Central Locking System Problem

[Gavin Jeffs]

I will be repairing the RH window which sticks when raising and has to be assisted from the rear (common problem). Thanks for all the posts to help with this! I have ordered the parts from SJ Sportcars. I also have a problem with the RH door locking system. The drivers door lock works fine but the passenger door lock will not lock or unlock automatically. If you lock or unlock the passenger door the driver door does respond ???. You can hear the mechanism on the passenger side work but no response. Any ideas?

[RobS]

Gavin,<br><br>I had the same problem. My elan is an SE which formerly had a Lotus alarm installed. When I bought the car the control box had been removed but all the wiring remained. I suggest you look at the Electrical manual at the alarm installation section. I think you will find that if you look in the passenger footwell tucked quite hight up towards the outside edge of the car there are a few connectors. Look for 2 yellow and red wires with bullet connectors that join the main harness to the alarm harness. Simply disconnect the alarm harness and join them together.<br><br>Good Luck<br><br>Rob

[Gavin Jeffs]

Rob, <br>Thanks. I will give this a try and let you know.

[Enright]

I wasn't sure whether to post this under the "electrical insanity" topic, but here goes:

While out at the weekend I operated my driver's window, and the doors locked!

Now the doors seem to be locking themselves at all sorts of wierd times. Usually this is after just shutting a door, but is almost always after operating a window switch.

Has anyone else experienced this? Is there a spot where wiring usually gets worn to save me from having to chase the fault through the entire system?

[DeeAitch]

Weird Gremlins must be out and about. Driving home tonight the doors would lock and then immediately unlock. Happened 3 times but only after a right turn Also the windows were down - as was the roof - summer has finally arrived
Locking the doors manualy stopped the Gremlins so sounds like time to strip the doors down. Had problems with the interior light staying on earlier in the year so could this be linked?

[Doug]

Dave, could be related to the 'microswitch' that senses when the door is closed. If it is not with good contacts it could be shorting out snd not sensing the door is cloded. If so it will pop the locks back up and not let you keep it down . . . . as you may know, this is inside the door workings.

[Enright]

Found it!

And you were right Dave - the only way WAS to strip the door down.

There is a switch attached to both door lock mechanisms, which is simply there to create a signal. It senses that a door has been unlocked or locked, tells this to the central locking control box, and that then powers up (or down) both locks. In my experience the alarm system is spliced into this too.

Anyway, once you've got the door’s interior trim panel off it's dead easy to get to - it's just behind the rearmost access panel. The offending bit was the connecting wire, which was nice, because it’s just a small “un-clippable” section.

Mine had gone that familiar shade of oxidised coppery green, and one of the wires had fractured. The window would just nudge it as it passed, causing it to arc – hence the doors suddenly locking. The odd bump in the road would have a similar effect. Oh how hilarious.

So, cutting the plugs off and replacing them soon sorted it.

Now all I need to do is replace the plastic clip that holds my window to the central rail, and find out why my speaker has developed an intermittent “fade”. Ah well, it’s all experience isn’t it!

[Doc Fizzix]

If the micro switch on the bottom of the locking mechanism within the door has come loose or if the locking mechanism's plastic mount has become cracked or busted entirely, you will experience strange problems with the locking system since the system will no longer be able to sense the correct position of the lock (up or down) The only way I was able to remove the locking mechanism was to first remove the window guide channel at the back of the door and then I was able to guide the locking mechanism. out and fix it.

[DeeAitch]

Hmmm, hapened again today. Now which door to tackle first

[Enright]

Hmm, sounds like you've got that microswitch issue that M100 mentioned.

Could you nail down which door was causing the interior light to stay on?

If so, then hit that one first. But I would go for the driver's first cos that gets the most use.

[DeeAitch]

Couldn't be ar5ed to strip the door just for an interior light so the fuse is still out. Logic says it must be the same door and drivers at that but Mr Sod says it will be the one that never gets used Another one to add to the list of Winter activities.