DIY Installing Remote Keyless Entry-1994 Ford Tempo

In this project, I installed a remote keyless entry to my 1994 Ford Tempo without tapping into the car's wiring. The alarm and the remote starter features were not installed. Why? It is because:

1.     It eliminates a lot of work of getting access to the relevant wire harnesses which located at the ignition switch and behind the dashboard.

2.    It eliminates the big headache of identifying the  car's wires (I don't have the car repair manual).

3.    I don't really need the remote starter and alarm functions. The keyless entry and the remote car finder features are all what I need.

Material

4 power lock actuators (all are of 2-wires) and the mounting hardware (My car don't even have power door locks).

2 auto relays (12V coil, single pole double throw (SPDT), 30A rating for the contacts).

50 feet of AWG 16 speaker wires. (I used AWG 16 power cables that removed from faulty vacuum cleaners)

A keyless entry module with remote fobs. (I used one from DesignTech. It has 1000 feet range).

Heavy duty cigarette lighter plug, terminal strip, wire clips, grommets,  spiral wrap, cable ties, PVC tape.

How-to

1.  Program the module on test bench first. The module's installation manual said initializing (program) the module after the car's wiring are hooked up. As I don't tap into the car's wiring, this procedures must be done on test bench, using toggle switches to simulate the ignition switch and the brake switch.

2.  Once the module is programmed, get the module to learn the transmitter's code as described in the installation manual. At this point, the relays and the actuators can be hooked up for system test (see wiring diagram below) on the bench. Ensure it works before they are installed onto the car. By doing this test, you will avoid the big headache arising from the field troubleshoot if something goes wrong with the programming and code learning procedures. If the actuator plungers do not travel in the direction in line with the transmitters' marking, swap the Alarm lock and alarm unlock outputs at the relay terminal 85s.

3.  Install the door lock actuators:

    3.1    Remove the window regulator handle as below:

        3.1.1    Pull the handle cover out and turn it to expose the Torx screw.

        3.1.2    Remove the Torx screw and the handle.

    3.2    Remove the Torx screw at the door handle and then the door handle:

    3.3    Remove the door trim panel as below:

            3.3.1    Locate the Philip screws that hold the door trim panel and remove them.  The screw locations are shown below.             

                  For the front doors, the following screw also needs to remove, and the mirror control needs to be loosen.

        3.3.2    There are a few plastic push pins that hold the door trim panel. Insert a 12" screw driver behind the panel and pry the panel out.

        3.3.3    Once the panel is pried out, lift the panel up to release the hooks at the top of the door, and it should come right off. Then peel off the vapor barrier that covers the entire door area.

    3.4    Install the actuator as below:

            3.4.1    Rear doors    The actuators are installed horizontally as shown below. It doesn't need to bend the driving rods.

                This picture shows you where the driving rod is coupled to the door's lock mechanism.

        3.4.2    Front doors    The mounting rails need to be bent as  shown below:

                 The actuator is to be installed vertically inside the steel frame. In the first picture below I show you the location outside the steel frame for clarity. The actuator's driving rods need to be bent. The 2nd picture shows you the actuator installed in the actual location.  The 3rd picture shows you the driving rod being coupled to the door's lock pin.

    3.5    Run the wires

            3.5.1    Rear doors    Make a hole on the grommet and run the wire from the door through it. Protect the wire with a piece of spiral wrap. Then the wires are run along the edge of the front door thread hold (beneath the trim cover) to the tray next to the cigarette lighter socket. 

            3.5.2    Front doors    run the wire from the door through the bellow conduit to the tray nest to the cigarette lighter socket.

        3.5.3    The wires are terminated at the tray where the relays are put. See the wiring diagram for connections.

    3.6    Hook the module up and do a functional test. Attach the 12V power using the cigarette lighter plug. Once you're satisfied it works, put the module in the grove compartment and secure the wires with wire clips and cable ties.

    3.7    Run the antenna cable and install the antenna. I first installed the antenna on the rear mirror.

            I change my mind later. I put it close to the top edge of the wind shield where the glass is tinted. It becomes invisible from the outside. 

4.    Replace the vapor barriers and reinforce it with duct tape, re-install the door trim panels and put everything back the way you found it.

5.    Install a car finder signaling device (e.g. a lamp or a buzzer). It will be energized momentarily whenever the lock or unlock command is received; or will be energized for 15 minutes when the car finder command is received. I didn't install anything for this output yet. I plan to install a strobe light inside the car.

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End of the project

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