Adding keyless entry?

[bubbadu]

Ever since I have gotten my Mercedes ('84 190e), I have yet to lock the doors on it. The power locks will close, but then I will have no way back into the car because the dealer didnt give me the proper keys I assume to get into the car. I would have keys made, but they are laser cut, and would rather just get keyless put in or put in myself if the price is right. I dont want to sound ignorant, but here in VT, we have little to no crime, espically in my neighboorhood, so I haven't been locking my car. I obviously take the faceplate off of my new apline deck, but otherwise the car is wide open. Do you guys think it would be possible to just buy a kit somewhere, kit BB, CC or even walmart? That would give me keyless? Or is this going to be a job that is going to have to be professionally done because its a Benz? If anyone has done it thereself and would care to share that would be great. THANKS

 

[Heisenberg]

If it already has power locks, adding keyless entry isn't hard.

 

[Nocturnal]

I think you'd be better of getting it professionally done.

 

[NutBucket]

I think your benz has an air pump in the trunk. Basically the locks in your car are vacuum operated. Hmm, but its electric switches anyway sooo....I suppose it really shouldn't matter that they're vacuum operated.

 

[bubbadu]

Everything on the car is freaking vaccumm powered it seems .. all the locks go down when I push the drivers side lock down, so they obviously work... I havve been waiting to see when BB does free installation, but I havent seen it in weeks. Maybe ill just get a kit at Walmart or something tomorrow and see if I can figure it out...

 

[Lucky]

how are you starting the car?

 

[bubbadu]

I leave the car unlocked.... the key for the ignition starts the car no problem... they gave me another key, but it does nothing... I tried it in the locks, and it wont lock the car... so I tested the locks just by pushing them down. I cant lock them and close the door because I would be locked out. The keys are lazer cut so I guess I would have to go to a dealership to get new ones programmed to the doors... I have most of tomorrow off so I guess I can mess around and see exactly how they work...

 

[Lucky]

i've never seen an ignition key that wouldnt work the doors. weird.

 

[Akira13]

Originally posted by: Lucky
how are you starting the car?

Same question came to mind here. What kind of dealer sells a car without "the proper" keys?

As for your question, there are kits at CC or BB. I think the ones for just the remote entry run $150 and up. You could get an alarm system; those usually come with remote entry systems.

Edit: One problem... those keyless entry systems are battery powered, so if your car battery or the transmitter dies, you're gonna be locked out.

 

[bubbadu]

Originally posted by: Lucky
i've never seen an ignition key that wouldnt work the doors. weird.

Lol yeah this car has issues. The oddometer is broke, gas gauge doesnt work, and I had to get the speedmeter fixed.. but the car is legal and it gets me to school and work everyday. For 500 bucks, its been pretty good so far. My friends uncle is a locksmith, so I guess I can have him look at it. I was worried about geting copied keys anyway because two of my friends got them at a local hardware store and they both broke there locks within a couple of weeks If I had keyless I could just unlock the car and it would just calm my nerves about stuff geting stolen.

 

[tweakmm]

Spending $150 on a keyless entry sounds kinda pointless on a $500 car.

 

[Lucky]

well keyless would be neato but it would be a helluva lot cheaper to just change the lock core and get a new key just for driver's side, esp. since you use a different key for ignition anyways.

 

[mugs]

Originally posted by: Lucky
i've never seen an ignition key that wouldnt work the doors. weird.

Isn't that how most GMs work?

 

[bubbadu]

Originally posted by: Lucky
well keyless would be neato but it would be a helluva lot cheaper to just change the lock core and get a new key just for driver's side, esp. since you use a different key for ignition anyways.

Yeah I just might do that if my friends uncle is willing to do the install for me.. My brother had him do it a couple of weeks ago and he did an awesome job. I just don't want to piss him off so I will definilty pay him to do it. I was just waying the cost of a "Universal Kit" vs. buying a lock. I will have my dad call up ( he can get most parts at cost)and see how much it would be for just a lock...

 

[Heisenberg]

Originally posted by: mugsywwiii

Originally posted by: Lucky
i've never seen an ignition key that wouldnt work the doors. weird.

Isn't that how most GMs work?

GM used to use two separate keys for the ignition and the doors/trunk. They started using one for everything in the early 90's IIRC.

 

[mugs]

Originally posted by: Heisenberg

Originally posted by: mugsywwiii

Originally posted by: Lucky
i've never seen an ignition key that wouldnt work the doors. weird.

Isn't that how most GMs work?

GM used to use two separate keys for the ignition and the doors/trunk. They started using one for everything in the early 90's IIRC.

Ah, ok. I can't remember the last GM car anyone in my family had. They still don't use symmetrical keys, right?

 

[Heisenberg]

Originally posted by: mugsywwiii

Originally posted by: Heisenberg

Originally posted by: mugsywwiii

Originally posted by: Lucky
i've never seen an ignition key that wouldnt work the doors. weird.

Isn't that how most GMs work?

GM used to use two separate keys for the ignition and the doors/trunk. They started using one for everything in the early 90's IIRC.

Ah, ok. I can't remember the last GM car anyone in my family had. They still don't use symmetrical keys, right?

You mean the key itself is symmetrical? Yeah, they still are. At least the one to my 99 is.

 

[GeekDrew]

I've got a 1999 Ford Explorer... and it's 1 key operates the locks, ignition, everything. I believe that it is symmetrical. I do have keyless entry on it already... thinking about adding remote start. Anyone know if that's easy?

Anyway... it must have been in the early 90s that they started using 1 key... I've driven several Ford Pickup trucks before, and they have all had 2 keys (they were 1990, 1989, and 1984, though). My brother's 97 (I think) ranger uses 1 key for everything.

 

[Pepsi90919]

Originally posted by: Lucky
i've never seen an ignition key that wouldnt work the doors. weird.

any GM car between 1900 and 1998?

 

[mugs]

Originally posted by: Heisenberg

Originally posted by: mugsywwiii

Originally posted by: Heisenberg

Originally posted by: mugsywwiii

Originally posted by: Lucky
i've never seen an ignition key that wouldnt work the doors. weird.

Isn't that how most GMs work?

GM used to use two separate keys for the ignition and the doors/trunk. They started using one for everything in the early 90's IIRC.

Ah, ok. I can't remember the last GM car anyone in my family had. They still don't use symmetrical keys, right?

You mean the key itself is symmetrical? Yeah, they still are. At least the one to my 99 is.

I thought GM keys were flat on one side?

 

[Heisenberg]

Originally posted by: mugsywwiii

Originally posted by: Heisenberg

Originally posted by: mugsywwiii

Originally posted by: Heisenberg

Originally posted by: mugsywwiii

Originally posted by: Lucky
i've never seen an ignition key that wouldnt work the doors. weird.

Isn't that how most GMs work?

GM used to use two separate keys for the ignition and the doors/trunk. They started using one for everything in the early 90's IIRC.

Ah, ok. I can't remember the last GM car anyone in my family had. They still don't use symmetrical keys, right?

You mean the key itself is symmetrical? Yeah, they still are. At least the one to my 99 is.

I thought GM keys were flat on one side?

The old two-key ones were. The single keys are two-sided and symmetrical.

 

[Leetman]

Keys on my 2002 Suburban and 2002 Vette arent flat on one side.

 

[NutBucket]

Originally posted by: mugsywwiii

Originally posted by: Heisenberg

Originally posted by: mugsywwiii

Originally posted by: Heisenberg

Originally posted by: mugsywwiii

Originally posted by: Lucky
i've never seen an ignition key that wouldnt work the doors. weird.

Isn't that how most GMs work?

GM used to use two separate keys for the ignition and the doors/trunk. They started using one for everything in the early 90's IIRC.

Ah, ok. I can't remember the last GM car anyone in my family had. They still don't use symmetrical keys, right?

You mean the key itself is symmetrical? Yeah, they still are. At least the one to my 99 is.

I thought GM keys were flat on one side?

Only the older ones me thinks.

 

[Shawn]

All the GMs my parents have ever owned had one key for everything, and they were symmetrical too. Of course they were all fairly recent vehicles... 97 Ponitac Montana, 99 Oldsmobile Cutlass, 01 Oldsmobile Silhouette.

 

[mugs]

Interesting. Sorry for hijacking the thread, but I think you already got your answer bubbadu