odd 2113 behavior, '89 200q, MC1

[Phil Payne]

> Gee Phil, did YOU have an alarm installed with
> Scotchlocks TM?  That was the first thing I did with
> my 200.  Ripped all that sh*t out and threw it in the
> dumper.  Exactly as you said, corrosion at all the
> connectors under the hood and other problems as well.

The Bus is full of the damn things - there must be twenty in the
engine bay, which is exactly where they shouldn't be.  Yes, they're on
the replacement list - but at least two disconnected alarm systems are
still in there, as well as the excellent immobiliser/alarm fitted by
the last owner.  I reckon it's a two day job and it will have to wait
for warmer weather.

We tore about ten out of the general area of the radio when we put the
TravelPilot in - there are another five or so at the rear end of the
centre console where someone has hooked a (now redundant) cellphone
power supply into the rear cigarette lighter circuit.  There's another
outbreak in the rear left quarter where someone has wired a new
EU-standard trailer hitch socket off the old DIN factory socket.  And
there's also been an active cellphone antenna fitted to the tailgate
window at some point.

> This thing was installed by a monkeylad at best or
> just some imbecile.  Not only didn't it work, it
> caused alot of other faults and disabled the factory
> alarm(which I think is quite good).  Wire nuts might
> be a close second as far as having no place in an
> automobile.

I have to admit to using the things in my early mechanicking years.
Only after I traced problem after problem to old Scotchlocks did I
develop a deep-seated anathema toward them.  They still have a place
for a quick fix in PoS cars that won't last more than a few years, but
when your vehicle's already 12 years old and you're looking for at
least another ten years out of it, they're inappropriate technology.

--
  Phil Payne
  http://www.isham-research.com/quattro
  +44 7785 302 803
  +49 173 6242039