R8 Cars with Infrared fobs - future support?
Posted: Sun Nov 27, 2022 11:51 am
Hi, appologies for the long thread - there is lots of information below, but please stick with me as i'd appreciate your support.
As part of my work in programming fobs, and general support with T4 for members of this club, and the Rover Coupe Owners club - we have identified for some time an ongoing issue with cars with infrared fobs. These (I think) are typically cars made between 1992 and 1994 - they have two valeo fobs, and inside the car, the interior light has a small black "dome" on it. The Alarm ECU is the Lucas 14VT type.
These Infrared fobs are "rare" and if you want additional fobs, you have to buy "new" ones. You can still get them from Xpart - Rimmers list them, but they are £94 each. https://rimmerbros.com/Item--i-YWX10005
However, just obtaining the fobs is not the end of the story. You need to "match" them with the infrared unit. This was done "back in the day" with the Microcheck diagnostics kit. This kit was time locked and you had to get special codes every year from omnitec to continue to use the kit. I have borrowed the kit to investigate, but no further forward as a vital cable is missing(!) in the late 90's, Microcheck was replace with Testbook, but there was a (now rare) Microcheck emulation module for Testbook, and the alter T$, that should let you program these fobs.
I do have the Micocheck emulation unit for T4, but have had no sucess in getting it to work (yet!)
In anycase, I don't think even if we program these fobs, its a long term-every day solution. So, I have been working on a new project. I have been working on custom wiring loom design, so we can do a plug-and-play (no cutting of wires, and totally reversable) retrofit of the later Lucas 5AS alarm system and fobs. These were very widly used, and can be obtained reletivly cheaply, and we already support these.
I have ordered the parts to make some prototypes, and they will be fully tested before we "go live" I envisage there would be a self-install option, or installed version (for a modest fee)
I'd like to know if this is something that people would be interested in. Im not looking for any commitments to order, just expressions of interest to see if its viable.
I see there would be a few options for this solution that people could order
1. A Cable that people can use, but source there own match 5AS Alarm/Fobs
2. Cable supplied along with a (seocnd hand) fully tested 5AS, refurbished and matched fobs (self-installed)
3. Cable supplied along with a (seocnd hand) fully tested 5AS, refurbished and matched fobs (non- self-installed) - this could be carried out at an agreed location, or even at car shows.
The cables could also some with options of
a) a diagnostics port so you could programme new, or replacement fobs at a later time
b) wiring capabilities to retro fit "flashing indicators", like later coupes, R3's
c) passive immobiliation - a little coil fitted behind the ingition barrel - the immobiliser turns off automatically in the presence of a fob (need to see if the r8 barrel will take the coil first)
Please can you let me know your thoughts on all of the above. I'll be honest, pricing isn't going to be "cheap cheap" - all the bits and actual time to do it add up, but the whole kit supplied in option (3) above would certainly be less than the purchase of two new infrared fobs from Rimmers and finding someone to programme them!
Is this of any interest?
As part of my work in programming fobs, and general support with T4 for members of this club, and the Rover Coupe Owners club - we have identified for some time an ongoing issue with cars with infrared fobs. These (I think) are typically cars made between 1992 and 1994 - they have two valeo fobs, and inside the car, the interior light has a small black "dome" on it. The Alarm ECU is the Lucas 14VT type.
These Infrared fobs are "rare" and if you want additional fobs, you have to buy "new" ones. You can still get them from Xpart - Rimmers list them, but they are £94 each. https://rimmerbros.com/Item--i-YWX10005
However, just obtaining the fobs is not the end of the story. You need to "match" them with the infrared unit. This was done "back in the day" with the Microcheck diagnostics kit. This kit was time locked and you had to get special codes every year from omnitec to continue to use the kit. I have borrowed the kit to investigate, but no further forward as a vital cable is missing(!) in the late 90's, Microcheck was replace with Testbook, but there was a (now rare) Microcheck emulation module for Testbook, and the alter T$, that should let you program these fobs.
I do have the Micocheck emulation unit for T4, but have had no sucess in getting it to work (yet!)
In anycase, I don't think even if we program these fobs, its a long term-every day solution. So, I have been working on a new project. I have been working on custom wiring loom design, so we can do a plug-and-play (no cutting of wires, and totally reversable) retrofit of the later Lucas 5AS alarm system and fobs. These were very widly used, and can be obtained reletivly cheaply, and we already support these.
I have ordered the parts to make some prototypes, and they will be fully tested before we "go live" I envisage there would be a self-install option, or installed version (for a modest fee)
I'd like to know if this is something that people would be interested in. Im not looking for any commitments to order, just expressions of interest to see if its viable.
I see there would be a few options for this solution that people could order
1. A Cable that people can use, but source there own match 5AS Alarm/Fobs
2. Cable supplied along with a (seocnd hand) fully tested 5AS, refurbished and matched fobs (self-installed)
3. Cable supplied along with a (seocnd hand) fully tested 5AS, refurbished and matched fobs (non- self-installed) - this could be carried out at an agreed location, or even at car shows.
The cables could also some with options of
a) a diagnostics port so you could programme new, or replacement fobs at a later time
b) wiring capabilities to retro fit "flashing indicators", like later coupes, R3's
c) passive immobiliation - a little coil fitted behind the ingition barrel - the immobiliser turns off automatically in the presence of a fob (need to see if the r8 barrel will take the coil first)
Please can you let me know your thoughts on all of the above. I'll be honest, pricing isn't going to be "cheap cheap" - all the bits and actual time to do it add up, but the whole kit supplied in option (3) above would certainly be less than the purchase of two new infrared fobs from Rimmers and finding someone to programme them!
Is this of any interest?
