dodgethis Posted September 8, 2008 Report Share Posted September 8, 2008 Hello everyone I am new. I want to first say i love this forum. It has a lot of great info on w-body cars. I have learned alot from it. Well here I go about my question. I have the RKE "brain" under the kick panel of my 1998 lumina. I do not have the AU0 number on my VIN number and I am trying very hard to get it working so that i can get some keyless sweetness from the car. The Brain has been hooked up already and has power going to it but since i do not have the reprogram wire in the trunk what can i do to get the brain to "wake up" and start accepting Fob's? I have included pictures to show how the wiring is. It was done im sure when GM had built the car. Slick I hope your reading this, man i loved your write up on the keyless entry. Guys thanks for the help in advanced. Pictures: http://home.comcast.net/~dodge1063/car/Brain.jpg http://home.comcast.net/~dodge1063/car/Wires.jpg http://home.comcast.net/~dodge1063/car/Switch.jpg http://home.comcast.net/~dodge1063/car/Relay.jpg http://home.comcast.net/~dodge1063/car/Wires2.jpg Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
slick Posted September 8, 2008 Report Share Posted September 8, 2008 Unfortunately, I don't know much about the stock systems. Your best bet is to find someone that will take a minute or two out of there time, and figure out which wire, from the brain, is actually being grounded out. Should be easy enough for someone to verify with a DMM. Color may not be the same, so a Pin location would be best. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dodgethis Posted September 8, 2008 Author Report Share Posted September 8, 2008 Thanks slick, I will look into getting a DMM. I went to the junk yard to at least copy off how it was done. I was unlucky to find a lumina that had the Brain wired up, but did find the reprogram wire in its trunk. I thought about just pulling one out of a Grand am, or impala and just doing it that way if it doesn't work out. I swear im so close i could taste it Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
slick Posted September 8, 2008 Report Share Posted September 8, 2008 Woah, wait, that is not GM, well OEM GM, most likely made by DEI, installed by a GM dealership. Just looked at the pictures actually. Reprogramming will be different. I have a process that works with DEI specific stuff, but GM DEI stuff may be different. Is there a pushbutton externally or on the brain anywhere. Do you have any pictures of any plugs on the brain not being used? Can you get better detailed pictures of the brain? If the wire just gets grounded out, then I wouldn't bother running a reprogram wire clear back there. Just put it somewhere near the brain. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dodgethis Posted September 8, 2008 Author Report Share Posted September 8, 2008 Umm, I dont remember if there was one, I know there is a red toggle switch that i took a shot of but don't know what it does. I will go and take more pics when i get off from work. Thanks man Rob Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
grandprixnyc Posted September 9, 2008 Report Share Posted September 9, 2008 Yes, the stock GM one's don't have a toggle switch (at least in gen 1's) and the "brain" is typically located under the rear deck, correct? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dodgethis Posted September 9, 2008 Author Report Share Posted September 9, 2008 My RKE brain was under the kick panel. It had zip ties secured to the metal support under the steering column. I just cut the zip ties, and out came the brain with the wires hooked up to it. As soon as i get back to the house im going to include pic's of just the brain as well as the wiring with it disconnected. I hope there is nothing else that needed once i can figure out the programming wire for the brain. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
carkhz316 Posted September 9, 2008 Report Share Posted September 9, 2008 Just throw in a Astrostart or equivalent with RKE, you'll like it more, like the range for starters. I could even guide you through in install. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
slick Posted September 9, 2008 Report Share Posted September 9, 2008 Just throw in a Astrostart or equivalent with RKE, you'll like it more, like the range for starters. I could even guide you through in install. Umm..... I already have a guide posted, with DEI stuff. http://www.w-body.com/forum/index.php?topic=64623.0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dodgethis Posted September 9, 2008 Author Report Share Posted September 9, 2008 Yea i think im just going to pull it out and the wire caps that connect it. When i disconnected the first time i could hear the locks actuate as i was reconnecting them. I was testing it to see if it had power. When i disconnected it today the locks didn't actuate so i wonder if its fried now, or maybe a fuse blew, who knows. The brain pic is below and I will look into finding out if its dead or just swap it out put something better: http://home.comcast.net/~dodge1063/car/Brainports.jpg http://home.comcast.net/~dodge1063/car/Braintop.jpg http://home.comcast.net/~dodge1063/car/Disconnectedwires.jpg http://home.comcast.net/~dodge1063/car/Brainwire.jpg Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
carkhz316 Posted September 9, 2008 Report Share Posted September 9, 2008 Forgot about that one, though I have a question. Do you use solder on the connections or twist 'em and tape 'em? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
slick Posted September 10, 2008 Report Share Posted September 10, 2008 Used to solder, took way too long. If you actually read my thread, you would have found this post about 3 down. I've used this method for 4 years, never had a single connection fail. The person that taught me did this way for 10 years, again, never seen any of his work come back in. I do solder some connections that have very tight resistance values (bypass module grounds, rx tx wires, etc...), otherwise I just tap. http://www.w-body.com/forum/index.php?topic=64623.msg790726#msg790726 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dodgethis Posted September 10, 2008 Author Report Share Posted September 10, 2008 Hey ya'll agree if i do put a better one in it should be easy? I mean i have the wires right in my hand all i would need to do is just connect the correct wire colors to a new unit and be done with it. Its my first time i would do it, its why im asking. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
slick Posted September 10, 2008 Report Share Posted September 10, 2008 I never re-use existing wiring, especially if I am unsure how it was done. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
carkhz316 Posted September 10, 2008 Report Share Posted September 10, 2008 Used to solder, took way too long. If you actually read my thread, you would have found this post about 3 down. I've used this method for 4 years, never had a single connection fail. The person that taught me did this way for 10 years, again, never seen any of his work come back in. I do solder some connections that have very tight resistance values (bypass module grounds, rx tx wires, etc...), otherwise I just tap. http://www.w-body.com/forum/index.php?topic=64623.msg790726#msg790726 Actually, I did read your post and just didn't agree with everything, but if you want to act like you know everything about how it's done, I'll just let you think that, because I know from your post that you do know a good deal, and so do I. I just don't appreciate the condescension because I wasn't aware of your end-all post of how to do it. Sooooo, I'll just let you help out this guy all by yourself, because, you know, I thought the point of this site was to share a common interest in cars and share the knowledge involved, and I was just trying to do the same by helping him out too. And FWIW, alleged shorter install times, speed or whatever aside, soldering is superior to any other twist-tieing, taping alone, scotchlocks, anything of the sort by itself. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
slick Posted September 10, 2008 Report Share Posted September 10, 2008 I'm the first to admit that I don't know everything. In fact, I hate doing most new GM's, because I hate dealing with the systems, and I don't fully understand them. I guess I shouldn't have sounded as harsh in my post as I did, but most new members do not read threads fully. I'm glad that there is another competent installer on the forum. As far as the shorter install time, I never worked on commission. I chose my method, because it worked best and most effectively for me. I 100000% agree that soldering is better, and I do not dispute that at all. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
carkhz316 Posted September 10, 2008 Report Share Posted September 10, 2008 Alright, I'll toast to that. End flame and truce of sorts then? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
slick Posted September 10, 2008 Report Share Posted September 10, 2008 Alright, I'll toast to that. End flame and truce of sorts then? Sounds good. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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