Re: Remote Locks

["checksix3 <jetjock11@xxxx>" <jetjock11@xxxx>]

--- In dmcnews@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx, Watkins Family <watbmv@xxxx> wrote:
> Lets also remember that there are alot of owners who don't have the 
> technical skill to take an off the shelf remote kit and install 
it.<<

You seem an example of that. (no slam intended) It takes very little 
skill to interface a simple keyless entry unit to either the stock or 
Zilla modules. A few simple wires and it's done. We agree on one 
thing however: If you don't know what you're doing in more complex 
issues you're at the mercy of those who do. Thats life and it's 
exactly what motivates some of us to learn.

>>The stock DMC lock controller basically sucks. It burned out my 
solenoids and cost me quite a bit to replace, this is why I first 
bought the Lockzilla Controller.<<

You profess technical ignorance yet pass judgement on a technical 
issue. My stock module has cycled 872 times (ask me how I know that) 
since rework without a single failure and if it ever does fail it 
can't possibly burn out my solenoids. It cost me all of $3 to rewind 
a bad solenoid and $7 to make sure it never happens again. There was 
very little skill involved in either of those operations.

>Bottom line folks, at this point in my over 10 years of DMC 
ownership I would not trust my cars electronics to anyone other than 
those that are making products for the DeLorean ONLY.<<

You make it sound as if only those who market things for the car are 
rocket scientists. It's pretty simply stuff. Yes, the Zilla products 
are well done and Bob makes a great contribution to the non technical 
D community with his expertise. (His schematic was an admirable 
endeavor for charity reasons, even if it's rife with errors that 
should have been corrected.)

For those lacking technical skills his plug and play engineering is 
the best way to go. But as Martin pointed out, those with technical 
skills will naturaly cring at paying the price when they can do it 
themselves. Do those of you who perform your own egine or mechanical 
work feel any different about taking your car to a "professional"?
Of course not, you do your own work because you know how and because 
you obtain the satisfaction of knowing it's done right. I dare say 
you might even feel it's done better than anyone else could do it... 
understand now?

> While there are competing products out there made by different DMC 
> Vendors, the Zilla line is my preference. I find them to be well 
> built, 100% backed by Bob and I know that my supporting this 
product will help develop other items. Why support PEP-BOYS? or 
AUTOZONE?<

As you so aptly put it: Bottom line. I support myself, first and 
foremost. I've no obligation to support any of the vendors or to 
continue this car's exsistence is any way, it's just a car. You think 
the vendors are in it *only* for love? I've far more expensive toys 
that need my cash than the Devil Car and I didn't get them by giving 
away my dollars when I could do the work myself. Again, do you take 
your car to a mechanic when you could do it yourself?

I'd also point out many "wiring modifications" are simply done on the 
Zilla side of the product rather than on the car. This is what allows 
the plug and play feature in most cases. My opinion is that, the D's 
wiring being one the most atrocious examples of automotive electrical 
engineering I've ever seen, modifiying the car's wiring isn't such a 
bad idea at times. I feel as long as it's well done and properly 
documented it's not an issue to those who wish to do so. And as 
Martin pointed out, "modifying" is a relative term. For example, my 
all-in-one system's wiring is 95% done in the relay compartment and 
changes the stock wiring very little.

I have complete confidence in the modifications I've done to the car 
using the methods, materials, and engineering employed in my 
profession and they're fully documented for any future owners.
I see no reason to bash those of us that have the ability to do such 
things. Likewise, Bob's products are an option for those who cannot 
and he deserves equal credit for them. Some of us don't wish to be 
constrained by one particular soultion and also don't wish to market 
what we may see as a better way. (I appreciate the business hassles 
that involves.) In addition, my stuff is long ago installed and 
working, I've not had to wait for someone to bring a solution to 
market nor will I be forced to piggyback something onto something 
else made by a particular vendor. 

Then again, maybe I'm just too stubborn to know better. After 
analyzing the failure mode of the stock Fan Fail Module and 
modifiying it, I continue to use it with full confidence. Having said 
that, I'll likely purchase a FanZilla for it's additinal benefits and 
because it's value is worth the time it would take me to design and 
fabricate a similar device. As I've said before, this car isn't 
rocket science but there are times it's just easier to buy something 
already elegantly designed than to screw around with doing it 
yourself, even if one can. It's up to each of us to make that choice.