Wierd issue with the door lock actuator

dsno · Post by **dsno** » 14 Oct 2017, 14:09

hi there..

Winter is coming.. as they say in the world of westeros...

anyhow.

i've got some issues with my door lock actuator, and now that winter is indeed coming here in norway. i'll have to adress it somehow.

the tumbler freezes. probably beause of it being wet and old.. however, this is not the main problem.

the problem i'm having is with the keyfob. when i actuate the actuator (lol) and lock the car, the car gets locked, but when i press unlock on the fob. all other doors unlock, but the drivers side. i'm completly unable to use the door handle until i open the car with the key..

and that is what makes my head spin..

why in the f.... hell can i open it with the key? but no with the fob? the key is not mechanically linked to the actuator (or so it seems?) it only activates a microswitch to unlock? (or am i totaly wrong here?) and thus it should not matter if the key or the fob is used?

i've searched and searched the big interwebs, but it seems to me like people usually are having problems with the actuator motor just completly dying. mine works by the sound of it. and it does lock the car..

help?

Dan

Post by **FLXC90** » 14 Oct 2017, 14:21

Sounds like a typical failing lock actuator. Locking the car takes less mechanical effort than unlocking. When the motors get weak, it is usually noticed in a failure to UNLOCK. And usually when warm.

dsno · Post by **dsno** » 14 Oct 2017, 14:57

is the key input mechanical or electrical?

dsno · Post by **dsno** » 14 Oct 2017, 15:43

btw. the inside lock pin does pop up with no issues

Post by **cn90** » 14 Oct 2017, 22:30

Search forum for "resistor", most people remove it and replace with a piece of copper wire.
Better yet, live with the problem, I have had this problem for years, I simply use the key: turn it once for one door (driver's door) vs turn it twice (for all doors).

Post by **BEJinFbk** » 15 Oct 2017, 00:34

dsno wrote: ↑14 Oct 2017, 14:57 is the key input mechanical or electrical?

It's connected with a steel linkage rod.

dsno · Post by **dsno** » 15 Oct 2017, 01:55

BEJinFbk wrote: ↑15 Oct 2017, 00:34
dsno wrote: ↑14 Oct 2017, 14:57 is the key input mechanical or electrical?

It's connected with a steel linkage rod.

yes, but its driven via the same electrical motor? isnt it?

dsno · Post by **dsno** » 15 Oct 2017, 01:56

cn90 wrote: ↑14 Oct 2017, 22:30 Search forum for "resistor", most people remove it and replace with a piece of copper wire.
Better yet, live with the problem, I have had this problem for years, I simply use the key: turn it once for one door (driver's door) vs turn it twice (for all doors).

and when the lock freezes and you are unable to use the key?

Post by **BEJinFbk** » 15 Oct 2017, 11:48

dsno wrote: ↑15 Oct 2017, 01:55
BEJinFbk wrote: ↑15 Oct 2017, 00:34
dsno wrote: ↑14 Oct 2017, 14:57 is the key input mechanical or electrical?

It's connected with a steel linkage rod.
yes, but its driven via the same electrical motor? isnt it?

I'm not sure what you mean. It's not driven by anything.
The key cylinder is connected to the door latch mechanism
by a steel rod. It will lock and unlock the door whether there
is power or not - It's mechanical.

The motor IS part of the latch mechanism, along with several switches,
but has nothing to do with locking or unlocking the door with a key.

The driver's door latch has a three postion switch switch for the key cylinder,
center is open, left is unlock/disarm, right is lock/arm. The left turn unlock has
two responses. The first left turn mechanically unlocks the driver's door and
disarms the alrm system. An immediate second left turn unlocks all other doors.

There are also switches in the latch mechanism in all tne doors that detect if the
door is latched or unlatched and yet another set of contacts that activate each of
the red safety lights in each door.

Hope that helps.

Post by **BEJinFbk** » 15 Oct 2017, 11:51

BEJinFbk wrote: ↑15 Oct 2017, 11:48
dsno wrote: ↑15 Oct 2017, 01:55
BEJinFbk wrote: ↑15 Oct 2017, 00:34

It's connected with a steel linkage rod.
yes, but its driven via the same electrical motor? isnt it?
I'm not sure what you mean. It's not driven by anything.
The key cylinder is connected to the door latch mechanism
by a steel rod. It will lock and unlock the door whether there
is power or not - It's mechanical.

The motor IS part of the latch mechanism, along with several switches,
but has nothing to do with locking or unlocking the driver's door with a key.

The driver's door latch has a three postion switch switch for the key cylinder,
center is open, left is unlock/disarm, right is lock/arm. The left turn unlock has
two responses. The first left turn mechanically unlocks the driver's door and
disarms the alrm system. An immediate second left turn unlocks all other doors.
( This decription assumes a left-hand drive car ).

There are also switches in the latch mechanisms of all the doors that detect if the
door is latched or unlatched and yet another set of contacts that activate each of
the red safety lights in each door.

Hope that helps.