S3 central locking ?

[S3DaveP]

I have recently bought a October 1990 S3 2.9, can anyone tell me if it was fitted with central locking as standard before i start pulling off the door cards.
Also can anyone recommend a wheel restoring company in hertfordshire as the coating is wearing off in a few places. The cooling fan appears to blow air from the engine bay out of the front, is this normal?

[c14ppy]

From the brochures I have the S series were not sold with any central locking system.

My 91 V8S, does have central locking, but this is from the use of a car alarm/ immobiliser. This was probably how most cars were done.

As for the fans sounds like the are fitted backwards, the should pull air in through the grill

hope this helps

[shpub]

Some do, some don't. Usually dealer fit option at best.

Steve
www.tvrbooks.co.uk

[Bonewacker]

I,m about to have a new "anti thieving little bastards" alarm fitted to my luverly 1990 S2. The guys at the shop wern,t to sure if they could fit central locking to my car at the same time (as i,d asked them to) so anybody out there done it or can you help me please. I understand the door handles are from a MK II Capri (Phwoot!) but what about the rest of the locking machanism??? They said they would need to know so as they could fit the correct system. Cheers chaps.

[Paceracing]

Would it be possible to adapt central locking from say, a Sierra, or Escort?

Jas.

[JSG]

The factory brochure for the S3 and the S4 / V8S lists central locking as an option (doesn't say if factory or dealer option) so a call to the factory or a helpful dealer may help.

[mikes3]

I've been looking into the wheel refurb thing, Spit and Polish (in Kent I think) did a fantastic job on my old AX GT alloys (many moons ago!) Tyre place called Micheldever Tyres will take in wheels with tyres and send them off, get them refurbed by Spit and polish and put them back with the wheels balanced etc for about 40£ a wheel!
As soon as I've enjoyed this summer (?) I'll treat the car to tip top wheels over the winter!

Mike

[shpub]

Go to alarm dealer. Give credit card or body part. Tell alarm dealer you want central locking. Collect car day later et voila central locking.

Fitted usually with the alarm system so there are probalbly about 37 different varients. Go to your favorite alarm dealer and they will be able to fit it. A call to TVR or a dealer is a waste of everyone's time to be honest.

Steve
www.tvrbooks.co.uk

[JSG]

quote:
A call to TVR or a dealer is a waste of everyone's time to be honest.

Steve
www.tvrbooks.co.uk

Ok then, I was wrong

[johno]

quote:
I've been looking into the wheel refurb thing, Spit and Polish (in Kent I think) did a fantastic job on my old AX GT alloys (many moons ago!) Tyre place called Micheldever Tyres will take in wheels with tyres and send them off, get them refurbed by Spit and polish and put them back with the wheels balanced etc for about 40£ a wheel!
As soon as I've enjoyed this summer (?) I'll treat the car to tip top wheels over the winter!

Mike

Mike,

Sounds like you have good experience with S+P .....but I have heard some pretty nasty stories concerning them and use Lepsoms at Gillingham who were superb. There are a couple of others on the list who have used them aswell and been equally complimentary.

Just for info .....

[rrouse]

There's a previous topic by Chin Up entitled "BLIP!" which talks about fitting CL to an S - might be useful cross reference.

[S3DaveP]

Thanks for the replys, i have out of the country for the past week so have not looked on the net.
I thought that the central locking was not fitted, but in the S series book page 18 it shows it to be standard on S3's. I am not bothered that it has not got it but if it was fitted then it should work!! i guess i will have to fix something else like the two electrical faults that appeared in first 3 days!.
I suppose i must expect the odd problem with the electrics on a 12 year old fiberglass car.


Dave P

[chin up]

rrouse is right, read my 'BLIP! ' thread for all the info you need on central locking.

As for the alloys, Lepsons did a super job for me, their number is 01634 580582. I delivered the wheels with tyres still on the rims, and paid £140 cash for a superb job. For more info do a search on this site for 'Lepsons'.

Hope this helps......chin up

[steve b]

I asked my local dealer (Mole Valley) about installing central locking a few years ago. The problem is getting the cable from the car into the door, I was quoted £300 per door as they thought removing the doors was the only option. If you are clever you can get a wire through but it is tight.

Having got the wires through I used a pair of motors from an old granada, you can use almost anything as long as you can find somewhere to connect the rod which operates the lock. If you buy a aftermarket kit (£35 ish for 2 doors) they come with clamps which connect to the rod on the lock, they are available on the internet.

Hope this helps,

Steve.