't have actual lock/unlock buttons - they are automatically activated when you use the driver's door key or lock . I installed a four-door kit (was $60) in my old '87 Cherokee to work with the alarm, and I'll also be installing a kit in my F-150 for the same reason (the truck has a remote starter with remote locks built in, so may as well hook 'em up). They are very, very easy to wire - much easier than trying to install the factory-style system. The best part is that replacement lock motors are like $10 - I actually used one to replace the burned out stock one in my Thunderbird's driver's door.

The "universal" lock motors are strong as hell, too - I actually used to use 'em as door poppers in RCMP K-9 vehicles - the actuator was connected to the door latch mechanism so the officer could use the remote and open the door to let the dog out if they weren't near the vehicle.

I know you are in USA and don't have Princess Auto, but you should be able to find the same kit at a place like Harbor Freight.
Here's a similar kit to the Princess Auto one, except this one appears to use relays. The Princess kit had one two-wire actuator and one five-wire one - the kit at this link has two two-wire ones and relays. Just search eBay for "Power Lock Kit" and you'll find hundreds of kits, many of which include keyless entry feature.

If you want to install factory style locks I've got the diagram on my website:
http://www.foxthundercats.com/tech/wiringdiagrams/8586lockswokeyless.pdf
2015 Mustang GT Premium - 5.0, 6-speed, Guard Green - too much awesome for one car

1988 5.0 Thunderbird :birdsmily: SOLD SEPT 11 2010: TC front clip/hood ♣ Body & paint completed Oct 2007 ♣ 3.55 TC rear end and front brakes ♣ TC interior ♣ CHE rear control arms (adjustable lowers) ♣ 2001 Bullitt springs ♣ Energy suspension poly busings ♣ Kenne Brown subframe connectors ♣ CWE engine mounts ♣ Thundercat sequential turn signals ♣ Explorer overhead console (temp/compass display) ♣ 2.25" off-road dual exhaust ♣ T-5 transmission swap completed Jan 2009 ♣

converting manual locks to power - what's needed?

Reply #6 –
Quote from: t3skidoo;194882
Is converting to power locks as simple as installing the actuators and switches?  Is the necessary wiring already in the main harness and doors?

Thanks


maybe so and mayme not..

Quote from: MasterBlaster;195426
Wouldn't it be nice if it was that easy?


it is just that easy... you just have to know how to wire it ;)

http://www.partshagpress.com/pe/showdetl.cfm?&Partnumber=330-010

[SIZE="5"]Times 2[/SIZE]



http://www.partshagpress.com/pe/showdetl.cfm?&Partnumber=330-078



http://www.partshagpress.com/pe/showdetl.cfm?&Partnumber=330-073

[SIZE="5"]Times 2[/SIZE]




http://www.partshagpress.com/resources/relays.html



[SIZE="5"]OR[/SIZE]



and if you ask fot it... it's free

http://www.partshagpress.com/pe/showdetl.cfm?&Partnumber=500-001

now all you need is switchs or door panels from a car that had power door locks..


any other questions?


Nick
Quote
there's only about a half a dozen man made objects that are herd by the human ear below 40Hz,a pipe organ,thunder,the space shuttle lifting off,a jet airplane taking off or landing,a large canon,an atomic bomb ignited in your back yard and the heat wave afterward oh wait you would be dead so you would'nt hear it scratch that!,and maybe beating your hear against a wall less then 40 times a second..rap music is'nt one of them!thats 40-60Hz@100+db the moving air is under 40Hz

converting manual locks to power - what's needed?

Reply #7 –
where have you been nick?  :hick:

bundled responses

Reply #8 –
MasterBlaster, I was hoping.
   
Thunder Chicken, I sporadically make it north of the border, Kingston ON is coming up soon.  I'll check them out next chance I get.  Only thing that worries me is the t-ass-a.

Blown306Cougar, sweet!  Thanks.
__________________
Twin '85 TCs
White/ Grey 2-tone
#1 (left): undergoing top-to-bottom rebuild     
#2 (right): DD, power everything (sorta)
[SIGPIC][/SIGPIC]
 

converting manual locks to power - what's needed?

Reply #9 –
Quote from: jcassity;195524
where have you been nick?  :hick:


a number of things

working,eating,$hiting,showering,sleeping,drinking beer,"like i'm doing right now"getting treatments.and punching the clown!! oh and surfing this message board.. while drinking beer.. but not while punching the clown :eek: ;)

i guess thats about it i think..

Nick
Quote
there's only about a half a dozen man made objects that are herd by the human ear below 40Hz,a pipe organ,thunder,the space shuttle lifting off,a jet airplane taking off or landing,a large canon,an atomic bomb ignited in your back yard and the heat wave afterward oh wait you would be dead so you would'nt hear it scratch that!,and maybe beating your hear against a wall less then 40 times a second..rap music is'nt one of them!thats 40-60Hz@100+db the moving air is under 40Hz