Central Locking niggle

RW3200

RW3200

Junior Member
Messages
295
Hi all,

I'm just after a little advice after experiencing a small niggle with my central locking.

I unlocked my car yesterday, opened the door and it sounded like the door was locking and unlocking quite rapidly on its own.
I closed the door, locked it and unlocked it again and all was well, but it did then happen again a bit later on. It hasn't happened since but I wonder if maybe something needs attention. I'd hate to get stuck somewhere unable to get in, or out, of my car.

Anyone else had any similar experience? Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

Cheers,
Ru
 
2b1ask1

2b1ask1

Special case
Messages
20,274
Sticky actuators or linkages in my experience (not on a Maserati in this instance but Landrover & Fiats) one or both doors are set up to actuate the central locking if you use the key in the door. With a sticky mechanism the solenoid throws the lever but stops before the lock has moved the system thinks you are using a key or manually locking/unlocking and tries to correct the disparity by re-locking/unlocking. Hope that makes sense...
 
SteveM

SteveM

Member
Messages
542
As the others suggest I think one of your door locks is on the way out as I experienced similar symptons and then got stuck after ignoring it when I couldn't lock the car using remote and ended up having to manually lock the car in sequence from passengers side. Eventually traced to faulty drivers door lock. Good news is it is the same part as 4200 and readily available (2 years ago £40 +Vat from main dealer). I changed it myself - just very awkward trying to get to unhook linkages once you have removed door card and working around window guides. If I remember correctly the new 4200 lock comes with a plastic link arm and you have to swap the metal link arm over from your old lock refer to attached photo for new and old.1161.jpg
 
RW3200

RW3200

Junior Member
Messages
295
Thanks chaps for your extremely swift and thorough advice!

The car is a 3200 AC.

Excellent advice, I will tend to the problem immediately as I can't afford to get stuck, not currently being in the best of health.

I usually only deal with Bill McGrath's but a 400 mile round trip seems a bit far for such a trivial problem. Can anyone suggest a good Independent or dealer within 100 miles of the severn bridge where I could get this done?

Thanks once again!
Ru
 
BigR

BigR

Member
Messages
447
Hi - a potentially related (but not quite) issue...

I think my battery is flat. Came back having not used it (GT) for a week and the key fob isn't unlocking the car, and neither is the spare. I changed the battery in the fob because it had been a little intermittent, but to no avail. So it seems the battery may be flat on the car.

However...I can't unlock the car door, to get to unlock the boot and access the battery to try and jump start it (presuming that's the problem). Put simply, the key in the lock doesn't do the job and the car doesn't unlock. HELP!!!
 
BigR

BigR

Member
Messages
447
BigR said:
Hi - a potentially related (but not quite) issue...

I think my battery is flat. Came back having not used it (GT) for a week and the key fob isn't unlocking the car, and neither is the spare. I changed the battery in the fob because it had been a little intermittent, but to no avail. So it seems the battery may be flat on the car.

However...I can't unlock the car door, to get to unlock the boot and access the battery to try and jump start it (presuming that's the problem). Put simply, the key in the lock doesn't do the job and the car doesn't unlock. HELP!!!
Click to expand...


OK, now ignore it! I've learnt something today......

i) somehow I flattened the battery over a week of not driving it...That much I haven't learnt
ii) fiddling with the key in the lock does eventually release the door - its a bit hit & miss
iii) I found the emergency boot release cable!
iv) I restarted the car, jumping it off another, but it took a fair few minutes to get enough charge going
v) then, the EPB buggered up. After a bit of searching it transpired that the car can think the door is still open and therefore you have to basically keep the engine running long enough until you dare switch it off, lock it, unlock it and restart it. And pronto, the EPB is back to normal.

Oh, and then the excuse that I had to go out for a nice long drive in it just to check all was well :thumb3:
 
2b1ask1

2b1ask1

Special case
Messages
20,274
Big R, I'd be getting your tracker battery checked and if need be replaced (usually FOC I believe), these are renowned for killing the main battery as when they fail they just keep charging 24/7.
 
Skid1769

Skid1769

Junior Member
Messages
176
I had this problem last year, required a new door lock for the passenger door. Also a new internal skin as well as that had to come off. I think it cost me the best part of £400 to have it fixed.
 
C

Chrisbassett

Member
Messages
3,909
Intermittent problem with locking using the key button
When I try to lock the spyder using the key button I get one of two different responses. I haven't noticed a correlation with anything in particular like time of day or hours driven or anything...
The two behaviours are:
1. Both doors lock and the alarm activates with 3 flashes of the indicators. This is the desirable result, I can't open any of the doors at this point.
2. The alarm arms and the indicators flash 3 times, the passenger door tries to lock, then unlocks again, the drivers door does nothing. I can open either of the doors at this point and the alarm will go off. I can then use the key in the lock of e drivers door to physically lock the drivers door and the passenger door also locks. If I try to lock the passenger door directly with the key, it goes into a spasm of locking & unlocking, the drivers door does nothing.

As its intermittent, it sounds like faulty connection or a faulty sensor...any ideas where to look first?
Cheers
Chris.
 
CatmanV2

CatmanV2

Member
Messages
48,794
Driver's door, I reckon.
Together with the items others have mentioned, there is also a bar that connects the manual lock button to the gubbins. On mine this has become a little sticky. A quick spritz of your favourite lube and all may be well.

C
 
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