I'm wanting to wire up the power locks so that they unlock when I disarm my car alarm. However, I get the sense that 280ZX power locks are not quite like modern power locks that use an electrical pulse to activate them. Can anyone confirm whether or not you can wire up a car alarm to open the power locks, or if I'll have to get some aftermarket power locks instead?

 

most car alarm systems have relay set ups for pretty much all power dooe lock systems.. when i installed my alarm i downloaded the wire diagram from the car alarm manufacturer.. i dont have stock power door locks but added the power door lock soliniods to work with my car alarm.. id try to find more info on your car alarm to see if it works with the stock 280ZX power door locks..

 

Heh, I've got both the Haynes and the Nissan service manual, and I couldn't find anything on the power locks in either! I thought I remember someone say something about them being "vacuum operated" or something, but I don't remember where that thread is.

 

Well, it turns out that I only needed an aftermarket lock solenoid/motor for the driver's side. The factory power lock is only on the passenger side.

 

Exactly. The passenger door just follows the driver's door. So the driver's side isn't really power at all. When I unlock the driver's door, I hear a relay click under the driver's side dash just a moment before the passenger door unlocks. I think it is relay based. The actuator in the passenger side on my car went out once. I replaced it. It was only hooked up with wires. No vaccume tubes.