Ever install an aftermarket remote entry on a 1990-1995 Q?

[ti286]

The wires that trip the trunk and doors are so buried under the dash. How did you access them?

[jamesmost]

i paid someone to do it $175 plus $75 or $ 150 to roll the front windows down.

[maxnix]

Interfacing an aftermarket unit with the LAN on the 1994 and later G50 is probably something best left to an expert installer. You should only have to add intrusion and motion detection, and maybe a remote starter and battery for the alarm.

[RobertsnewQ]

I just did it last weekend (93).

I would pay someone unless you are VERY comfortable with wiring. If you can understand every diagram in the electrical chapter of the FSM and you know how to solder then you should be OK. To tell you the truth, I'm somewhat of an electrical specialist and I thought it was a huge pain. Try to find a good installer, not just whoever is cheapest. There are some tricky spots in the install - the Q has a VERY complicated electical system and a sloppy install can cause all kinds of trouble.

You have to disassemble the entire front and underside of the dash. Door lock and trunk release wires are buried in the left hinge panel (on two of three connectors that you have to pull out from the cavity there). You also have to wire it into (or disable) the factory theft control module (behind and above the glovebox, not the ABS module).

I installed the module behind the gauge cluster to the underside of the dash frame. The model I used (Viper 160xv) has a remote start, which required cutting and splicing into all of the ignition switch wires (I didn't want to do it that way, but I couldn't find two factory plugs to make a y-harness). The Q is pretty good because all of the ignition wires have relays and your harness won't be carrying real heavy current.

I crimped, soldered and heat-shrink covered all connectors, and taped all the wires into harnesses with loom tape (not cheap electrical tape). I used scotch-lock connectors to tap into signal (low current) wires, but all the high-current connections are soldered.

I also wired it up with driver's priority unlock and used the aux. channel to open the sunroof. Both the priority unlock and the trunk release required relays. The sunroof I just triggered the factory relay with the aux negative output. Same for the parking light flash and horn. OH, and the horn wires are in the airbag harness/connector, so DO NOT PROBE THEM UNLESS YOU'VE DISCONNECTED THE AIRBAG CONNECTOR!!!!! The factory wiring diagram gives the wrong colors here too, so it's even harder, but the connector pin-out in the FSM is correct.

If you're serious about doing it, shoot me an email and I can give more details. It's not a job for someone who has never worked on automotive electrical systems, though. I have several years of experience building harnessses for race cars and even I was challenged.

Oh, and if you have a 94-96 with the integrated body control module, I can't help you. As Maxnix said, the LAN makes it harder (but not impossible).
Modified by RobertsnewQ at 11:23 AM 7/22/2005

[nchopp]

Man, sounds like my idea of a good time... <shudders> Any guesses on what that kind of install would set someone back?

[RobertsnewQ]

Not a clue. It took me like 8 hours, but I was taking my time to do it my own anal way and make it look factory (used OEM harness routing). I'm sure an experience alarm guy could do it in a couple of hours. If I were you I would check some local alarm shops for someone that does high-end work, or works on high-end cars. They'll be more expensive but you can be sure they won't fry your electrical system. Or you could check out http://www.the12volt.com for reccomendations.

[maxnix]

Geez, Robert, looks like you're the guy to do the remote starter I am missing on my Qs!

Do pictures next time, and we will have a hell of a valuable article. Sounds like a nice install.

[maxnix]

i paid someone to do it $175 plus $75 or $ 150 to roll the front windows down.

Of course, the 1994 and after Q45 have these two features stock.

[RobertsnewQ]

Geez, Robert, looks like you're the guy to do the remote starter I am missing on my Qs!

Do pictures next time, and we will have a hell of a valuable article. Sounds like a nice install.

I think it's too crowded for good photos!

My back still hurts from the contortions needed to get to the factory theft module.

I could write up a "tips and tricks" but it would only apply to the 90-93 Q

The remote start is nice in this hot weather. I just start it about 5 minutes before I leave the office and open the sunroof a crack. When I get to the car it's nice and cool inside and the engine is fully warmed up and ready for some WOT action.

[Flagship-Q]

I just had this done last weekend by Circuit City (kinda like Best Buy) and they had a free installation promo so it cost $119 installed with the trunk release (also needed a relay). Pretty damn good deal for all they possible headaches that could be involved with. I talked to the installer for a while just to make sure I was comfortable with their work. Had it in and ready in 2 hrs.

[nchopp]

What kind of range do you get with that system, Robert?

[RobertsnewQ]

Never measured it, but it's better than the OEM Nissan system installed in my old Spec V.

[maxnix]

I think it's too crowded for good photos!

My back still hurts from the contortions needed to get to the factory theft module.

I could write up a "tips and tricks" but it would only apply to the 90-93 Q

The remote start is nice in this hot weather. I just start it about 5 minutes before I leave the office and open the sunroof a crack. When I get to the car it's nice and cool inside and the engine is fully warmed up and ready for some WOT action.

I can relate to that, but it is a nice write-up for the 90-93 G50 owners.

I miss the remote start I have on my Acura. But, that's about it.

[szh]

If you guys choose to install the "Clifford Viper GPS" unit in your cars (available at Best Buy and Circuit City, I think) and sign up for certain options, you could remote-start (and other things like locate, remote engine kill, etc.) your car from anywhere in the world - as long as the car was somewhere in cellular coverage in Canada, US or Mexico! Gross overkill, obviously, but better than the typical infra-red or radio remote-start.

This Clifford product uses our cellular data transport network!

Z

EDIT: I should say the cellular data transport network of the company I work for ... did not mean to imply it was a NICO thing!

[redmanfx]

I need to pick your brain on everyting you know about remote anything with a 92Q45. I want it all. Keyless entry, remote start...... anything you know would be very much appriciated.

red

[RobertsnewQ]

Just look at one of the DEI (Viper, DEI, Clifford) systems. They have the market sewed up.

The one I used has remote start, keyless entry and two other channels. That's pretty typical. I used one for trunk release and one for the sunroof. You could do other things with the fourth channel but I wasn't creative enough to think of one.

The factory alarm is OK - you could get one of the Viper systems that includes a motion sensor if you want to get fancy.

[maxnix]

I need to pick your brain on everyting you know about remote anything with a 92Q45. I want it all. Keyless entry, remote start...... anything you know would be very much appriciated.

red

The Clifford AvantGard series is the top of the DEI line. A senior installation technician should know how to interface with the BCM on a newer G50.