Topic: Help with choosing keyless entry system for my Subaru

[Gordon]

1996 Subaru Legacy GT Wagon
Having never installed a keyless entry system in any car before I have what is probably a very basic question:

Which components of a factory power lock system (without factory keyless entry) does an aftermarket keyless system typically replace?  The power lock system on my car will lock all the doors, but won't unlock any of them.  I traced the problem to the main timed relay that reverses the polarity to either lock or unlock the doors.  It sends power to the lock actuators to lock the doors, but does not reverse the polarity or send any power to unlock them. 

This part is conveniently located deep behind the dashboard in the far corner on the passenger side and will require removal of the dash to gain access to.  Since I'd like to upgrade to a keyless system anyway (and avoid pulling the entire dash assembly), I was hoping that this relay would be bypassed with the installation of an aftermarket keyless entry.

All four of the factory lock actuators work fine, so ideally I'm looking for a kit that will only replace the control of the actuators and doesn't rely on any factory electrical components to do its job.   

If anybody knows what I'm talking about, or even if you don't, I'd appreciate any info you could share.

[mark]

The setups I've seen don't eliminate any of the stock system... usually just tag on a wire to trigger that(oops bad) relay. Maybe you can get to it by removing the glovebox insert.

or you could get one of these......



the original keyless entry system.

[Hasenkopf]

     Typically the aftermarket alarm systems were piggybacked with the power lock system, they didn't replace anything....the main controller was usually wire tied up,under the dash,drivers kick panel, and the unit connected to the fuse panel for a power supply....the trigger used for the alarm was usually the most convenient  and this was the dome lamp system.  To lock/unlock the wires were usually scotch-clipped into the power lock wiring located near the fuse panel.....more expensive systems included little plunger switches that you could install under the rad support.          For what it's worth, and as my opinion as a subaru tech with over a decade exp. the aftermarket systems caused more problems that they were worth. even the factory ones were a real pain some times, with reprogramming, dead batteries and such....

[mrblasty]

All I can say is my wife had a 93 legacy wagon with a gremlin in the alarm system.  Best o' luck to you

[Gordon]

Thanks, guys.

I already removed the glove box, but all that does is allow me to see the relay in question, not gain access to it, unfortunately. 

This was never an issue before we started having kids.  I don't mind opening my door and then reaching across to open the passenger door, but when carrying at least one kid, my backpack, and the diaper bag, it's a huge pain to juggle kids around to unlock my door, then reach in to unlock the back door, and then repeat on the other side of the car.  It wouldn't be so bad if they had just installed key locks on the back doors, too, but I guess since it came with power locks they didn't think it was necessary.  Sort of like how a kick-start wasn't necessary for the 650.

After looking around some more I'm finding a lot of aftermarket keyless systems that say they come with built-in power lock relays, so I'm hoping that's what I'm looking for.  I'm gonna try to get to a store today to look at some in person. 

The only problem after that is that the driver's door doesn't actually have a power lock in it.  Since it didn't come with a factory keyless system, the driver's door is unlocked manually which throws the switch to unlock and lock the other doors, so I'll have to either install an actuator in that door, or just stick with unlocking that one with the key, which is an acceptable compromise.   

[Gordon]

I'm also considering the idea of just bypassing the faulty relay and wiring in a 3-position, momentary switch on the driver door panel to control the locks.  Shouldn't be too difficult since the actuators are the two-wire type.  Current flows in one direction and the doors lock, reverse the polarity with the switch and they unlock.

[Gordon]

Got it all taken care of today!

I went to Pep Boys and they had a keyless entry kit with its own lock relays for 35 bucks.  Installed it and it works great.   Now I just have to install the lock actuator for the driver's door, which is going to be a different project on a different day. 

Thanks for the responses!