skip_rat wrote: ↑Mon Aug 13, 2018 8:27 am
So I've found the original alarm in the centre part of the dashboard, it's a Lucas 14VT unit. Can anyone please PM me the pinout/wiring colour code for the alarm if that information exists.
The new alarm/immobiliser has a function to control the central locking, if anyone has done this before can you advise the best place to access the trigger wiring for the locks (drivers door perhaps?)
Someone can correct me here, but I don't think you can trigger the central locking on a car that didn't come with a remote fob.
Your K. reg. and L. reg cars wouldn't have come with fobs. Rover fitted an alarm to 1993 cars (the flashing LED) and it might have been 1994 (M. reg.) before this became a remote-operated version. The LED looks the same, but it's backed up by a Lucas 5AS alarm/immobiliser unit which is different to the alarm fitted in 1993. There was a changeover/optional extra period where the cars used infra-red alarms. You can tell because a tinted black bulge is moulded into the interior light cover - you can't miss it. The fobs looked slightly different to the radio ones used in later cars, and had the tell-tale white infra-red emitting LED at the end you had to point at the car.
If you think about it, on your K and L reg. cars, the action of the drivers key in the drivers door operates the central locking (or you pressing the top lock button on the driver's door when you're inside the car). It's YOU that provides the mechanical control to lock or unlock the drivers door. This is picked up by a microswitch and the car electrically operates the other doors.
What you'll need is a door solenoid (these can be purchased as generic aftermarket parts) that will pull the correct steel rod (otherwise only operated by the drivers key and lock) when a 12V pulse is supplied to them. This I believe is the only way you'll get a fully electronic open/close of all doors. I reckon all R8s that came with fobs would have the extra door solenoid on the driver's side.
Fitting a modern remote system is the way to go. These can be had with the driver's door solenoid included as a complete system. You never need to disable or remove the existing alarm system - just leave it in place. If you want an additional alarm/immobiliser they sit over the top of the existing alarm. You can connect to all the existing alarm trigger signals provided by a Rover-alarmed car (doors open, etc.) and choose a few more (e.g. ultrasonic, movement). Then the immobiliser side can be cut into all the circuits that will stop the car from being started or driven - as many as you like. That's how professional installers do it. Because the Rover alarm will arm/disarm with a correctly operated driver's door lock, if your aftermarket alarm does this then the Rover alarm will arm/disarm automatically in synchronisation with the aftermarket alarm. The final benefit is that you now have 2 alarms/immobilisers providing protection - either one or both might be triggered by a break-in or an attempted steal, but you still only need to trigger (disarm) your aftermarket alarm to turn both off. Genius.
