{"id":952,"date":"2018-04-26T15:47:30","date_gmt":"2018-04-26T15:47:30","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.jagbits.com\/techbits\/?p=952"},"modified":"2026-02-26T16:16:49","modified_gmt":"2026-02-26T16:16:49","slug":"installing-keyless-entry-on-a-1980-1985-jaguar-xj6-series-iii","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.jagbits.com\/techbits\/installing-keyless-entry-on-a-1980-1985-jaguar-xj6-series-iii\/","title":{"rendered":"Installing Keyless Entry on a 1980\u20131985 Jaguar XJ6 Series III"},"content":{"rendered":"<p class=\"p1\"><i>By Mike Pastori \u2013 Rewritten for DIY Owners<\/i><i><\/i><\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\">This installation procedure applies to <span class=\"s1\"><b>1980\u20131985 Jaguar XJ6 Series III<\/b><\/span> models. The <span class=\"s1\"><b>1986\u20131987 Series III<\/b><\/span> cars are actually easier to convert (more on that below).<\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\">Below is an overview based on an installation performed on a <span class=\"s1\"><b>1984 XJ6 Series III<\/b><\/span>.<\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<h2><b>\ud83d\udd27 Understanding the Factory Lock System (1980\u20131985)<\/b><\/h2>\n<p class=\"p4\"><span class=\"s3\">On 1980\u20131985 Series III cars, the <\/span><b>driver\u2019s door does NOT have an electric lock actuator<\/b><span class=\"s3\">.<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\">Instead:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>\n<p class=\"p1\">The driver\u2019s door lock is operated <span class=\"s1\"><b>mechanically<\/b><\/span> by the key (outside) or the lock lever (inside).<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li>\n<p class=\"p1\"><span class=\"s1\">When you move the lock, a <\/span><b>rod pushes the latch mechanism<\/b><span class=\"s1\">.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li>\n<p class=\"p1\">That mechanical movement triggers an <span class=\"s1\"><b>electrical signal<\/b><\/span> that locks the other three doors and the trunk.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p class=\"p1\">Because there is no electric actuator in the driver\u2019s door, installing keyless entry requires <span class=\"s1\"><b>adding an electric door lock motor (actuator)<\/b><\/span> to that door.<\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<h2><b>\ud83e\uddf0 Parts Used<\/b><\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li>\n<p class=\"p1\"><b>Valiant Keyless Entry System \u2013 Model 2RTA<\/b><b><\/b><\/p>\n<p class=\"p2\">(Common aftermarket system)<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li>\n<p class=\"p1\"><b>Electric Door Lock Actuator (DL-6228 style universal actuator)<\/b><b><\/b><\/p>\n<p class=\"p2\">Often sold as a universal \u201cdoor lock motor\u201d<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li>\n<p class=\"p1\">Miscellaneous supplies:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>\n<p class=\"p1\">Wire connectors<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li>\n<p class=\"p1\">Electrical tape or loom<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li>\n<p class=\"p1\">Ground eyelets<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li>\n<p class=\"p1\">Nylon zip ties<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<hr \/>\n<h2><b>\ud83d\udee0 Tools Required<\/b><\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li>\n<p class=\"p1\">Electric drill<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li>\n<p class=\"p1\">Phillips screwdriver (#2)<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li>\n<p class=\"p1\">Flat screwdriver<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li>\n<p class=\"p1\">Wire stripper\/crimping tool<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li>\n<p class=\"p1\">Basic hand tools<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<hr \/>\n<h2><b>\ud83d\udeaa Step 1: Install the Driver\u2019s Door Actuator<\/b><\/h2>\n<ol start=\"1\">\n<li>\n<p class=\"p1\"><b>Remove the driver\u2019s door panel.<\/b><b><\/b><\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li>\n<p class=\"p1\">Study the lock mechanism carefully. Watch how the <span class=\"s1\"><b>lock rod moves<\/b><\/span> when locking\/unlocking manually.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li>\n<p class=\"p1\">Locate the access opening in the door\u2019s metal frame near the latch area\u2014this is where the actuator will mount.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<h3><b>Test the Actuator First<\/b><\/h3>\n<p class=\"p1\">Before installing, briefly connect the actuator leads to a 12V battery. You\u2019ll see it operates with a <span class=\"s1\"><b>push\u2013pull motion<\/b><\/span>.<\/p>\n<h3><b>Mounting the Actuator<\/b><\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li>\n<p class=\"p1\">Use the included metal mounting strap.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li>\n<p class=\"p1\">Mount the actuator <span class=\"s1\"><b>horizontally<\/b><\/span>, with the plunger aligned toward the existing lock rod.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li>\n<p class=\"p1\">The actuator includes its own rod. Attach it to the factory lock rod using the included clamp with set screws.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li>\n<p class=\"p1\">Adjust the attachment point until the lock movement is smooth and fully travels in both directions.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p class=\"p1\">Take your time here\u2014proper alignment is critical.<\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<h2><b>\ud83d\udd0c Step 2: Running the Wiring<\/b><\/h2>\n<p class=\"p1\">Run two wires from inside the cabin (driver\u2019s left footwell area) into the driver\u2019s door:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>\n<p class=\"p1\">Ideally, route them through the <span class=\"s1\"><b>factory rubber door conduit<\/b><\/span>.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li>\n<p class=\"p1\">If that proves too difficult, you can carefully route them along the lower weather stripping and under the threshold plate.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p class=\"p1\">\u26a0\ufe0f Important:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>\n<p class=\"p1\">Protect exposed wires with proper wrap or loom.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li>\n<p class=\"p1\">Leave enough slack between the door and body for movement.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li>\n<p class=\"p1\">Secure wiring with zip ties to prevent chafing.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p class=\"p1\">Connect the two wires to the actuator leads (polarity determines lock\/unlock direction).<\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<h2><b>\ud83d\udce6 Step 3: Install the Keyless Control Module<\/b><\/h2>\n<p class=\"p1\">Remove the <span class=\"s1\"><b>left-hand console kick panel<\/b><\/span> (to the right of the accelerator pedal, near the air vent).<\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\">This area works well for mounting the keyless entry control module. You can also mount it elsewhere under the dash if preferred.<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>\n<p class=\"p1\">Secure the module.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li>\n<p class=\"p1\">Route wiring up over the steering column area as needed.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li>\n<p class=\"p1\">Connect power, ground, and lock trigger wires per the system diagram.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p class=\"p1\">\u26a0\ufe0f Important:<\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\">For 1980\u20131985 models, make sure you use the <span class=\"s1\"><b>correct wiring diagram for your year range<\/b><\/span>. These cars are wired differently than 1986\u20131987 models.<\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<h2><b>\u2705 Special Note for 1986\u20131987 Series III Owners<\/b><\/h2>\n<p class=\"p1\">If you have a <span class=\"s1\"><b>1986\u20131987 Series III<\/b><\/span>, you\u2019re in luck:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>\n<p class=\"p1\">The driver\u2019s door already has an electric actuator.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li>\n<p class=\"p1\">In most cases, you will NOT need to install an additional motor.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li>\n<p class=\"p1\">Wiring integration is much simpler.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p class=\"p1\">Always confirm actuator presence before purchasing parts.<\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<h2><b>\u23f1 Time Estimate<\/b><\/h2>\n<p class=\"p1\">Plan for approximately <span class=\"s1\"><b>4 hours<\/b><\/span> for a careful first-time installation.<\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<h2><b>\ud83d\udca1 Final Thoughts<\/b><\/h2>\n<p class=\"p1\">Adding keyless entry to a 1980\u20131985 Series III greatly improves convenience while keeping the car visually original. The key challenge is installing the driver\u2019s door actuator correctly\u2014once that\u2019s done, the rest is straightforward wiring.<\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\">Take your time, protect your wiring, and test thoroughly before reinstalling interior panels.<\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\">The result is a classic Jaguar with modern convenience\u2014and excellent remote range.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>By Mike Pastori \u2013 Rewritten for DIY Owners This installation procedure applies to 1980\u20131985 Jaguar XJ6 Series III models. The 1986\u20131987 Series III cars are actually easier to convert (more on that below). Below is an overview based on an installation performed on a 1984 XJ6 Series III. \ud83d\udd27 Understanding the Factory Lock System (1980\u20131985) [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_seopress_robots_primary_cat":"none","_seopress_titles_title":"Installing Keyless Entry on a 1980\u20131985 Jaguar XJ6 Series III","_seopress_titles_desc":"This installation procedure applies to 1980\u20131985 Jaguar XJ6 Series III models.","_seopress_robots_index":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[44],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-952","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-xj6"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.jagbits.com\/techbits\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/952","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.jagbits.com\/techbits\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.jagbits.com\/techbits\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.jagbits.com\/techbits\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.jagbits.com\/techbits\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=952"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/www.jagbits.com\/techbits\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/952\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":955,"href":"https:\/\/www.jagbits.com\/techbits\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/952\/revisions\/955"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.jagbits.com\/techbits\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=952"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.jagbits.com\/techbits\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=952"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.jagbits.com\/techbits\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=952"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}