grr power locks keep failing... (again)

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Feb 24, 2005 2:16 AM

my power locks have been working some days and then just dont work at all some days..(opening the trunk and trying to find the gas door release latch is fun %) ) is there something that could be loose or is there a fuse associated with it, because i think i looked at the fuses but didnt see one pertaining to locks... just looking for something to jiggle before i take the car in to get this fixed ~_~

[Edit by 88 535is south florida on [TIME]1109229454[/TIME]]

shifty · Post by **shifty** » Feb 24, 2005 2:40 AM

There most definitely is a fuse for the locks. If they work sometimes and don't other times, it's probably not the fuse. But, you can check Fuse #5 anyway. While you're in there, check all of the fuses. Fuse #5 is an 8 amp fuse, always hot.

Check the central locking control unit. It's attached to the car directly below the trunk latch in the trunk. It could have loose connectors, or it could be corroded or just a piece of crap and in need of replacement.

That should get you started. Good luck!

pdx 528e · Post by **pdx 528e** » Feb 24, 2005 2:40 AM

Could be loose connections at the door harnesses. Below the front speaker wells, there is a white connector plug on each side. Some people have had problems with corrosion or oxidation at this connection. I cleaned all of these contacts on my car in hopes of getting my power locks to work, but my problem ended up being a broken solder joint in the control unit. Do you have any water leakage issues in the front of your car? Also, the power locks fuse is Fuse 5, an 8 amp, according to the Bentley. I have to trust it because all the writing has worn off of my fusebox cover.

Also, control unit is above the passenger footwell speaker, size of a pack of cigarettes, screws holding it are behind the carpet above the speaker. Dont ever disconnect it without first disconnecting the battery. At least thats what they say over at the http://www.mesaperformance.com troubleshooting FAQ, good place to read over if you havent.

[Edit by pdx 528e on [TIME]1109231151[/TIME]]

shifty · Post by **shifty** » Feb 24, 2005 2:43 AM

[QUOTE="pdx 528e"]all the writing has worn off of my fusebox cover. [/QUOTE]

Maybe it's time to get a new one written in German for $20! Hey, you can't read the current cover anyway, so at least it'll look cool!

pdx 528e · Post by **pdx 528e** » Feb 24, 2005 2:47 AM

[QUOTE="pdx 528e"]all the writing has worn off of my fusebox cover. [/QUOTE]

[QUOTE="Shifty"]Maybe it's time to get a new one written in German for $20! Hey, you can't read the current cover anyway, so at least it'll look cool!

[/QUOTE]

Hehe. True, but then I'll urge myself to get a deutch check control panel too

Hey shifty your old site had a lot of cool write ups on it! Are any of those gonna make it to http://www.oo00oo.com ?

[Edit by pdx 528e on [TIME]1109231745[/TIME]]

shifty · Post by **shifty** » Feb 24, 2005 2:54 AM

[QUOTE="pdx 528e"]Hehe. True, but then I'll urge myself to get a deutch check control panel too

Hey shifty your old site had a lot of different write ups on it. Are any of those gonna make it to www.oo00oo.com ? [/QUOTE]

I had a check control panel like that for a while. I taught myself a little bit of German that way!

All of the write-ups -- and even some that I never got on my old site -- are sitting on my hard drive, waiting on me to find the time to edit them and upload them to the site. I'm running out of space on the new site, so I may have to move hosts AGAIN! Hopefully I can keep the same web domain this time. I don't want to have to go through what I did last time, with the different domains. Argh. . .

mattp · Post by **mattp** » Feb 24, 2005 5:17 PM

Intermittent power locks are nearly always dodgy earth on control box. Remove box from it's mount and cleanup the mount points which is how it earths, probably corrosion on mount.

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Feb 24, 2005 6:06 PM

matt u mean the box in the trunk right under the lock? i checked that out, its in great shape and all the wires are intact.

mattp · Post by **mattp** » Feb 24, 2005 6:14 PM

Yes the box under the lock It earths via it's case and mount screws if there is corrosion under it the locks will go intermittent, always worth checking, may or may not be the case but if all else seems ok then could be cause

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Feb 24, 2005 6:32 PM

matt what do you mean by it earths? its the plastic box with the wire clusters going into it right?

pdx 528e · Post by **pdx 528e** » Feb 24, 2005 6:59 PM

[QUOTE="88 535is south florida"]matt what do you mean by it earths? its the plastic box with the wire clusters going into it right?[/QUOTE]
earth = grounding to frame. Not sure about you other guys, but my central lock control unit is above my right front speaker in the passenger footwell. What does that little box next to the trunk lock motor do? My locks work with it unplugged.

mattp · Post by **mattp** » Feb 24, 2005 7:36 PM

the one on mine is metal not plastic and if I remove it from it's mount the central locking stops working, I therefore assume it earths via it's mount bolts and is the control box for the CL.

I could however be incorrect, it has been known to happen before, I once believed Tony Blair was a decent guy but he turned out to be a wanker, but that is another story.

Kyle in NO · Post by **Kyle in NO** » Feb 24, 2005 11:06 PM

The one in the trunk below the latch is for the check control panel and the lights. The lock one is definitely behind the right front speaker in the kick panel.

Kyle in NO

mattp · Post by **mattp** » Feb 24, 2005 11:10 PM

I stand corrected, wonder why my CL stops working when I move the box under the lock

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Feb 25, 2005 12:15 AM

so if i remove the passenger side front speaker i will find this thing behind it?

pdx 528e · Post by **pdx 528e** » Feb 25, 2005 1:05 AM

[QUOTE="88 535is south florida"]so if i remove the passenger side front speaker i will find this thing behind it?[/QUOTE]

yep. reach your hand up there. It wont come out unless you remove the screws, so you;ll have to peel back the carpet. email me if you have Q's cjcampbell@gmail.com

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Feb 26, 2005 6:12 PM

bah i was going to go have a look up in there, and the stupid things work again.. i guess i'll wait till they fail again.. lol

Kyle in NO · Post by **Kyle in NO** » Feb 27, 2005 12:24 PM

Why would you havew to wait until they fail again? Why don't you open up the little control box and check for cracked solder joints? That would be easy....

Its probably what would be wrong with the control unit anyway if its bad...

Kyle in NO

pdx 528e · Post by **pdx 528e** » Feb 27, 2005 2:53 PM

[QUOTE="88 535is south florida"]bah i was going to go have a look up in there, and the stupid things work again.. i guess i'll wait till they fail again.. lol[/QUOTE]

[QUOTE="Kyle in NO"]Why would you havew to wait until they fail again? Why don't you open up the little control box and check for cracked solder joints? That would be easy....

Its probably what would be wrong with the control unit anyway if its bad...

Kyle in NO[/QUOTE]

you can see where mine had a solder crack.. mine were non intermittent, but it looks like it could be the source of an intermittent problem as well. http://www.mye28.com/cgi-bin/forum/foru ... thread=239

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MyE28.com

MyE28.com

grr power locks keep failing... (again)