87 Locking System

[webini]

Picked up my brand new (to new) 87 coupe yesterday. Had a great 500+ mile drive home to bond!

My question is about the locks. The only key that came with the car has the crest on one side and a round button on the other. On the bottom of the key there is a hole where I am guessing a key light once was. Looks like an OEM key to me.

What the heck does the round button do? Seems to be inactive. My guess is the battery is toast. My car has option 533 "Alarm System" though. Is this the alarm arming or remote locks?

Do I just pry apart the key to get to the battery? Are replacement OEM keys like this available?

TIA!

[TMH]

Congratulations on your new purchase, and welcome.

Sounds like what you have is nothing more than the lighted keyhead. Those, as well as regular keys, are available through the sponsor of this BBS: http://www.pelicanparts.com/catalog/shopcart/911M/POR_911M_miscel_pg6.htm#item28

I have not heard of remote entry alarms in 1987 cars, unless they were aftermarket installed. The factory alarm is normally accessed with a key, with the keyswitch on the back-side of the driver's door (hidden when door is closed). I believe that it normally uses a different key from the standard door lock/ignition key, but I am not sure here.

If you do have the factory alarm still installed, I would recommend against turning that switch on the back side of the driver's door. There have been lots of posts about the problems with aging factory alarms which prevent the car from starting, even when the key is available and appears to be working. I think that most are just left in the "unarmed" position, or are disabled (there are threads you can search for which tells how).

Good luck,
Tom

[fuelie600]

How about some pics?

Congrats on the new ride!

The button on the key is a flashlight. You can get replacement pieces from our host. As far as the alarm goes, if you look at the rear of the drivers door, there is another key hole. (above the door latch.) You have to arm the alarm with the key, and disarm by only opening the door far enough to get to the keyhole. If you open it too far the alarm goes off. Very crude system.

You should have 3 different keys: Ignition, Alarm, and wheel locks. My alarm key has a red plastic head.

Enjoy the new toy! 1987 is the very best year to own!

[webini]

Thank you both. Placing an order for a new key blank right now. And I'll definately stay away from the alarm!

Mark

[webini]

Another question.

Am I correct in that there is no way to unlock the passenger door from the drivers side? By this I mean turning the drivers side lock twice or some such thing as on other cars?

Or is this part of the charm of a 911?

Mark

[TMH]

Originally posted by webini
Another question.

Am I correct in that there is no way to unlock the passenger door from the drivers side? By this I mean turning the drivers side lock twice or some such thing as on other cars?

Or is this part of the charm of a 911?

Mark

Mark,

Are you doing this from the inside or the outside of the car? If from the outside, both driver's and passenger side doors should open with a turn of the key.

From the inside, I thought all '87's had central locking, which is a single button at the bottom of the stack of switches in your floor-mounted central console. If that was an option and you don't have central locking, then you will just have to reach over and pull the lever or twist the knob.

Tom

[jgporsche]

I have 88 cabriolet , I use the factory alarm every day. Better than replacing the top.
I have the wiring diagram in my laptop to circumvent the alarm if and when it goes bad.
I took out the alarm key switch in the door and had a key made for it. Actually a Subaru key was the blank they used. But, it costs just as much for a new key switch. By the way, the car won’t start once you remove that switch.

[webini]

Originally posted by TMH
From the inside, I thought all '87's had central locking, which is a single button at the bottom of the stack of switches in your floor-mounted central console. If that was an option and you don't have central locking, then you will just have to reach over and pull the lever or twist the knob.

Tom

Looks like central locking was an option in 87 and is one that I don't have. No matter.

Now to go out for a drive!

[steve911]

Mark--
Welcome - but you do need to post pics of your new ride - a requirement of all new posters.

If you don't have central locking, then unlocking the passenger door from inside (should be) just a matter of reaching over and twisting the locking knob to open. The interior of the car is small enough to make this pretty easy.

Enjoy!

[webini]

I will be posting pictures - I promise! Need to stop driving first and give her a good detail tomorrow.