Always Wondered...

[Dinzdale40]

how you get in a car with shaved door handles. What's the deal?

[kicker1_solo]

If you have a question about something, always do a search first, there's millions of threads on this floating around.

Anyways,
Well several aftermarket companies such as AutoLoc (www.autoloc.com) specialize in making small solenoids that are placed in the door. What they do is when a button on a remote is pressed, this small motor pushes out a small piston and that pushes out the door and it opens automatically. These solenoids come in different strengths from 8 to 80 lbs. in force for different size doors and applications.

"What if the system fails?"

If the system fails because either the actuator has malfunctioned or the car has somehow lost all electrical power, there are several things you can do. Try the passenger side door. Have an emergency button somewhere outside the car, like in a fenderwell. Or yes, try crawling in the trunk. This is just until you get it fixed.

"What if the battery fails on the remote?"

If the battery dies, which will eventually happen, you can have a spare remote or have an extra battery either on your person or again somewhere in an emergency location outside the car like in the fenderwell.

"How strong of a solenoid should I get? I don't want the door flying open and hitting another car"

About 8 pounds should be enough for import car doors. This is just enough strength to just pop open the door about 2 inches out.

"I live in a cold climate, I’ve heard of the door freezing shut, is this true?"

Technically, yeah it’s true. Water might creep into the door jambs and freeze overnight locking the car shut. But let’s think about this. If the door has the possibility of freezing shut, what makes you think if the handles weren’t shaved that you could open it anyways?? You could do the same thing when the solenoid fails, crawl in through the trunk. But if you’d like to take extra precautions in icy weather, then get a 12 or 15 pound solenoid for extra power. Be warned though, it’ll throw the door open a bit more possibly knocking it into the car next to you.

You can wire this solenoid to your alarm system's remote on one of the auxiliary outputs on your alarms brain. Or if you still don't like the idea of a possible failure, sometimes what ppl do is just shave the handle and leave the key hole there. That way you don't need a solenoid and the door can be manually opened with your keys just like normal.

[Rein]

Actually, if you're paranoid about them failing, get the window rolldown option on your remote. I know somebody with shaved handles all around and he doesn't have any selanoids at all. He just presses a button on the remote and the windows roll down and he just opens the door on the inside.

[kicker1_solo]

Originally posted by Rein
Actually, if you're paranoid about them failing, get the window rolldown option on your remote. I know somebody with shaved handles all around and he doesn't have any selanoids at all. He just presses a button on the remote and the windows roll down and he just opens the door on the inside.

that's cool, except for if your battery in your car dies.

[Dinzdale40]

Don't the new Altimas have that. I know there is a ton of little tricks the remote can do with the little codes.

[91AcrdMan]

kicker my son... so close but so far... the solenoid actually is was releases the lock... comes in different poundages according to how much pressure it takes to make your lock mecanism work.. like some older domestics it takes more power then say a newer import... and they have a thing called a popper that is what pushes your door open... hell the popper is the cheapest part.. you can pick up 2 for like $30-40. where as the solenoids are anywhere from 50-200 for a set if you you want cheap or the best.

i always thought the same as you until i looked into it because of people breakin into my car. plus my friend has his doors to where he didnt put in the poppers so the door just releases and then you just grab the outta door shell with your fingers and pull it open... dosnt pop out any.

:smoka:

[kicker1_solo]

Originally posted by 91AcrdMan
kicker my son... so close but so far...

Oh, I don't even know what I posted. I just went to the "how to shave things off your car" thread and copied and pasted it. I'm too lazy to actually type things.

[91AcrdMan]

Originally posted by kicker1_solo
Oh, I don't even know what I posted. I just went to the "how to shave things off your car" thread and copied and pasted it. I'm too lazy to actually type things.

lmao you cheater... LEARN MAN LEARN if even for the sake of knowledge

[kicker1_solo]

Originally posted by 91AcrdMan


lmao you cheater... LEARN MAN LEARN if even for the sake of knowledge

I know almost everything about it, I'm just lazy