555wickedways

This is for the benefit of owners of imported WRXs of 1993-1998 origin.

Central locking was often not fitted by the factory and came as an optional extra fitted at the cars first garage.

The keyless door timer black box unit or CDL of this kit is a 10 pin unit,made by ALPHA CO JAPAN ( who make a lot of the other CDL black boxes).These units have now started to reach the end of their natural life, often accelerated by damp getting into them ( should have been mounted upside down or at an angle).THEY ARE PROVING IMPOSSIBLE TO SOURCE.This 10-pin unit carries no ( subaru) part number nor any other number....It is different from another unit ( 88035 FA 100 ) with 10 pins in that the CDL with no part number has 2 horizontal rows of 5 pins, separated by a piece of plastic dividing the pins into 6 on left and 4 on right..

The world parts directory shows the 8 pin unit ( 88201 FA 032 ) as being the UK equivalent replacement but it will not fit as the plug is different.....

HAS ANYONE SOURCED THIS 10 PIN CDL BOX OR FOUND A SUPER-EFFICIENT JAP PARTS IMPORTER WHO SOURCES DIRECT??

HAS ANYONE MANAGED TO CONVERT THIS 10 PIN CDL TO THE ALTERNATIVE 10 PIN CDL FA 100 OR EVEN TO AN 8 PIN UK UNIT?? THIS ASSUMES THAT YOU CAN GET A MATCHING PLUG FROM A BREAKERS..

555wickedways

HERE ARE TWO JAP PART IMPORT FIRMS;

SVS AT EAST HORSLEY 01483 285657 BUT HE IS MOVING TO DEVON SOON.

ELITE INTERNATIONAL 02380 511 750 IN SOUTHAMPTON.

ANYONE KNOW OF ANY OTHERS?????

M220WRX

This is begining to look like a dead end for us Paul isn't it. A friend of mine who trains Clifford installers said he could put in DIY central locking using the existing set-up/ loom etc but I'd probably be looking at ££££££.

I don't want to have to spend loads just for central locking but at the same time I want it working as it's a pain in the but. I must have spent a load on phone bills already ringingt around.

The search continues...... For now

Oh and BTTT!!!

555wickedways

Had to fend off vicious flu lergy over last 5 days Chris otherwise would have got seriously stuck into the Google search list..Sorry...Mine actually has started working intermittently on drivers door switch so could it be something else or just a feature of a knacked relay in the CDL.

Owners must have this problem ( on Wagons ) in Japan so there must be a solution..If I knew the wiring diagram, you could plan the changeover.My alarm fitter said that you could fit the extra alarm motors to each door but not sure if this would work for you if your CDL totally shot..

The search continues...................................

555wickedways

Evening Chris...
ASK JEEVES Search engine threw up the following;

DAVID HENDRY CARS 01666 824369

ORIENT VEHICLES 01753 714973

WARRENDERS OF BOLTON 01204 528800

LOCKYEAR CARS 01403 891700

STI IMPORTS 01454 411300

They are listed as grey import specialists.Not expecting them to have the part off the shelf but they might know a man who does.

Will let you know tomorrow.

Anybody else had any experience with these mentioned firms on getting Jap import parts?

M14YEN

oh boy id be interested to hear how u lot get on as my blackbox died the other month on my 95WRX and its starting to annoy me having to let ppl in manually.

sextons blamed the failure on fact that the drivers door solenoid had seized but i wasnt all that convinced.

Mark

where is it located so i can have a look at the connectors?

pban

Not sure if its relevant but in my old STI 5 the keyless entry black box failed. I was quoted £200+ for the new unit. In the end I had a retro fitted central locking system fitted it worked out cheaper.

Paul

555wickedways

The black CDL box is located inside the passenger footwell on door pillar side.It looks like a large black JPS cigarette packet and has a large multiplug coming out of top.You can hear it click when locks are used.Undo bolt on bracket that holds it in position and look for Subaru part no ending in FA ***.If not join our thread and watch for news.
How many pins does your unit have??
Can you still lock and unlock from drivers door inside switch???
Switch spray on all moving lock parts can be valuable...

Watch this space later on tonight- found knowledgeable parts importers.

M14YEN

nothing works at all, have to manually unlock every door.

the drivers door still operates from the clifford otherwise i'd go mad. its just one of those things u cant live without.

555wickedways

MY YEN....Classic case of your CDL gone wrong or lost major power feed to system.Chris has same problem through water getting in CDL and blowing whole board...Have a closer look at your unit;it will probably be very heavily coroded but it may have a subaru part no on.Is yours an import????

555wickedways

At last a truly helpful lead from Elite Int who gave me the name of Jap spares importer Usaveautoparts on 08456 589777.I explained what I was after,there was a lot of deep breathing and he promised to come back to me.15 minutes he did.They have a sister Company in Japan and he believes he ordered the same part in only recently.No part numbers makes life difficult, but I was promised an early call as soon as he has had a reply from Japan.He knew of the aqlternative 10 pin units which is half the battle..

Will keep you posted but every contribution welcome with part nos for 10 pins.There are different part no books for UK, Europe, and Japan home market..

M14YEN

not having any proper tools meant i couldnt undo that screw/nut thingy to get the box out.

but on further thought it maybe that there is no power to it, as i got a few other always on (or off as the case is) power issues in the car.

is it possible that the interior lights (which also dont work) are on the same circuit as the central locking?

i see a rather boring bank holiday spent with a multimeter

555wickedways

COULD BE A LOT OF THINGS WRONG HERE...TRY FUSEBOX FIRST AND CHECK EVERYTHING OK..MULTIMETER WILL HELP ISOLATE WHAT YOU HAVE POWER GOING TO..DOES YOUR OWNERS MANUAL HAVE WIRING DIAGRAM ? GOT ENGLISH ONE FOR MY IMPORT ON E-BAY FOR 15 POUNDS LAST WEEK...

M220WRX

Paul,

When I'm free'd up a bit at work I'll get going with the list you gave me.

Glad to hear you've found a lead, lets hope it's a good one.

Have a good holiday. Hopefully you'll have some good news to come back to.

M14YEN, With a bit of force I managed to slide the CDL unit of it's clip before realising there was a retaining bolt, perhaps give that a go.

Cheers

Chris.

555wickedways

David Hendry Cars and USaveCarPartz both came up negative.The same problem occurs in part-findind;the Japanese parts directory based on your Vin number throws up no central locking fitted at factory and equivalent unit for year/model is 8 pin FA 032.The search continues.......Still waiting for plug from you-know-who dismantler...
Chris - Did you find time to contact any of others so I dont duplicate??

555wickedways

There is some good news and some bad news in relation to this 10 pin CDL black module.
The good news is that it appears to be 88035 FA 090 part number.
The bad news is that the price is 255 pounds.....
Gone round in a circle here Chris unless you know of someone who gives a good trade discount with an official order.
The alternative as mentioned is to fit retro system with 4-5 motors linked to alarm.Kit is not dear ( 50 pounds) but takes a fair time to fit.

555wickedways

THERE IS AN ENDING TO THIS SAGA WHICH DIDNT COST 255 POUNDS.

Lately the central locking has started to work sometimes when the interior of the car gets hot....So assuming that it might be the CDL solder connection,removed,undid and extracted the board.All points on reverse looked fine..no broken circles on solder connecters but two of solder points on chip legs coming down from plug looked a bit iffy.So 2 minutes later aided by my car radio fitter mate and his gas suck and blow solder tool,we had lift off.

And it is still working now 24 hours later..

M14YEN

I too have had a bit of luck, i spotted this on ebay

88201FA030
which matches my duff one nicely. maybe not have been the ones you lot were looking for tho.

it arrived this morning but havent had chance to test it as i want an auto electrician to look at the wiring first incase i blow up my new one.

Mark

[Edited by M14YEN - 7/22/2003 9:12:43 AM]

M14YEN

hmmmmm
further to this morning post, just opened up my parcel which is a Subaru genuine parts box for the 88201FA030 only to find an 88201FA031

so I just spoke to the guy and he says oops sorry, but it should work fine, the numbering system means that the FA030 was superseded by the FA031.

they physically look the same, ie the same 8 pin plug

555wickedways

DID IT WORK???IT WILL BE DIFFICULT TO WORK OUT WHETHER IT WILL WORK WITHOUT PLUGING IT IN AND SEEING WHAT HAPPENS..ALL THE 8 PIN AND 10 PIN BOARDS HAVE THE SAME BOARD AND APPEAR TO USE SAME COMPONENTS..HAVE A 032 BLACK CDL UNUSED GOING CHEAP FOR 25.00 INCLUSIVE..

Huxley

There is light at the end of the tunnel

Watch this space I will have some details soon

Those intrested in getting it sorted please email me as per profile

I will need to know what plug you have got on the CDL Timer