Keyless entry: Aftermarket or Stock retrofit?

[pdbinnc]

So I've got a '99 XJ with power locks and windows, but no keyless entry stuff. I'd like to add this, would I be better off scrounging the dome light circuit board and fobs and having them reprogrammed at the dealer, or go with an aftermarket system like this? http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16882647158

Thanks!

 

[Glacialbass]

It will be cheaper and have better range if you just get an aftermarket unit and install it yourself.

 

[Talyn]

x2. I have a Viper 791XV on mine that I got for $250 on ebay new. Installed it myself properly using solder instead of those 3M scothclocks like most install places use. It has 2way communications with the remote, remote paging, remote start, auto lock when doors are closed, and some other features. Programmed the remote to honk the horn after I hold a button on the remote for 3 seconds... kind of fun to watch people react to that. Good range and it has been flawless since I installed it about 9 years ago. You could get a good simple system for under well under $200.

 

[CherBear]

Correct me if I am wrong...

I was under the impression that the stock units were trash, that they used IR communication which limited the range severely.

Besides that, aftermarket would be easier to install, and probably more feature-rich.
You might be able to score a keyless entry unit from a JY, but then you have no directions for instal, tracking down the key fobs. It would be a mess.

 

[Talyn]

The older ones were IR. You had to be pretty much up to the window for it to work. I don't know when they changed it 96 maybe? But a stock one for the 99 is RF.

 

[lesslimited]

I went basic and cheap for my '94...

http://www.samsclub.com/sams/shop/product.jsp?productId=178556

Installed it last year, no problems so far.

 

[Johnnie Walker]

Viper 791XV is a great system, had one on my 92 dakota.

 

[CherBear]

How do systems like these work with your different models of cars? I assume nearly every manufacturer has some sort of different wiring scheme for power locks and remote start ect.
Does if plug in to some standardized port, or is wiring the thing just sort of a figure-it-out-yourself kind of deal?

 

[Talyn]

There is no standardized port. www.the12volt.com is your friend for wiring colors and locations. The FSM is handy too.

 

[kastein]

Changed in 97, 96 was still the worthless IR setup. Using a superbright IR LED I managed to get my range up to TEN FEET*! New batteries might bring it to 15 or 20.

Look into the LH-series remote mod - http://www.jeepforum.com/forum/f13/ir-rf-keyless-entry-conversion-676076/

After a few weeks of junkyard hunting, I finally found the receiver box I needed, will be picking the remotes up on ebay probably.

* only possible when it's dark, and I approach the vehicle from a certain angle.

 

[UKJEEP]

I can live without keyless entry (when I had a working system, the novelty soon wore off!): now a system that would power up the rear hatch when you had your arms full - THAT would be useful!

However the keyless entry also activates the immobiliser - & that's an insurance requirement here in the UK: answer? use the remote before closing the driver's door (it's the glass that seems to be more of a problem than distance). I know that the theory is that having acivated the immobiliser it has to be disarmed the same way otherwise the Jeep won't start but never known that to be so.

 

[Rob Mayercik]

Changed in 97, 96 was still the worthless IR setup. Using a superbright IR LED I managed to get my range up to TEN FEET*! New batteries might bring it to 15 or 20.

Look into the LH-series remote mod - http://www.jeepforum.com/forum/f13/ir-rf-keyless-entry-conversion-676076/

After a few weeks of junkyard hunting, I finally found the receiver box I needed, will be picking the remotes up on ebay probably.

* only possible when it's dark, and I approach the vehicle from a certain angle.

I just did the LH-series retrofit back in May as part of a headliner replacement, and am very pleased with it - got a good 20-30 foot range on the remote. Now I need to come up with something creative to do with my IR system (seeing as I bought a Piland remote for it years ago and both remote/receiver still work, it seems wasteful to just chuck it).

I got my LH parts through eBay - found a guy selling a matched remote/receiver combo for $30, snapped it up. Just keep your eyes open.

 

[kastein]

I just picked up a pair of two remotes for 20 on ebay and I finally found an LH-series receiver at the junkyard for 10 (as I said before), so hopefully I'll get this done soon.

 

[pdbinnc]

I went basic and cheap for my '94...

http://www.samsclub.com/sams/shop/product.jsp?productId=178556

Installed it last year, no problems so far.

Oh man, nice find, that's exactly what I'm looking for. I didn't even think of checking at Sam's.

Thanks!

 

[GrimmJeeper]

x100 on the12volt. you can get your wiring diagram for free there for just about any vehicle, AND it will tell you where the wires are located so you don't have to hunt through the harness to find em. Sounds like a big job but if you can cut wires and put them back together it's pretty easy to install an alarm/keyless entry/remote start etc etc