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Old 08-20-2006, 10:58 AM   #14 (permalink)
British_Marques
Elise...Best Daily Driver
 
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Join Date: Nov 2005
Location: Missouri
Posts: 495
About 110' clear and 60' with structures

Quote:
Originally Posted by usofrob
The antenna is already the correct length. It's just needs to be freed from the rest of the cables coming from the Alarm box.

It turns out that there is even a way to feed it up to the windshield. After doing that, I was able to get over 30 feet (though it was parked in my garage which might have increased the range.) None the less, it is far better than having to be almost in the car to get it to work.

Steps to do this:
- Remove the panel cover (just two screws at the bottom that come out at an angle. Then you'll have to pull pretty hard on the bottom to get it to come out sometimes.)
- Remove the cable pull tie thing. (Black plastic thing that holds the clear plastic around the bundle of cables.)
- Pull the clear plastic far enough away so you can clearly see.
- Find the wire as described above. It was wrapped just outside the rest of the wires on my car.
- Pull the wire out of the taped up group, toward the box.
- Find a better way to mount it.

Extra steps to get it to the windshield:
- If you put your head really down and close to the openning, you should be able to see a light coming through from the windshield just to the right and in front of the speaker.
- I poked a hole in the side of the clear plastic so that it would have a shorter path to the front.
- Get something to grab the wire when it sticks out the top, like needle nose plyers.
- Take the wire and carefully thread it into the hole until you can see it come outside the other side.
- Grab it with the needle nose plyers
- Pull lightly on the cable to get it all the way through
- Then I taped it to my windshield mostly out of view. Once the cable gets set though, it's unlikely to move much, and I could probably have just let it dangle there.


I found this when, I went to try the previously mentioned solution, and I was having great trouble getting the wire harness unplugged from the alarm box. So, I was thinking of tapping into the wire a little further down the line. And I discovered it was wrapped just outside the other wires in the bundle. So, I traced the wire about 2 more inches to find that it ended. Then I performed the steps above.
I just completed this mod. I had to add to my antenna as it was only about 6.5 inches. I fed the wire about 37 inches up to the top and center of the windshield frame. I can arm the car consistenly from 110' from the back of the car And from arround the corner of the garage at 60' or if other cars are in the way then 60' also. I now have the range of my wifes corolla. This is awesome. A real pain to get unburried from the grey foam and the plastic bag; but it works beautifully. And it functions from inside the house and on the widows walk that is about 135' but since it is elevated I think that accounts for the additional distance gain. Again a great mod if you take the time to feed the antenna along the windshield frame. Robert
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2005 Elise, Starlight Black/Red, Modified tilting clam, driving lamps, LED Tail lamp set, hybrid longtail/ and hardtop, Exige rear wing, radio delete, air bag delete, Custom Leather & Alcantra binacle, UK steering wheel, HVAC controller relocated, UK ECU, Carbon mirrors side mirrors, Zoom carbon rear view mirror, and Cup Wheels & Tires.
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