wings a loft

[jfirios]

Who has the wings a loft system installed in their car. I am on the fence about getting that one or a nice crimestopper alarm with door poppers. For those who have it, what do you think of it, ease of use and all. Can you use the poppers to open one door at a time or do they both have to open together? Love to hear some feed back before i go and get it installed.

[Michael]

Love it...can't recommend it enough. Probably the best 200.00 one can spend on a Delorean. You have a choice of both doors opening at once, and drivers side alone, or you can open drivers side, or passenger side separately. I chose the former as A: it looks cool to.see both go up at once, and B: I hardly ever need to get into the pass side alone.

I installed it myself and it took the better part of a day to do so, but it was mostly a learning curve. If I were to do another one it would be half the time. It's also a good idea to upgrade your lock solonoids to actuaters at this time as well.

[stevedmc]

If you don't install a Wings a Loft system you can expect your plastic door handles to break someday.

Your options are $200 for Wings a Loft and $160 for metal door handles. Originally I was going to install a Wings a Loft system but decided against it since I don't like the idea of electronic mechanisms controling whether or not I can get out of the car.

Sure enough, one of my plastic door handles broke and I ended up spending $160 to replace both of them. I would say to go ahead and do the Wings a Loft sytem now before your door handles have a chance to break.

[Farrar]

Does Wings Aloft work with the door lock module, or does it replace it?

Farrar

[sean]

Does Wings Aloft work with the door lock module, or does it replace it?

Farrar

With it. It does not act as it.

[Farrar]

With it. It does not act as it.

Thanks; I will have to investigate re-installing my LockZilla... I have plastic door handles. :nervous:

Farrar

[TTait]

I don't like the idea of electronic mechanisms controling whether or not I can get out of the car.

Steve, its actually the other way around. Wings a loft doesn't disable anything with regard to being able to manually unlock, lock, or open the doors. You still have full manual control.

What it does do is provide you another way to unlock and open your doors, or lock them.

If both your door lock cylinders failed simultaneously (someone vandalizes the car?), the system gives you another way to unlock the car. If your interior or exterior door handles fail, wings a loft would give you another way to open them.


Farrar - the systems work with either the original lock module or the new digital lock module from Houston. I think you may have to specify which one you plan on using with this system. Wings A loft does not replace anything on the car, it only adds to it. Everything must be working properly in the basic system before this will properly operate. If your lock module is toast, this will not fix or replace it.

I recently posted a how to on lock and latch rod adjustments - its actually a lot easier than you would think.

[Michael]

Originally I was going to install a Wings a Loft system but decided against it since I don't like the idea of electronic mechanisms controling whether or not I can get out of the car
The wings aloft system does not control your access in or out of the car. It's an accessory, the doors still operate manually just the same. If anything controls your status as a prisoner, its the lock module...which can always be unplugged in an emergency.

[jfirios]

is the whole system an alarm as well or is it just the opening mechanizm?

[Chris4099]

It can be either way. The basic system for about $200 does keyless entry and door opening. Spend about $275 and you can get a system that does that and has a basic alarm system. They are all listed on his web site. He even has add-ons like a trunk opener, alarm backup battery, remote battery kill switch and so on.

[DMCNY]

Can a Wings-a-loft system be used to just open the doors?

Meaning, if the module has been unplugged and the solenoids have been removed.

[stevedmc]

Steve, its actually the other way around. Wings a loft doesn't disable anything with regard to being able to manually unlock, lock, or open the doors. You still have full manual control.

YEAH, thats true but if anything is slightly out of alignment with your locks, rods, switches, etc. you can have problems with power locks. The central locking system is designed to lock both doors when you operate one of the lock mechanisms. It is designed to unlock both at the same time as well. Well, if one locking mechanism has a slight problem the central locking system will automatically unlock.

Another thing I don't like about the central locking system is even on a perfect car, it isn't able to distinguish if a door is opened or closed. It is very easy to accidently lock one door while the other is open. Doing this can jam the lock on the open door and you have a whole new problem on your hands.

This is how it was with my car. I decided to just remove my lock zilla and be done with it.

I prefer to keep things as simple as possible. Maybe somewhere down the line I will replace my lock solinoids with actuators, put a door lock module back in, and install door poppers. For now things work perfectly fine.

Incendentally, I have a Lock Zilla for sale if anyone wants it.

[stevedmc]

Thanks; I will have to investigate re-installing my LockZilla... I have plastic door handles. :nervous:

Farrar

YEAH, your plastic door handles will break if you keep using them but its nothing to be nervous about. You can leave a window open if you are in a safe area.

If you are in a bad part of town and need to lock the car its no big deal either. Just enter through your passenger door, put the key in the ignition, unroll the driver window, walk over there, stick your hand in the window and open the door. This is what I did while I waited a few days for my new door handles.

But as soon as one of the handles breaks, you better replace the broke one ASAP. A delorean with two broken door handles would be a nightmare unless you could leave a window open all the time.


Edit: I forgot to mention but installing door handles takes less than 30 minutes per door. Installing poppers probably wouldn't take more than an hour or two per door. As usual, my labor is free if you or anyone in the area needs help.

[Chris4099]

Can a Wings-a-loft system be used to just open the doors?

Meaning, if the module has been unplugged and the solenoids have been removed.

Sure, you just can't remotely open the doors when they are already locked. You simply skip the part of wiring into the lock module and you can probably skip the parking light flasher as well. But if you can spend the extra time to fix the locks, it will be so much nicer never having to use a key again to lock/unlock the doors. Just simply walk up, press the unlock button followed by the door open button and get in. Any other way afterwards will just feel primitive. :)

[Farrar]

YEAH, your plastic door handles will break if you keep using them but its nothing to be nervous about. You can leave a window open if you are in a safe area.

That's it -- it's time for remote power windows! *grabs sketchbook*

Farrar

[Chris4099]

That's it -- it's time for remote power windows! *grabs sketchbook*

Too late, Toby beat you to it! LOL
http://www.delorean-parts.com/Merchant2/merchant.mvc?Screen=PROD&Store_Code=DPNW&Product_Code=K2906DP&Category_Code=9402

[Farrar]

Too late, Toby beat you to it!

At that price, does it come with a remote?

Actually ... What's the best way to get in touch with Toby for questions about his products? I don't see a "Contact" link on the website.

Farrar

[sean]

Actually ... What's the best way to get in touch with Toby for questions about his products? I don't see a "Contact" link on the website.


http://delorean-parts.com/delorean-parts-contact.htm

[Farrar]

http://delorean-parts.com/delorean-parts-contact.htm

Geeeeeez, how could I not find that? I think they must have given me decaff by mistake this morning.

Thanks, Sean!

Farrar

[Lenny]

I tried to order Wings Aloft several months ago and was told they are working on a new controler. Does anyone know if they are available yet the website doesn't look any different.

[sphiend]

Who has the wings a loft system installed in their car. I am on the fence about getting that one or a nice crimestopper alarm with door poppers. For those who have it, what do you think of it, ease of use and all. Can you use the poppers to open one door at a time or do they both have to open together? Love to hear some feed back before i go and get it installed.

Sean and I installed the elite system in my car last year. I am fairly happy with it. We did not finish the dome light wiring and had we had more time, I think we might have been able to better run the wiring as its hard to keep things neat. If you are near Toby, worth he money to have his guys do it (IMO)

My biggest problems have been :

strange lock behavior after reconnecting battery (passenger side needs to be locked/unlocked manually with key a couple of times. Not saying its an issue with system - just an oddity of my install. Since I don't drive it daily, I cut the battery to keep it from draining as the unit does need some power.

Doors often don't fully launch. My weather stripping is a little dry and has some rips. Currently we are replacing struts with new soft lifts and all new weather stripping kit. Maybe some minor door or torsion adjustments to come.

Sometimes after car is warm, remote ignition will not turn over engine. Always works second time. Suspect potential fuel issue but honestly not sure.

Again, don't think any of these are issues with the unit or install. More issues with my car that need to be adjusted to make the unit work better.

The elite system comes with 2 remotes. The 2 way remote is nice but more complicated. I find that I just use the one way remote most of the time. Both remotes support individual door launch. Toby sells additional upgrades for one handed trunk release, battery backup, etc.

Instructions were mostly good but we somehow missed instructions on how to program the unit. Luckily buddy had already been through it and set us on the correct path fairly quickly.