Vannin' Home Forums General Discussion Electronics How to program older aftermarket door lock key fob

hi there. just acquired a 1979 dodge b200 show van with shaved door handles on driver/passenger doors. Doors have power door latches with remote key fobs. Guessing this was a system from 80's or 90's. Can find any documentation. Fobs with new batteries will not operate the door latches. Guessing they need re-programming but don't know the process. Can't find the "brains" box they communicate wtih. I posted a picture of the remote. Any help or ideas would be appreciated. Greg

Put one in mine. The "brains" are probably up under the dash. A small box and will have a wire hanging out as the antennae. Will also be hooked to a relay for each door so maybe look for the relays first and trace back to the box.

The key is finding the brain to know what system and model you have to program the fobs

Thank you so much for the help. I looked under the glove box and found what I think might be the two relays. See attached picture....do these look like the relays you described? Thanks, Greg

Yep those are the two relays and you should be able to trace those back to the box. The box might have a name and model number on it that you could download the manual on how to program

Thanks. The van also has aftermarket power windows......would those use these same relays as well or would they have their own relay (or none at all)? Greg

Not sure that the windows will have relays

ok, I found the "black box" for the key fobs (attaching pictures), however there is no branding or marking of any kind on the box or circuit board. anyone recognize this unit and have any idea how to programs the remotes? I see the reset button on it but when pressed it does nothing. there is no red light indicator either. any advice on how to proceed is appreciated. Greg

Hey Verd, going deep!

Mucho Grats on the Van. There's probably an alarm/stereo guy/shop around in Texas somewhere. An auto electric or car stereo shop. Just hafta hunt down the right guy, toiling away at some little Hole in the Wall Mexican car dealerership somewhere. I bought my kids pickup from a place in Escondido like that. They took it around back, and fixed a few things. It had a 6 disc changer under the seat and I'd never seen one, the Kid working on the truck was all into it, explained it all as he showed me how to use it. Kid knew alot and liked cars. They were all nice people who were into cars.

And, they were on the same street as Escondido Auto Electric. They were super knowegeable and knew exactly what was wrong with my 328,000 miles Chevy S10 as we whipped on in there flying off the freeway, with smoke billowing out from underneath the dash, hit the brakes and bailed out. Just about everyone there had seen us from there, and watched as we pulled in, "Just shut it off and leave it there, it'll be fiine." "S10 printed circuit board dash cluster, they do that all the time.."

"Be ready for ya tomorrow .."

That guy there, or that Kid from the dealership! Someone who has seen what you have there. Good hunting Verd!
Van on!