problem with prestige/audiovox aps45b

Hello:

This is my first post here, thanks for creating what looks like a great resource. I did some reading and I believe this is the correct forum to post this. I'm hoping someone here has seen this problem and can clue me in on what I'm doing wrong. I'm an engineer and I consider myself very knowledgeable with wiring, relays, etc (I have a Ham Radio license), but I am stumped on this one.

I am in the process of doing a total frame-off restoration on my faithful 1987 Toyota pickup truck. The truck is still very much apart, the cab is off at the body shop being painted, and all the wiring harnesses are hanging in my garage. I have full factory wiring manuals for everything. Besides the restoration, I am adding features to the truck that were not there before, things like power windows, door locks, exterior lighting, on-board air, etc. The windows and locks are using factory OEM parts I gathered from junkyards and buying on craigslist.

Anyhoo... I had the bright idea to add keyless entry, since I was already gonna be very familiar with the wiring. I talked to a local shop here and they sold me a Prestige (Audiovox) APS45B. When I got it home and read the manual, I was surprised to find it also had other outputs that I could use for other things. I have everything laid out in my basement now, all hooked up, and everything is working as it should: locks are locking/unlocking, parking lights are flashing, buzzers are chirping, dome lights are lighting up, and so on. All is good on that.

Then, I figured: "hey, it would be really cool to use the Channel 2 and 3 outputs to be able to remotely fire up the worklights in the bed and underneath". So, I did some reading about latching relays, not too hard. The Channel 2 output (blue wire) is working perfectly (ground output for ~1 sec when you hold down the Option button).

BUT. The Channel 3 output does nothing. Zilch. What is supposed to happen is you hit both the lock and unlock buttons, and the GREEN/ Black wire is supposed to go to ground as long as you hold the buttons down. But nothing happens. I've tried every possible combination of button pushes on the remote and nothing works.

I went through the entire programming, set everything the way I want it, pretty easy, but it didn't help. Called the store, they have no idea. Part of the challenge here is the instructions are TERRIBLE, they are in poor English and contradict each other in a few places. I even went to the Audiovox site and submitted a question to them, but so far nothing after several days, I doubt I will ever hear from them.

I'll stop here and post, hoping someone can shine some light on this for me. Perhaps the answer will be "yah that doesn't work", which I can work with, but I just need to know. Thanks!!

I've been installing Audiovox alarms and remote starters since 2001. The product is well-made and the price is right, but I'm amazed at their terrible documentation and poor communication with their customers. I even tried to offer my services to write them some real manuals, but they weren't interested.

Anyway, not sure about the particular model you have (I haven't used that one), but on many of their units, only the basic lock/unlock/trunk features come programmed to the remotes from the factory. The installer has to reprogram the remotes for the extra channels to work.

So, I would recommend reprogramming remotes. There should be a separate sheet in the bag for remote programming. The instructions there are nearly as terrible as the installation guide.

Basically, from what I'm guessing about what you have, you have four total channels: Lock, Unlock, Trunk, and that other one you're trying to get to work.

You'll probably want to program each channel to its corresponding button on the remote, but do be aware that you can usually program the remotes any way you want.......you could make the trunk button lock the doors, make the lock button unlock the doors, and so forth.

If you search this forum, there should be some other posts about Audiovox programming. Try using "pursuit" as a search feature too; that's Audiovox's new-car-dealer brand.

Anyway, I'll give a quick run-through before I have to head out to work:

1: Ignition on
2: Valet 3 times; horn beeps once.
3: You're now in Channel 1 programming. Press lock on one remote, then on the other. (Loud beep each time.)
4: Valet 1 time; system chirps twice.
5: You're now in Channel 2 programming.....hopefully you have the idea by now. Press Unlock on each remote.
6: Valet once; 3 chirps.
7: Trunk button on each remote
8: Valet once; 4 chirps
9: Press Lock and Unlock together, or whatever other combination you like to activate that extra output.
10: Ignition off.

Notes: If you're on a workbench, use a jumper wire to "turn on" the ignition.

Connect something (test light, buzzer) to horn or siren output to help you with programming.

If you pause for too long, you'll hear a loud chirp and get kicked out of programming; turn ignition off and start over.

Hi Chris:

Thanks, I'm impressed you took that much effort to type out all that.

I have the little booklet for the remotes, and I've already tried re-programming them (twice). Didn't help. I had grand plans that I could use this output to roll down the windows, but I guess it's not gonna happen. I have this feature in my Lexus and it's really nice, especially when the car has been sitting out in the hot sun all locked up.

I'm amazed at the trove of relay diagrams on this site. I'm gonna try the latched on/off with a single momentary pulse configuration, requires 4 relays and a couple of diodes, but I have all the stuff here and I'm up for the challenge.

One other question I have with this unit is understanding the difference between Horn mode and Siren mode in the programming. It is not explained at all in the instructions, and I've tried both settings with a simple 12V buzzer and I can't tell any difference. Can anybody tell me the difference?

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* 1987 Toyota Xtra cab pickup, currently undergoing frame-off restoration.
* 2005 Lexus ES330

Update:

I finally heard back from Audiovox today, via email. In his first exchange the tech warned me that the output was only good for 300mA and I may have drawn too much current and damaged the unit. I responded back that I was 100% sure I hadn't done that, I was only testing the output with a very small LED that draws ~30mA.

He responded back shortly after with this note:

Channel 4 will need to be programmed to the transmitter. Make sure the VALET/program switch is in the OFF position before beginning the below steps.

Have both transmitters present during programming:

1. Turn the vehicle's ignition to the full ON position. (do not start the vehicle)
2. Move the VALET/program switch from the OFF position to the ON position 6 times returning to the OFF position on the 7 count.
3. Press LOCK and UNLOCK buttons on the first transmitter simultaneously.
4. Press LOCK and UNLOCK buttons on the second transmitter simultaneously.
5. Turn the ignition switch OFF.

This procedure assigns channel 4 to the remotes when LOCK and UNLOCK are pressed at the same time.

I performed these steps, and it worked! Not sure why my programming wasn't working before, as I was getting confirmation chirps all the time.

Thanks for your help!

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* 1987 Toyota Xtra cab pickup, currently undergoing frame-off restoration.
* 2005 Lexus ES330

Glad you got it fixed, klf. Great help, Chris.

I have an APS-45B problem, too. I'll start a new thread and not hijack yours. Doug