Central locking fault

[Malc]

Just picked up my S2 and the only faults seem to be a rusted aerial so the radio is u/s and no central locking. Radio aerial fairly easy to source and i assume the central locking is the central door lock control module. I have assumed this as I don’t think my car has the factory fitted alarm as in the history file, there is an invoice for the fitting of a Cobra alarm, so therefore the central locking may not be operated by the alarm. So assuming it is the module (again easily sourced) does anyone know where it is and how easy it is to replace it?

[Saltire]

The S2 doesn’t have a separate central locking module. All central locking functions were handled by the OEM alarm. If your OEM alarm has been replaced, you’re reliant on a) the Cobra alarm having a central locking capability, and b) whoever wired it having done it properly. It’s not straightforward - don’t ask me how I know

I doubt it would be feasible to retrofit the SE central locking either. First of all, you’d have to find a new or serviceable secondhand locking module. You’d also need a couple of door switches which were omitted on the S2, and then you’d need to rewire to plumb them in.

Sorry to be the bearer of bad news.

[Simon_P]

A glimmer of hope.

The S2 doesn’t have a separate central locking module. All central locking functions were handled by the OEM alarm.

Unless your S2 wasn't fitted with the factory alarm, in which case it is the same as the earlier cars.

I think that the actuator is built into the lock so all the bits are there and you need to work out what you have and connect the appropriate wires.

[Malc]

Thanks for that - all I have is an invoice from 2010 showing the installation of a Cobra alarm and immobiliser. I didn’t realise that an alarm was standard on S2s. I’ll speak to the vendor who is a Lotus specialist and also try and get hold of the PO. AAMOI, the central locking modules are available from usual sources (Kelevedon, SJS etc) for a relatively modest £25.

PS apologies if this post is shown twice - I posted a few minutes ago and it seems to have disappeared into the ether….

[exeterjeep]

The S2 I bought a few weeks ago, does not have alarm/central locking, SJ removed the non functioning after market one that had been fitted, and I assume therefore the original failed many years ago. Spoke to another S2 owner at Hendy Exeter and their is in the same situation. Will have to have a chat with SJ to see what they recommend.

[Saltire]

According to the workshop manual, all UK S2s left the factory with a Gemini Aquila alarm/immobiliser fitted as standard. I’ve seen quite a lot of S2s and never found one without that alarm (unless it had been removed and replaced). As far as I know, there was no central locking module, and one of the door sensor switches (can’t recall which one offhand) wasn’t fitted.

If I’m wrong, I’ll happily stand corrected

[Malc]

The S2 I bought a few weeks ago, does not have alarm/central locking, SJ removed the non functioning after market one that had been fitted, and I assume therefore the original failed many years ago. Spoke to another S2 owner at Hendy Exeter and their is in the same situation. Will have to have a chat with SJ to see what they recommend.

That would be good

[Malc]

I’ll have a good look at my car in the next day or so to see if I can see any evidence of an original alarm and will try and get hold of PO and the Lotus specialist who sold it to me.

[Simon_P]

According to the workshop manual, all UK S2s left the factory with a Gemini Aquila alarm/immobiliser fitted as standard. I’ve seen quite a lot of S2s and never found one without that alarm (unless it had been removed and replaced).

The sales brochure says the same and until recently I'd have agreed. Usually you find the redundant siren and the control module with a mess of wires in their respective places and the only thing of use is the Lotus key which you so kindly organised the stickers for.
On my BRG car I've only ever had a rectangular key with a light so didn't know that the alarm key was what most people had. There was a discussion about keys (the literature says that the S2 has one key for all locks, yet several of us have a separate boot/glovebox key as used to be the norm) so I got reading about keys and alarms in the (S2)Handbook which goes into great detail. Pages 7 and 12 deal with cars without the alarm fitted.

As well as not having the alarm keys, there is no evidence of a siren having been fitted and it wasn't until I had the blue car that I knew where it went. Also checking the fitting certificate for my alarm it was fitted in 1997 when the car was just a year and a half old.

So I guess that you could specify not to have an alarm - don't forget that in the mid 90s many people regarded them as an unnecessary, unreliable nuisance and disliked the bleeping and flashing.

[Simon_P]

I’ll have a good look at my car in the next day or so to see if I can see any evidence

what does the key look like?

[Saltire]

According to the workshop manual, all UK S2s left the factory with a Gemini Aquila alarm/immobiliser fitted as standard. I’ve seen quite a lot of S2s and never found one without that alarm (unless it had been removed and replaced).

As well as not having the alarm keys, there is no evidence of a siren having been fitted and it wasn't until I had the blue car that I knew where it went. Also checking the fitting certificate for my alarm it was fitted in 1997 when the car was just a year and a half old.

So I guess that you could specify not to have an alarm - don't forget that in the mid 90s many people regarded them as an unnecessary, unreliable nuisance and disliked the bleeping and flashing.

I duly stand corrected, Simon I wonder whether it was just random cars which had no alarm, or whether it was, for example, cars after a certain date when Lotus ran out of the Aquila alarms.

As for the keys, mine is the same for all locks, although I never use the boot key now I have the hidden solenoid fitted

[Malc]

I’ll have a good look at my car in the next day or so to see if I can see any evidence

what does the key look like?

Haven’t had a chance to take a look at the car yet, but here is a picture of the keys. The buttons on the main one is for a light, the black one is for an immobiliser adjacent to the ignition switch and. I don’t know what the third one is for!!

[dapinky]

The ignition key is the same as mine (Vauxhall Nova replacement barrel fitted many years ago!) for an SE.

Is the 'unknown' key for turning off the siren at the box????

[Saltire]

From memory (because I don’t have my original any more), the third key is the siren turn-off key for the original Aquila alarm

[Malc]

I’ll have a good look at my car in the next day or so to see if I can see any evidence

what does the key look like?

Haven’t had a chance to take a look at the car yet, but here is a picture of the keys. The buttons on the main one is for a light, the black one is for an immobiliser adjacent to the ignition switch and. I don’t know what the third one is for!!

Have written to the PO to try and find out about whether the car originally had central locking - he owned it for 12 years so should know and hopefully also find out about the third key.

[esprit888]

The V8 Esprit alarm is also the cobra and just as problematic. It looks like someone has 'upgraded' to the same alarm as the Esprit. The third item is called a touch key and is used to program the alarm or a new key, same as the esprit.

Screenshot (105).jpg

[Malc]

Well I have solved the mystery of the non functioning central locking. The PO told me:

“The car did have central locking but the last owner had only 1 key that worked. I tried to get a replacement but the alarm company had liquidated and it was not possible. If I locked the car and lost the working key then I would be in big trouble so Paul Matty organised the fitting of the immobiliser”.

Sounds like this has happened On a number of cars, but it’s not worth trying to retro fit. It’s really not that much work to lock the doors manually!

[exeterjeep]

So you have a working immobiliser? And a way to activate/de activate it. Which unit is it?
As said previously my alarm/locking/immobiliser have all been deleted. I found the siren in the engine bay on the bulkhead.

[Malc]

So you have a working immobiliser? And a way to activate/de activate it. Which unit is it?
As said previously my alarm/locking/immobiliser have all been deleted. I found the siren in the engine bay on the bulkhead.

Not certain! I’m away at present but will have a look next week. There is a touch button next to the ignition switch and there is also a cut out switch (with a red key) in the cabin. I’ll look out the original invoices etc as well as they would probably have most of the details of what went on.

[GeoffSmith]

From memory (because I don’t have my original any more), the third key is the siren turn-off key for the original Aquila alarm

Correct.