Music/Central Locking Systems for MPFi Cars

Preamble
Nowadays, there’d be hardly any car without some sort of a Music System in it. While most entry level ones come without any, leaving their choice to the buyers, on the other hand the higher end ones come factory fitted with fairly respectable Systems. So getting one retro-fitted in the present generation Mpfi/Crdi cars needs special care, because of the Engine management Computer or the ‘ECU’ on board. In the following Para’s, one should be able to see why…

Because of the ‘ECU’ on board, the MPFi Cars’ Wiring Harness has the human spinal cord like ‘sensitivity’. So, it’s advisable NOT to cut/splice/tape/twist-joint it anywhere, for installing any electrical accessory. In fact this is invariably stated so in the Car’s Warranty Policy, given in the Owner’s Hand Book.

Consequently, practically all such Cars have an OE/Dealer Option of Music Systems specially produced in India for them by renowned players including 12-months warranty and assured after sales service, such as Kenwood/Sony/Blaupunkt etc. These are ‘model specific’ by way of ‘mating’ wiring harness couplers, which slip in straightaway away w/o having to tamper with the OE/WH, unlike to olden days where one could stand on the wayside Car Accessories mkt and see it ‘butchered’ with your own eyes w/o any detrimental effects though, coz there were no MPFi/EMS-Comps on board then.

So it would make sense to choose any one of these (other than speakers perhaps) from one’s Dealer AND have it installed by him, so that one’s Warranty is not affected. Take a formal receipt of it for later use, the possibility of it cannot be ruled out, in case one shifts town/Dealer and has some problems with the Car’s MPFi system later.

However, one should go in for the best possible ‘matching’ speaker systems coz they will make all the difference in the end. Towards this, one will have to do one’s own research as the choice available is pretty vast.

Likewise, if not more, for the present day fad of Central Locking, vis-a-vis MPFi Cars. Take the Dealers’ advice on this too. But before one succumbs to it and is out of pocket by 5k or so, ask to be shown any such installation in progress from start to finish at his workshop. The chances are that inspite of being assured that the system is ‘model specific’, one will recoil with horror the way door panels/chassis members/OE/WH are crudely hacked hammers and tongs to get it in place.

I have seen it happen, to the extent that the poor owner of a Rs. 6L plus ‘C’ gr car couldn’t even drive to the nearest Petrol pump. He stalled on the way and got locked in - thanks to the ‘dedicated’ Central Locking System! If not immediately, the possibility of such things happening at a later date is more than bright.

It’s been established internationally that a ‘visible’ deterrent such as a Steering/pedal Lock is far more effective and reliable - more so when a good one costs only <1k 1. However, one can go in for the more fancy ‘imported’ one - ‘Mul-T-Lock’ - which is purely a mech device that gets installed near the Gear Lever and locks it in IV gear. It costs @ 3k and most Dealers’ Accessories Counters have them.