I am thinking in installing an aftermarket alarm on my S, and wanted to have it "lock" the glove box when it's armed. I know I cannot use the stock lock, but I figure I can get a solenoid to keep it from being opened. I was just wondering if anyone has already done this. If so, no need for me to reinvent the wheel. If not, I take the challenege!

 

Others have looked into it, and even tried I believe. AFAIK no one has been successful. You have me thinking about this now again.

MacGyver and/or Modifry could help explain what failed when they were looking into it. I think they couldn't find solenoids small enough to fit.

 

I thought a lot about it, but never fully chased it down... I just don't have the time to play with that kind of stuff anymore, with my business and all. It's certainly posible, and for not a lot of dough, but I don't have any specific part recommendations.

 

After a little more thought and research, I think it would be easier to just use the 12V accessory power to power a solenoid. That way the lack of power would make the glove box locked; therefore it would be automatically locked whenever the key is not in the ignition (and turned to ACC).

Now does anyone happen to have any pictures of the glove-box piece of plastic from the back side? I was hoping a few pictures might be able to help me narrow down what kinds of solenoid might work. That way I won't have to order as many to try out.

 

You need a solenoid that will latch in both positions without power... otherwise you're going to come back to a car with a dead battery in a day or two. Solenoids use a non-insignificant amount of power for the coils.

 

Yes I learned that lesson back in college when I accidently wired up a large 12V power solenoid to constant 12V instead of switched 12V. Since I wasn't driving the car much it sucked the battery dry rather quickly.

For the application I want to find a solenoid that only has to be driven one way. So the non-powered state will have the shaft extended and thus the glove box locked. When the key is in the ACC position the solenoid is powered and the shaft in pulled in this unlocking the glove box. Theoretically the car would be running when power is supplied to the coil so there wouldn't be any threat of draining the battery.

 

TTT

 

"non-insignificant" is a funny word. how bout just significant? ok, ok, im just being silly.

 

I'm thinking that while I am at it, I should use another solenoid to lock the radio door. I have an aftermarket head unit with a removable face so having the radio door automatically lock (when the key is not in the ignition) would be a nice feature. I realize the radio door won't keep anyone out who really wants it, but it will keep someone low-life from lazily swiping my radio face (and save me the trouble of having to lock it up in the glove box when I leave my top down).

Here again, if someone has already looked into this please let me know what you've found...

 

Do other cars, perhaps more luxury ones have this kind of option (locking the glove box automatically)? I was just curious about this since this is the only convertible I've had/been in.

Jean