Outer Limits 4x4 Board

Gday People....

Just recently, the central locking in my 91 Vitara has been having a mind of it's own......

It's makes the sound of locking or unlocking...the buttons on the doors vibrate... but they dont actually unlock or lock. (hard to explain, but I hope you get the drift)

It even happens when the vehicle is still... engine off... no one in it.... it's like the thing is possessed!

So.. has anyone come across this problem? Any possible causes / solutions would be appreciated.

it happens to me too

i assue it is just all the water, mud and vibration that cause it

more effort to fix it than what it is worth IMO...

If it's anything like aftermarket central locking setups, what you will have is "slave engines" in each door - which are sent a signal, and either shift up, or down. With that up or down motion, the top of the engine is connected to a wire which is then attached to the button (which is what you would use manually to lock / unlock the door.

Since the engines are still making the noise - they are still going up and down. But, as the button is not moving - i would say that the connection between the engine and the button is no longer intact.

Solution:

1. Remove the inside skin from the door
2. find the engine and see how it moves (using your remote)
3. find the connection to the button
4. re-establish the connection so that it works again.

I had an aftermarket setup with a few screws in the connection between the engine and the button - these would rattle loose over time.

Hope that helps.

Cheers

ok.. i forget to mention that the central locking still works fine otherwise... With the remote and teh internal button for locking an unlocking.

Thanx Gonzo & Greg for your thoughts so far.

Upzook mine is pretty similar, it lock and unlocks fine

sometimes it just makes that noise, other times it actually locks the doors on its own - it hasnt unlocked them (i think)

Well.... it's gone way beyond a joke for me... it used to happen once every so often.... but the last few days it has happend continually.... none stop.... must be fixed before I go iNsAnE!

Upzook wrote:Well.... it's gone way beyond a joke for me... it used to happen once every so often.... but the last few days it has happend continually.... none stop.... must be fixed before I go iNsAnE!

Solution number 2 is to find the power wires for the central locking and cut them with a pair of wire cutters, then insulate the two ends with electrical tape.

That way you know that it is never going to work. EVER! and the problem will be sorted.

I did this with my central locking setup - tore it out and threw it away.

Or cut the roof off so that you no longer need to use the door locks at all

Seriously there will normally be one or two master solinoids (or engines as gerg called em) .. Your vit appeasr to be a four door .. I would say that one of em is stuffed most likley corroded thats why it's getting worse ..

Try pulling one of the wires to the two front locks (normally the master is in the drivers door so I would start there) and se eif the problem stops .. If it does you may need a new "engine" for that door ..

Guy

I have pulled the master door switch thingy that controls un/locking of doors and power windows. The problem was still there when it was removed

Upzook wrote:I have pulled the master door switch thingy that controls un/locking of doors and power windows. The problem was still there when it was removed

Not the switch ... the solinoid (actual thing that locks and unlocks the doors IE .. makes the locking buttin move) .. As it is "moved" it sends a signal to make the others open or close regardless of the position of the switch ..

The locking solenoids/ motors/ engines! have usually got microswitches built inside them that send signals to the control module indicating that the lock has been manually opened/ closed and then the control module sends a lock/unlock signal to the other doors solenoids to do the same thing. By the sound of it you may have dirty contacts on your microswitches causing them to send false signals to the control module.

It's a good theory anyway!?

OR your control module could be playing up; OR if it's hooked up to a remote locking alarm system the alarm wiring could be causing the trouble!