Increase the range of your remote

[TimMullen]

A quick note: Upon re-assembly, I noticed that the screws are not Phillips, but number 2 Pozi (PZ-2) - that explains why it kept feeling like the screw driver was "slipping". I you don't have Pozi bits, you should probably get some - a lot of the screws on the Elise are Pozi and not Phillips.

Oh yea, I checked the remote range in the parking lot this morning. It now works from the third parking space away from the car, where it used to have to be right next to the door.

[xtn]

Tim I havn't done this mod yet, but the Pozi discovery explains why the screws on the driver's side cubby, R&Red during my DRL mod, were such a pain in the butt. Will attempt the alarm antenna mod tonight.

xtn

[TimMullen]

Originally Posted by xtn

Tim I haven't done this mod yet, but the Pozi discovery explains why the screws on the driver's side cubby, R&Red during my DRL mod, were such a pain in the butt.

For those that don't know, the "secret" to identifying Pozi screws is that there will be small "tick" marks between the "points" of the cross (the part that looks like a Phillips). I had trouble getting the screw to hold in place on the end of my screw driver, then I noticed the Pozi marks. I got a Pozi bit, and it fit perfectly. The other difference between Phillips and Pozi is that the angle on the tip of a Pozi is "flatter" than a Phillips - the result is that if you use a Phillips on a Pozi screw, the point bottoms out in the recess before the blade makes good contact with the rest of the "cross" (the Phillips blade is designed to stick into the "hole" farther than a Pozi).

Here's a diagram of the the two:

[Tonywa28]

Other than having some trouble extracting the antenna wire from the well taped harness, it was a breeze.

I ran my extension wire out the side of the dash (behind the fascia panel, see pic), through a small valley and pushed it behind the weather stripping going down the door. Nothing shows, very good range.

This mod is a definite winner!!!

[Rugbyduck]

Originally Posted by Imolas54

"you just need to pull up the harness and pull the black wire out, the black wire is very obvious, give it a tug and it will come out for you to work with."

Kind of took this the wrong way...sign of a sick mind. See pic.

[Rugbyduck]

Well, performed the "operation" and it looks like it. Blood everywhere. I know...I deserve a good . Works great!

[atoeric]

A must mod for everyone. My steps:

1. Unscrew dash cover
2. Pop dash cover loose
3. Clip tie wrap
4. Pull outside black wire until it's free (no need to clip tape in my case)
5. Splice 2 or so feet of core/stranded wire
6. Fry heat shrink tubing
7. Apply masking tape to end of wire
8. Stuff down dash corridor (behind airbag emblem)
9. Pop dash cover back on
10. Test from driveway and smile

No scrapes.

No more pretending to analyze text messages on my phone while arming 5 inches away from the door

[Devious]

If you have hands/fingers bigger than average, I would add:
2b) Tape top edge of metal panel. The back side is sharp - just as others have posted. The tape is easily removed when finished.

I added a 2.5 ft. length of solid strand 20ga wire, and then cut it to the tuned length measured from the plug.

Although I found that positioning the wire vertically had the best range, I taped mine behind the dash panel (horizontally in front of the airbag), and am very happy with the range - more than I would have appreciated before doing this.

[ChrisB]

For those that may be intimidated by, or not have the tools for, adding the extra wire length...it really isn't necessary for a BIG improvement in range. I just pulled the wire out of the bundle and poked it back in the hole in the general direction of the windshield pillar. That increased the range from near the driver's headrest to 20' - 30' (depending on the angle from the car) which was plenty adequate for me. It only took a few minutes and a Philips screwdriver. My car did not have the foam block or the razor-sharp edges.

The hardest part was getting the screw back in the hole. A little dab of earthquake putty on the end of the screwdriver to hold the screw fixed that issue. Those not in California will have to find some other sticky substance.

The simplest and one of the best mods you can make to this car.

[TimMullen]

Originally Posted by ChrisB

increased the range from near the driver's headrest to 20' - 30' (depending on the angle from the car) which was plenty adequate for me. It only took a few minutes and a Philips screwdriver.

Yep, same here. Except for one thing. It's not a Philips screw, it's a Pozi drive screw. If you use a Pozi screwdriver (or bit), you won't need the earthquake putty...

[ChrisB]

Originally Posted by TimMullen

Yep, same here. Except for one thing. It's not a Philips screw, it's a Pozi drive screw. If you use a Pozi screwdriver (or bit), you won't need the earthquake putty...

Yeah, I knew it was a Pozi screw (thanks to one of your previous posts), but who has a Pozi screw driver? Earthquake putty in Maine is probably more easily found.

Maybe this is all just a Ponzi scheme???

[TimMullen]

Originally Posted by ChrisB

Yeah, I knew it was a Pozi screw (thanks to one of your previous posts), but who has a Pozi screw driver? Earthquake putty in Maine is probably more easily found.

Actually, I don't have any Pozi screw drivers, but I have a lot of Pozi bits (for the screw drivers with changeable tips). I've got them in quality bit sets, and cheap flea market sets. You just have to look for them...

[Devious]

Originally Posted by TimMullen

Actually, I don't have any Pozi screw drivers, but I have a lot of Pozi bits (for the screw drivers with changeable tips). I've got them in quality bit sets, and cheap flea market sets. You just have to look for them...

+1 Not hard to find, once you start looking. The bits are normally marked P1, P2, P3, etc.

[fishtaco]

I did this this weekend. The results were fantastic. I added 27 inches of wire and just let it hang behind the panel I removed to do this. I have a couple of tips from my experience:

I only removed the small panel. I suggest just doing this. I first tried to remove the bigger piece that holds the vent. While doing this I popped off the air bag cover. This broke the 4 break away holders I used velcro to hold it and it works fine until I get a chance to get 4 new holders.

I HAD the foam! I used a pry bar to hold the foam up while I worked the wire cutter to cut the black zip tie. This was by far the hardest part for me. Took me like a half hour and I still couldn't really see what I was cutting. It is really tight in there.

The black wire is easy to identify. It's in the bunch that are NOT covered in the black plastic covers. They are the speaker wires and such. My wires to the remote were pressed up against the back on the aluminum panel you have to reach over to get to the black zip tie. I did remove the black cloth tape and the wire came right out.

Results are like the others. I'd say I have about 40 to 50 feet or reliable operation now

Thanks ET for the procedure

[TheViper]

Just finished antenna extention and it works great up to 100' approx. Here are my observations:
a) No need to remove dash panel that incudes air vent, only the rectangular panel.
b) Foam block needed to be wedged away for access.
c) No need to cut plastic wire tie.
d) Antenna wire is separate from other wires.
e) No need to cut plastic bag.
f) Pulled extended wire thru gap in dash to next to Windshield "A" piller.
g) Push wire into gap around windshield & used pieces of foam/rubber pushed in over the top to hold it in place on the vertical side.
h) Used couple of spots of glue to hold the remaining short length in place around the top of windshield.
g) Added about 30" of wire to the antenna.
h) I additionally turned on the audible alarm arm/disarm buzzer by disconnecting power to the alarm and then reconnecting and pressing the "A" button within 5 seconds. This was done by removing #11 fuse in the front fuse box.

[kestrel74]

this'll be one of my winter projects !

[TheViper]

P.S. Also increased volume of Arm/disarm buzzer by going thru the program. My car is under a car cover therefore I need audible annunciation. Today was a productive Elise day. I love this board...so much useful info...thanks all!!!

[Imolas54]

now if we can switch so it's one beep armed, and two beep disarmed it would be perfect!

[TenaciousX]

Just finished this mod definitely a required mod for anyone who is frustrated at having to stand next to the door to lock or unlock!!

The only problems I had was that I couldn't get around/under the foam block, so I had to remove some to get to the wires (which, of course, offset the increased weight of the added wire and quick splicer.) Once I got to the wire bundle, there was no less than 5 black wires, none apart from the bundle and I could not get to the connector to see what pin each was connected to. One was definitely thinner than the others and so I gave that one a gentle tug (crossing my fingers) which dislodged it from the rest. From there, just spliced in a few feet of wire from an old phone line and it works great! Haven't tested the max range, but it works from indoors to outside at least 30 feet, so I'm happy.

Thanks to everyone contributing to this.

----------------
2007 Exige S

[kestrel74]

Originally Posted by kestrel74

this'll be one of my winter projects !

Well, didn't do it during the winter, but I did it yesterday. Poked 3 feet of extra wire through the small hole that goes to the windshield, and ran it between the dash and windshield all the way to the drivers side. Got about 75-100 feet out of it !!