hey, just a few quick questions for y'all know who know about this stuff...

how hard/expensive is it to put power windows, power locks, and keyless entry on a car that came without all of the above? specifically, i got a 2002 saturn sl1 for pretty cheap (yeah yeah, i know, laugh all you want...but i think i'd rather get 40mpg doing 0-60 in 10-12 seconds than get 20mpg and doing 0-60 4-6 seconds faster like i am now), but it doesn't have power anything (except a moonroof...weird), and i've been spoiled enough never to have had manual windows/locks

i found kits online that put power locks at about $45/kit (4 doors) and oem keyless entry at about $45/kit, but i really can't seem to find power windows kits...is this whole thing impossible and should i get over it? should i go to a salvage yard and pick up some old parts? should i just shut up? thanks for the input!

9/5/2005 7:11:31 PM

I don't think power locks are that difficult to install. I've heard quotes of around $80 per door. Probably cheaper at other places.

9/5/2005 7:25:00 PM

does JC Whitney carry any?

My friend Ed swears up & down by them

http://www.jcw.com

9/5/2005 7:28:10 PM

Power windows may require a bit of work. The motor and regulator, the window switches, then wiring, new door cards...
I don't know if it would be worth it.

9/5/2005 8:04:33 PM

power locks and keyless entry are easy. usually, a keyless entry kit comes with the power lock parts already, so just read what you are buying. the main thing is that you will need 4 door lock actuators. a keyless kit will come with an alarm or brain (that isn't an alarm) and remote. if it comes with actuators, you won't need to buy those seperate. a keyless kit may not come with switches to do power locks on the inside without the remote.

a power lock kit will come with actuators and switches but no brain or remote.


power window kits usually have high torque motors that adapt over top of your existing handles. basically, take off the handle, put on the motor, put a cover to hide the crank. I've never used these, but i've read about them. they are not as easy to find as power lock kits and are also quite a bit more (~200 for two doors i think, been a while since i looked)

all of this can be had on ebay. search for "power door lock kit" and "power window kit"

edit: i just looked on ebay and it's about $100 for 2 door power windows, or $200 for 2 door power windows with power locks.

[Edited on September 5, 2005 at 8:39 PM. Reason : .]

9/5/2005 8:24:04 PM

aftermarket power windows are usually shitty as hell, and near impossible to find replacement parts for

9/6/2005 6:37:58 PM

does it not work to try and pull the parts from a wrecked car of the same model that has the power stuff intact? or is that asking for more problems than it's worth?

9/6/2005 7:38:35 PM

youll have to pull motors/regulators (maybe glass), door wiring, main harnesses, body control module, relays, etc etc

you would be better off selling your all manual saturn and buying another one with power. and im dead serious.

9/6/2005 9:21:17 PM

wow...well, i think i can deal with it...i got the car $1400 under NADA, and it's immaculate...save for the fact that it's missing power windows/locks, i love it...besides, i'll gain tiny amounts of muscle mass in my arm from hand-cranking the freakin' window all day long...thanks for the advice everyone, i appreciate it!

9/6/2005 10:41:16 PM

I have a 95 SC2 and I wish that my car had manual windows. I just had to replace my driver side motor about 3 weeks ago and damn that was a pain in the ass. I had to rip apart the entire door (inside panel and outside panel) then take out the window glass without the specail tools that are required for removing them. Then drill out 7 rivets and finally the motor is out of the car. Then do the reverse to get it back in. I would have killed to find a car just like mine4 but with manual windows.... just be happy that you will never have to replace any of the window stuff in the door.

9/7/2005 2:18:53 AM

Yeah its a pain in the ass to retrofit something like power windows.

JCW used to sell these motors that took the place of manual cranks. Kinda ugly because it replaced your crank with a motor enclosed in a plastic box, but looks like it would be hella easy to install.

Here is a similar concept but looks like you can hide the motors in the door:
http://www.a1electric.com/colibri.htm

-- Dave

9/7/2005 7:39:25 AM