CAR ALARM - actuators and hazard lights *installed*

crzymx · Postby **crzymx** » Sun Nov 30, 2008 8:18 pm

Again, i didnt find relevent information. This could actually be made a tutorial for the how to section.

Well going in with the intentions of buying a keyless entry kit i bought a whole alarm package. I plan to go over the whole system soon, however i am trying to see if i can pickup any good advice.

It has most of the basic alarm stuff, but i am particularly curious about central locking and auto window up hookup. So any locations of neccesary wires etc, plus tips would be great.

It has three diagrams for the central locking, ones a negative, ones a positive, ones a negative/positive. Which one woulld i have to go by.??

Anyone know a good spot for the shock sensor.

Also, would anyone reccomend the immobiliser feature as my mx5 already has a factory one.

*EDIT*
I have had an extensive look at the system and figured out the central lock aspect, however i requre an actuator for the drivers door, so its off to jaycar next week. Could someone reccomend an actuator type? I just dont want something that wont fit.

Also, im having a bit of trouble wiring up lights to the alarm. I have tried the hazard light plug under the steering column however i beleive the reason it doesnt work is because there is no ground. Help would be great!

crzymx · Postby **crzymx** » Tue Dec 02, 2008 11:33 pm

Stu · Postby **Stu** » Wed Dec 03, 2008 10:08 am

Umm.. I think most members don't like discussing their security set-ups publicly.

Juffa · Postby **Juffa** » Wed Dec 03, 2008 3:34 pm

Ok, I have to say this. It's a 2 door car for goodness sake. Why the need for central locking, and other gismos that may or may not play up later down the line. I admit I put central locking in my first MX-5, but chose not to do it in the others.

Goes to find the cardigan as I feel a chill coming on.

J.

GP · Postby GP » Wed Dec 03, 2008 4:10 pm

Central locking is the best thing I've done to my 5. No more stuffing around with keys in the dark.
I just followed the wiring diagram that came with my alarm immobilisor, There's no auto window setup with mine.

meanmx · Postby **meanmx** » Wed Dec 03, 2008 6:58 pm

Crzymx, it is great that you are trying to do all this stuff yourself and it is the only way to really learn how to do this sort of thing. However an alarm is quite complicated and alot can go wrong. I have no idea what your level of experience is but if this is your first then I would recommend having someone there that has done this before. Central locking is far easier so maybe give that a go and see how you feel and if that was no problems then try the alarm. If you decide to go ahead still then make sure you solder and heatshrink all connections. Shock sensors are normally in the engine bay with the siren and a good spot for a microwave sensor is under the stereo centre console. A microwave sensor is highly recommended in a convertible.

Ben

crzymx · Postby **crzymx** » Thu Dec 04, 2008 1:38 am

Well look, i know what you mean, but theres only one way to learn. However i do know lots of people who can help, i just thought id try the people who OWN mx5's first. Mainly i think ive gotten most right, especially for my first time, sirens done, as is the LED, so is the hazard light connection. If anything after it all works i will go back and solder all my old connections and heatshrink. This is because i dont want to make any connections permanent till it all works. Because the car already has an immobiliser i think i will give the kill switch a miss, the only cool part is you can kill the car by remote if it gets hijacked, doubt it will happen. But im having a bit of trouble with finding a constant 12v other than the batter, and that is in the cabin. Dont laugh but i can only find a firewall gromit in the passenger side

. Also i got no idea what part of the central locking to connect to the alarm.. Automatic window up is another area of confusion but none the less i will get there.

To those who say central locking is a waste of time you must be on drugs because i would hate to not have central locking first of all, let alone keyless entry which can preserve your paint job in the long run (various key scratches from fiddeling in the dark).

Meanmx i think i will put the shocksensor in the engine bay if the spot under the footwell on the chassis is no good. Ill probably see you tommorow night if you end up coming down anyway. Thanks!

Juffa · Postby **Juffa** » Thu Dec 04, 2008 1:41 pm

As Ben said, good on you for giving it a go. I had fitted central locking to my first 5 and while it was handy I decided not to install it in my other 5s. I guess after 25+ years of car ownership I have gotten used to unlocking/locking the car with the key. A side benefit of this is that I haven't locked my keys in the car for over 20 years (touch wood). As for finding the lock in the dark, I just hold the key so that it does not extend beyond my fingers, line up the key hole by touch and insert the key. I only have the alarm fob on the key ring so the risk of scratching the paint is minimal.

As for a source of constant 12v power. Your radio will have a constant 12v feed in order to retain the pre-set station memory. Another source will be the dash mounted cabin lights. With these power sources you may find that the wires are not rated for a big load, and you may blow a fuse or worse melt some of your wiring loom. I would suggest running a specific power feed from the battery, with its own in-line fuse. You can run the wire into the cabin from the tunnel between the boot and the cabin. Then run it under the plastic trim along the bottom edge of the door frame and up under the dash.

Have fun with the mods, it is one of great things about the MX-5.....they are so easy to work on.

J

sabretooth · Postby **sabretooth** » Thu Dec 04, 2008 2:16 pm

Juffa wrote:Ok, I have to say this. It's a 2 door car for goodness sake. Why the need for central locking, and other gismos that may or may not play up later down the line. I admit I put central locking in my first MX-5, but chose not to do it in the others.

Goes to find the cardigan as I feel a chill coming on.

J.

I'd rather not reach over. I'd rather have both doors unluck as soon as I hit the button rather than have my passenger wait for me to get into the car and reach to the other side just so that they can get in. And the same thing for locking the door. Did the passenger actually lock it??

While I'm all for the hands-on approach - but you need to work these things out before you start on the project.

If you want constant 12v, pinch it from the ignition - the wiring diagram will show you this. Better yet, get under there, poke a multimeter around and see what has what voltage under different turns of the key. Nearly all, if not all wires - are around the ignition.

crzymx · Postby **crzymx** » Thu Dec 04, 2008 3:41 pm

Yeah i found a good writeup on it, i just need to figure out how to tap into a running wire safely.

Look im not too worried about how well the alarm is installed as i only really wanted keyless entry, alarm is just a bonus as it was the same price.