Emergency Unlock Switch – Easy Mod Pictorial - LotusTalk

scottyb · 10-11-2005, 10:48 PM

Emergency Unlock Switch – Easy Mod Pictorial

A few of us have had door lock and alarm unlock issues. Here is an easy mod that shows how to install an emergency unlock door unlock switch in the boot.

Below is a picture of the Inertia Reset switch in the car. This switch is tripped when an Elise is hit and it turns off the fuel pump and automatically unlocks the doors.

scottyb · 10-11-2005, 10:48 PM

Disconnect the wiring harness to the switch. Be careful you will need to contort your arm a bit to get at it. The harness has a plastic release on it and then it just slides out.

scottyb · 10-11-2005, 10:49 PM

There are three wires that connect to this switch. The center White wire is the one that goes to the Central Door Locking Mechanism. When ever this wire receives +12 volts, the doors automatically unlock.

scottyb · 10-11-2005, 10:50 PM

I bought a momentary switch from Radio Shack, $1.50 and soldered two wires to it.

scottyb · 10-11-2005, 10:51 PM

I placed this switch in the Plastic battery housing.

scottyb · 10-11-2005, 10:51 PM

I connected one of the wires to my +12 volt lead on the battery. I recommend you have a fuse between the battery terminal and the switch.

scottyb · 10-11-2005, 10:52 PM

I ran the other wire through the rubber grommet in the trunk that connects to the engine bay. Sorry no Picture. I then connected that wire to the White wire in the wiring Harness.

scottyb · 10-11-2005, 10:52 PM

Now is when you want to lock the car doors with the central lock. Then press the switch to make sure all your connections are good. The doors should unlock.
I then wrapped that connector with electrical tape.

scottyb · 10-11-2005, 10:53 PM

Then I reconnected the wiring harness to the Emergency Inertia Reset switch.

scottyb · 10-11-2005, 10:53 PM

I then carefully tucked my wires behind the Battery cover and replaced the battery cover. I am not sure of the clearance between the switch and the stock battery since I replaced mine with the Oddessey P680. However, if you have the stock battery you can place this switch anywhere in the boot.

scottyb · 10-11-2005, 10:55 PM

All in all it took 30 minutes, but I was taking a lot of pictures. Now I have piece of mind that I can unlock my doors incase of an emergency.

Serebo1 · 10-11-2005, 11:16 PM

Great job - nice pics!

huncher · 10-12-2005, 05:09 AM

This might be one of the more practical/useful tips posted here in some time. Thanks for the detailed documentation.

Tyger · 10-12-2005, 05:34 AM

Cleverly done, but it sounds like most people have had a problem unlocking their doors when the battery has died, which this will not solve.
I guess everyone's fear is having the fob/alarm suddenly stop working properly when the top is on and the windows are up, but I do not think that will happen very often in practice. It all comes down to the odd design where the key does not have anything to do with the alarm or the automatic door-locking mechanism.

Stan · 10-12-2005, 05:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tyger

It all comes down to the odd design where the key does not have anything to do with the alarm or the automatic door-locking mechanism.

You know what...I'm half British...and can partially understand the situation. Maybe you have to be all-Brit to shrug it away completely! I recall that a Jag V12 Sedan I used to have (Daimler Double Six) also had pretty strange locks...

scottyb · 10-12-2005, 07:17 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tyger

Cleverly done, but it sounds like most people have had a problem unlocking their doors when the battery has died, which this will not solve.
I guess everyone's fear is having the fob/alarm suddenly stop working properly when the top is on and the windows are up

Yes, but since you have access to the boot, you could always get a jump from someone, which would allow you to unlock the doors and then jump start the car. Otherwise, you can't open the door to get in and start the car.

Tyger · 10-12-2005, 08:28 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by scottyb

Yes, but since you have access to the boot, you could always get a jump from someone, which would allow you to unlock the doors and then jump start the car. Otherwise, you can't open the door to get in and start the car.

I'm not sure I understand. Under normal circumstances, you'd hook up to the other battery at which point you can unlock your doors with the fob, then get in and start the car. If the fob really does not work at all, you'll have a problem with the immobiliser anyway.

darkSol · 10-12-2005, 09:07 AM

As long as you have your 4-digit bypass code you dont need the immobiliser disable fob button.

I love this mod, but I would place the button in the engine compartment and not in the trunk where stuff could bounce around and press it accidently.

Tyger · 10-12-2005, 09:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by darkSol

As long as you have your 4-digit bypass code you dont need the immobiliser disable fob button.

Yeh, not just the code but the knowledge of how to enter it. I've programmed my system to disable automatic immobilisation.

TimMullen · 10-12-2005, 09:30 AM

Knowing which wire to jump to open the doors is the important thing here. All you really need is a piece of wire with a clip on one end. In the unlikely even that you are locked out, unclip the connector on the inertia switch, clip the wire to the positive post on the battery, and touch the other end to the proper terminal in the connector. No need to cut up and modify the wiring for the safety switch...

Modifying wiring and using vampire taps is a great way to cause corrosion and electrical problems down the road in a few years...

10-11-2005, 10:48 PM	#1 (permalink)
scottyb Registered User Join Date: Dec 2004 Posts: 3,683	Emergency Unlock Switch – Easy Mod Pictorial Emergency Unlock Switch – Easy Mod Pictorial A few of us have had door lock and alarm unlock issues. Here is an easy mod that shows how to install an emergency unlock door unlock switch in the boot. Below is a picture of the Inertia Reset switch in the car. This switch is tripped when an Elise is hit and it turns off the fuel pump and automatically unlocks the doors. Attached Images

10-11-2005, 10:48 PM	#2 (permalink)
scottyb Registered User Join Date: Dec 2004 Posts: 3,683	Disconnect the wiring harness to the switch. Be careful you will need to contort your arm a bit to get at it. The harness has a plastic release on it and then it just slides out. Attached Images

10-11-2005, 10:49 PM	#3 (permalink)
scottyb Registered User Join Date: Dec 2004 Posts: 3,683	There are three wires that connect to this switch. The center White wire is the one that goes to the Central Door Locking Mechanism. When ever this wire receives +12 volts, the doors automatically unlock. Attached Images

10-11-2005, 10:50 PM	#4 (permalink)
scottyb Registered User Join Date: Dec 2004 Posts: 3,683	I bought a momentary switch from Radio Shack, $1.50 and soldered two wires to it. Attached Images

10-11-2005, 10:51 PM	#5 (permalink)
scottyb Registered User Join Date: Dec 2004 Posts: 3,683	I placed this switch in the Plastic battery housing. Attached Images

10-11-2005, 10:51 PM	#6 (permalink)
scottyb Registered User Join Date: Dec 2004 Posts: 3,683	I connected one of the wires to my +12 volt lead on the battery. I recommend you have a fuse between the battery terminal and the switch. Attached Images

10-11-2005, 10:52 PM	#7 (permalink)
scottyb Registered User Join Date: Dec 2004 Posts: 3,683	I ran the other wire through the rubber grommet in the trunk that connects to the engine bay. Sorry no Picture. I then connected that wire to the White wire in the wiring Harness. Attached Images

10-11-2005, 10:52 PM	#8 (permalink)
scottyb Registered User Join Date: Dec 2004 Posts: 3,683	Now is when you want to lock the car doors with the central lock. Then press the switch to make sure all your connections are good. The doors should unlock. I then wrapped that connector with electrical tape. Attached Images

10-11-2005, 10:53 PM	#9 (permalink)
scottyb Registered User Join Date: Dec 2004 Posts: 3,683	Then I reconnected the wiring harness to the Emergency Inertia Reset switch. Attached Images

10-11-2005, 10:53 PM	#10 (permalink)
scottyb Registered User Join Date: Dec 2004 Posts: 3,683	I then carefully tucked my wires behind the Battery cover and replaced the battery cover. I am not sure of the clearance between the switch and the stock battery since I replaced mine with the Oddessey P680. However, if you have the stock battery you can place this switch anywhere in the boot. Attached Images

10-11-2005, 10:55 PM	#11 (permalink)
scottyb Registered User Join Date: Dec 2004 Posts: 3,683	All in all it took 30 minutes, but I was taking a lot of pictures. Now I have piece of mind that I can unlock my doors incase of an emergency.

10-11-2005, 11:16 PM	#12 (permalink)
Serebo1 fm78.tv - check it. Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Los Angeles Posts: 6,824 Images: 4	Great job - nice pics! __________________ Matte Black, Sport, Touring, ***** intake (TBA), RAC Mono wheels, Painted Shift knob, smoked turn signals, Alpine SPS 6.5" rear speakers, MB Quarts, JVC Nav, Starshield, LBH exhaust, Dpic perf. gauge, Custom true HID projectors, GUT wing and splitter, Mesh side pods, Sector111 harness bar and 4-point harness, Lotus Sport Ohlins double-adjustable suspension, swaybar, '06 LED tailights, Toda flywheel, Lotusport interior.

10-12-2005, 05:09 AM	#13 (permalink)
huncher Registered User Join Date: Sep 2005 Posts: 244	This might be one of the more practical/useful tips posted here in some time. Thanks for the detailed documentation.

10-12-2005, 05:34 AM	#14 (permalink)
Tyger burning bright! Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: New York Posts: 1,165	Cleverly done, but it sounds like most people have had a problem unlocking their doors when the battery has died, which this will not solve. I guess everyone's fear is having the fob/alarm suddenly stop working properly when the top is on and the windows are up, but I do not think that will happen very often in practice. It all comes down to the odd design where the key does not have anything to do with the alarm or the automatic door-locking mechanism.

10-12-2005, 09:07 AM	#18 (permalink)
darkSol Meow!! Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Leawood, KS Posts: 2,576	As long as you have your 4-digit bypass code you dont need the immobiliser disable fob button. I love this mod, but I would place the button in the engine compartment and not in the trunk where stuff could bounce around and press it accidently. __________________ d.a..v...i....d David Thomas Stewart - davidtstewart@gmail.com TVS Supercharged 2005 Graphite Grey Lotus Elise: 286whp, 1781lbs. Lotus cars aren't made, they're hand built from dreams. If you must choose between two evils, pick the one you've never tried before.

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10-12-2005, 09:30 AM	#20 (permalink)
TimMullen Moderator Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Chantilly, VA Posts: 11,389 Images: 19	Knowing which wire to jump to open the doors is the important thing here. All you really need is a piece of wire with a clip on one end. In the unlikely even that you are locked out, unclip the connector on the inertia switch, clip the wire to the positive post on the battery, and touch the other end to the proper terminal in the connector. No need to cut up and modify the wiring for the safety switch... Modifying wiring and using vampire taps is a great way to cause corrosion and electrical problems down the road in a few years... __________________ Tim Mullen --- There is no such thing as Touring suspension or Touring wheels. I love being married. It's so great to find that one person that you want to annoy for the rest of your life. - Rita Rudner Chantilly, VA http://members.cox.net/elans4/ 05 Lotus Elise - Chrome Orange - No Touring - No LSS - No Hardtop - Lotus Driving Lights - Lotus "Chin Guards" - plain and simple. 94 Miata R Package - Black 72 Lotus Elan Sprint - Colorado Orange/Cirrus White