Automatic Unlock Circuit

[Elemino]

For those of you who are annoyed Ford does not have their vehicles unlock when you turn the key off, you can use the following circuit to add the feature. It requires two relays and a capacitor... I would guess about a 2000µf 16v cap would do it.

This would cause an undesirable effect if you have a remote start system. I'd avoid it if you do.

For those of you that are new to reading schematics, the straight line on the capacitor represents positive (+).

 

[1LoudLS]

since you just got a new Viper system, this is a waste of parts and time for you.

just program the viper system to unlock all the door when you turn the key off!

its a simple setting.

 

[1LoudLS]

it should be noted that if you use too big of a capacitor, it will start to open all of the windows and sunroof every time you turn the key off if it holds the second relay on to long.


also as the power in the capacitor fades, it could trigger the relay on and off a hundred times and cause a lot of extra wear on the lock actuator from trying to unlock several times each time.

 

[gcwimmer]

Not a feature I would want, prefer doors stay locket until I opened them.

 

[scjmc]

My '11 F350 has auto unlock. You can disable it in the vehicle settings, but I Like to leave the feature on.

 

[Elemino]

since you just got a new Viper system, this is a waste of parts and time for you.

just program the viper system to unlock all the door when you turn the key off!

its a simple setting.

Clifford called it a short stop feature back in the day, and its also been referred to as a turbo timer. But really when I want to get out of the car real quick, and leave the car running, I hit the button and it instantly unlocks all the doors and turns on the dome light in the car. I don't like that, so I had them disable the feature. Turns out the car is responsible for the dome light, because it thinks you're unlocking the car from the key hole. I don't want the doors to unlock on short stop either, only when I turn the car off.

Though I still can't use this circuit, because if I remote start the car and then shut it off without ever going to the car, it instantly unlocks the doors.

it should be noted that if you use too big of a capacitor, it will start to open all of the windows and sunroof every time you turn the key off if it holds the second relay on to long.


also as the power in the capacitor fades, it could trigger the relay on and off a hundred times and cause a lot of extra wear on the lock actuator from trying to unlock several times each time.

I actually meant connecting to the actual unlock button inside the car. They have no control over the windows. Also, the capacitor would only cause the second relay to fire once. Once the voltage has dropped below the threshold to trigger the relay, it won't switch the circuit anymore.

We did something similar on a friend's car, but we used the wiring from the shifter to unlock the car when put in park. The original idea came from LLSOC (I think that's right), but I have no clue why they decided to use the shifter to trigger the event.

My '11 F350 has auto unlock. You can disable it in the vehicle settings, but I Like to leave the feature on.

Seriously? I've owned and driven at least 6 or 7 Ford made vehicles over the years (including an 08 F250), and I have yet to see this feature from factory. Not even my Navigator has it.

 

[joegr]

...
Seriously? I've owned and driven at least 6 or 7 Ford made vehicles over the years (including an 08 F250), and I have yet to see this feature from factory. Not even my Navigator has it.

Late model Grand Marquis and Crown Vics also have an auto unlock feature.

 

[joegr]

Not a feature I would want, prefer doors stay locket until I opened them.

I have my LSes wired to unlock all doors when I open the driver's door with the key off. (I added a microcontroller to do this and that.) I very much dislike the GM cars that unlock all doors when you turn the key off.

 

[gcwimmer]

I have my LSes wired to unlock all doors when I open the driver's door with the key off. (I added a microcontroller to do this and that.) I very much dislike the GM cars that unlock all doors when you turn the key off.

Now that would be good.

Having the doors unlock when you turn off the key could put you in an unsafe/vulnerable state.

 

[Elemino]

Late model Grand Marquis and Crown Vics also have an auto unlock feature.

My dad's 2000 Crown Vic didn't have that feature, and it was fully loaded.

I have my LSes wired to unlock all doors when I open the driver's door with the key off. (I added a microcontroller to do this and that.) I very much dislike the GM cars that unlock all doors when you turn the key off.

Interesting. What did you connect to that triggers it? Maybe I could do this, because my remote start means I can't use this circuit.

Also, how many LSes do you have?

Now that would be good.

Having the doors unlock when you turn off the key could put you in an unsafe/vulnerable state.

You guys go to a lot of unsafe places. lol

Honestly, if I feel I'm in that dangerous of a situations I wouldn't shut the engine off anyway.

 

[joegr]

My dad's 2000 Crown Vic didn't have that feature, and it was fully loaded.

Interesting. What did you connect to that triggers it? Maybe I could do this, because my remote start means I can't use this circuit.

Also, how many LSes do you have?

You guys go to a lot of unsafe places. lol

Honestly, if I feel I'm in that dangerous of a situations I wouldn't shut the engine off anyway.

Yes, it was sometime after the 2000 model year. The last ones that I rented had the feature.

I trigger it from the run circuit from the key switch and the driver's door ajar switch. I have some software involved that figures out when to trigger the unlock and when not to. I also have it keep the window power on until after I open and shut the driver's door with the key off.

 

[Elemino]

Yes, it was sometime after the 2000 model year. The last ones that I rented had the feature.

I trigger it from the run circuit from the key switch and the driver's door ajar switch. I have some software involved that figures out when to trigger the unlock and when not to. I also have it keep the window power on until after I open and shut the driver's door with the key off.

Thanks for that info. I will adapt this circuit to fit those criteria.

 

[gcwimmer]

You guys go to a lot of unsafe places. lol

Honestly, if I feel I'm in that dangerous of a situations I wouldn't shut the engine off anyway.

Anywhere can be unsafe, I don't purposely go to unsafe places.

You may not be aware of a dangerous situation or may not be present at the time you shut off your vehicle.

 

[Elemino]

Anywhere can be unsafe, I don't purposely go to unsafe places.

You may not be aware of a dangerous situation or may not be present at the time you shut off your vehicle.

I guess it's because I grew up in the hood, I'm not as worried about it as some of you guys. But I instinctively checkout my surroundings anywhere I go without even thinking about it. It's a rare day in hell when someone will be able to sneak up on me. And even if they did, the same could happen the moment I get out of the car... which is the only reason I'd shut off my engine somewhere.

 

[Elemino]

Yes, it was sometime after the 2000 model year. The last ones that I rented had the feature.

I trigger it from the run circuit from the key switch and the driver's door ajar switch. I have some software involved that figures out when to trigger the unlock and when not to. I also have it keep the window power on until after I open and shut the driver's door with the key off.

Do you happen to know if the driver's door ajar switch grounds or sends +12v to the car? I'm updating the diagram for it.

Edit: Never mind. I found it in my wiring diagram. It looks like it grounds out the black/yellow wire. New diagram below.

 

[gcwimmer]

I guess it's because I grew up in the hood, I'm not as worried about it as some of you guys. But I instinctively checkout my surroundings anywhere I go without even thinking about it. It's a rare day in hell when someone will be able to sneak up on me. And even if they did, the same could happen the moment I get out of the car... which is the only reason I'd shut off my engine somewhere.

By your avitar is exactly why I don't want my doors unlocked until I want them unlocked.

 

[Elemino]

By your avitar is exactly why I don't want my doors unlocked until I want them unlocked.

lol... don't worry, my mascot only thinks he's a thief!

 

[Elemino]

Automatic Unlock 2.0

Thanks joegr for the idea!

• This version will only unlock the doors after the engine shuts off and the driver door opens.
• It will only unlock once.
• If you close and open the driver door, it will not try to unlock again.
• Opening the driver door with the engine running will not unlock the doors.
• Opening the driver door without starting the car will not unlock the other doors.
  [*]This is remote start compatible!

 

[Telco]

GM cars will allow you to change how the unlock works. The procedure is in the manual, and there are 3-4 different modes of operation.

 

[Elemino]

I hope its easier than Ignition on, autolamp on, ignition off, autolamp off, etc etc...