Fitting remote central locking / alarm

[sotal]

Hi,

I'm looking for a bit of a guide to fitting remote central locking or an alarm. I need to fit a solenoid to the drivers door and I need to fit a kit.

The first bit that has me confused is that there are 2 types of solenoid - a 2 wire slave solenoid and a 5 wire master solenoid. Logic would make me think I would need a 5 wire master solenoid, but 2 companies I have spoken with said I need the 2 wire slave solenoid. However they couldn't explain why - Are they correct and can anyone explain why?!

I found a guide in the members area on here for fitting the solenoid - mechanically I should be fine - other than getting my hands in but electrically the pictures weren't that clear. It also doesn't include all the other stuff for remote locking. In fact what does adding a solenoid on it's own do? I presume the bit that tells the others to lock isn't in the passenger door - so surely just adding a solenoid as per the guide would do nothing?!

Any way - does anyone have a bit of fitting guide for dummies?

Does a RCL kit all just wire up in the drivers door? Is it just a case of having a module which takes power from somewhere, then tapping into the wire that is activated when you turn the key so that when the remote is pressed - the doors all unlock?

If I add an alarm does it add a lot of work? Just thinking that an alarm kit is only £10 or so more than a RCL kit. However if I need to install loads of wiring to use it, it might not be worth it.

Thanks!

[nth]

Do you already have key operated central locking ? If so then a 2 wire solenoid in the drivers door should be fine. Most alarms & universal remote locking kits are configurable for different locking setups.
If you have no central locking at all then you will want a 5 wire solenoid in the drivers door. The extra 3 wires are for an internal position switch to let it know if it is being locked or unlocked. In this case you could just fit all 2 wire solenoids it just means you wouldnt be able to centrally lock all the doors with the key or the door button, they would only centrally lock with the remote.

[sotal]

Do you already have key operated central locking ? If so then a 2 wire solenoid in the drivers door should be fine. Most alarms & universal remote locking kits are configurable for different locking setups.
If you have no central locking at all then you will want a 5 wire solenoid in the drivers door. The extra 3 wires are for an internal position switch to let it know if it is being locked or unlocked. In this case you could just fit all 2 wire solenoids it just means you wouldnt be able to centrally lock all the doors with the key or the door button, they would only centrally lock with the remote.

Hi, thanks for the reply.

I currently have central locking but it only works from the drivers door with the key.

So I just need a 2 wire solenoid for the drivers door and a remote locking setup of my choice? Is it much to wire up? I'm not too bad with electrics but don't really want too much hassle of ripping the car apart to get to wires etc.

[dave_aber]

Fit it all inside the door - there is a permanent live in there already.

Means that the remote fob range isn't great, as the receiver is inside the metal door.

You can fit the solenoid at the lover rear corner of the door, there are some handy mounting holes already there IIRC, and then link a vertical actuator rod to the door-lock pin to move it and trigger the original C/L to do the other doors.