DIY Network

Shaved Door Handles: Installing Electronic Components Installing Remote-Control Actuator Solenoids From "Tricked Out" episode DTRK-301

The electronic actuators allow the doors to be opened by remote control.

In this Tricked Out project, host Andrew Totolos installs shaved door handles on a Honda Civic SI. Now that the hardware has been removed from the doors, it's time to install the new components for the remote-open door handles.

Materials/Tools:

actuator solenoids
center punch
drill with quarter-inch bit
cable clamp
wire cutter
eyelet connector
screwdriver

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Installing the Electronic Remote Entry Components

• The solenoids are going to be inside the door pulling the latches. They need to be mounted to a solid point in the door, and then the cables will be connected between the solenoid and the factory latch, and wiring will run to the control unit, which will be mounted under the dash.

• The solenoids come packaged with mounting brackets so the first step in mounting them is to attach them to the brackets with the supplied screws, and then you can take the entire component to the car.

• Inside the door you'll need to find a good location to mount the solenoid. There needs to be a direct line between the solenoid and the latch for the cable to run. Make sure that there is plenty of clearance for the window. In a Civic, the best place is between the inner door panel and the interior side.

  Actuator in door-closed position

  Actuator in door-open position

  
  

  
  

• Try to use an existing mounting hole if you can, and mark a second hole since you'll need two for a solid mount (figure A).

• Use a center punch as a starting spot and drill out the second hold with a quarter-inch bit (figure B). Make sure to get through both layers if it's a double-layered construction.

  Figure A

  Figure B

  
  

  Figure C

  
  

• Tuck the bracket behind the panel for increased clearance, and use the provided bolts to mount the solenoid to the door (figure C).

• After the solenoid is mounted, carefully roll the window up and down to make sure that there's no interference. If everything looks good, you'll be ready to run the cable between the solenoid and the latch. It's easiest to start on the latch end.
  

  
  

• Loop the cable through the factory latch (figure D), and then use a cable clamp to secure it (figure E).

  Figure D

  Figure E

  
  

  Figure F

  
  

• Then run the cable through the solenoid, loop it back, and lock it down (figure F). You'll want to leave a little slack in this cable.

• The final thing to do in the door is to run the trigger wire into the car where it can be hooked up to the control unit later. This is going to be a little different in every car, but you'll need to find the existing conduit that runs wires to the door for the speakers, window and locks. You won't be able to see the entire path, so open up any access points along the way, and fish the wire through.
  

  
  

• Cut and strip the wire to size. Attach an eyelet connector (figure G), and attach it to the solenoid terminal with a screwdriver (figure H).

  Figure G

  Figure H

  
  

  Figure I

  
  

• Then secure the wire inside the door (figure I) so it doesn't rattle around or interfere with the window mechanism.

• Once all of the driver's door components are installed, you can test the solenoid by hooking a 12-volt power source to a solid chassis ground and touching the positive lead to the solenoid trigger wire. If the door doesn't open correctly you'll probably need to adjust the actuator cable.

Repeat the steps for the passenger-side door.

RESOURCES :

Racing Innovations, Inc.
We apologize no contact information is available.

AutoLoc
www.autoloc.com

Malibu Customs
Knoxville, TN
www.malibucollision.com