Retrofit Electric Door Lock?

[mytoy]

Anyone have experience retrofitting electric door lock on a Corolla
that currently has manual lock. Would like to do just the drivers
door so I could have aftermarket keyless entry installed.

Appreciate advice...

[iToaster]

Gotta have them all power locks for one to work. Just pull a set out of a Corolla in a junkyard, the plugs for them are already in your door.

[mytoy]

Originally Posted by iToaster

Gotta have them all power locks for one to work. Just pull a set out of a Corolla in a junkyard, the plugs for them are already in your door.

Very interested in your comment that "plugs already in the doors". This is 96
Corolla DX, has roll up windows and no power locks. Are you certain the
wiring is already in the doors for p/lock solenoid? Would be wonderful
surprise if true. I can buy aftermarket p/lock door solenoid very easily, if
wiring already in the door it would be nice surprise.

[iToaster]

Yeah, it should be there. There was a recall for the earlier 7th gens that put caps on the ends on the unused plugs due to them shorting out when water would seep into the door. Keep in mind you'll need the switches for the doors.

[mytoy]

Originally Posted by iToaster

Yeah, it should be there. There was a recall for the earlier 7th gens that put caps on the ends on the unused plugs due to them shorting out when water would seep into the door. Keep in mind you'll need the switches for the doors.

Great, hope I find it that way. Yes, understood about needing inside-door
switches. truthfully I wasn't planning on getting that elegant with the setup.
Though I'd just continue to use the door button auto-unlock when
pulling the inside-handle to open the door from inside. Just wanted the
ability to remotely open the door, especially if accidentally locking the
key in the car.

Btw, I'm actually looking to put a hide-a-key box outside the car in the mentime.
Any suggestions on where and how. Concern is magnetic thingy's may fall
off.

[iToaster]

I wouldn't go with a hide-a-key, most thieves know where to check for them, and to be honest, there's not a good hidden place on the car. I can recommend what I do, which is make a spare of my key and slip it behind my license in my wallet.

[mytoy]

Originally Posted by iToaster

I wouldn't go with a hide-a-key, most thieves know where to check for them, and to be honest, there's not a good hidden place on the car. I can recommend what I do, which is make a spare of my key and slip it behind my license in my wallet.

You're point well taken...jeopardy of hiding a key. Thanks very much for
your responses, especially news about wiring being in the door.

[joneman]

Hide-a-key didnt work at all on our sienna, bloody thing fell of at some point. The day my mom locked the keys in van we couldn't find the thing, and had jimmy a coat-hanger in.