Prestige Spontaneously Unlocking

Anyone reading here still?

Prestige is randomly unlocking itsef at the moment :-(

Not getting much use anyway due to alternator warning light on. Still starting Ok though. Suspect fault in the warning circuit. Not sure if the random unlocking is related.

Any pearls of wisdom much appreciated.

regards

Tim - try here for now (after rattling around here for a while someone kindly redirected me too )...

http://www.club-xm.co.uk/forum/index.php

OK new alternator fitted in Nov, but still won't stay locked (except the boot if locked with the key). Driving it daily from then until early march. Not been driving since then but ready to start as soon as I can afford some fuel (long and unpleasant story which I may fill you all in on some day)

When locking from inside all 4 door lock buttons come up almost immediately and the boot unlocks too.

Attempts to diagnose by unplugging each door individually have failed, I'm a weed and can't get the connectors undone. Maybe I'll try and persuade my brother to have a go.

It did have a nasty boot up the rear last summer while parked. The problem definitely got worse around that time but I think there had been the occasional random unlocking before then so I'm not sure if its related.

Could it be the boot? Or the filler cap lock maybe?

Any hints at further diagnosis will be most appreciated. Noone has nicked anything yet!

Dr Tim,

Answers to your query here:
http://club-xm.com/forum/index.php?showtopic=704

here:
http://club-xm.com/forum/index.php?showtopic=1465

and here:
http://club-xm.com/forum/index.php?showtopic=1147

Look out for my first post in each thread.

Please let us know how you get on.

Cheers
noz

Thanks Noz, I had a read through those posts, much more info than my previous research into the problem. Well the plip hasn't worked since 2005. I saw someone mentioned the problem could be due to incorrectly refitted internal lock button. Now all those buttons are pretty knackered what with all the mirror changes that car has had over the years. The drivers door has actually been buttonless for years (I tried ordering some from Citroen and ended up with S2 buttons even though the dealers swore they were for S1). I used the buttons from the rear doors on the front around the same time btw. Anyway, I thought I'd try removing the badly fitting button from the passenger door as a quick fix after checking the cars as my brother reported some yobs had been rowing outside earlier (he lost the ariel from his BX ovenight on Sat sadly, lucky really, I have lost kerbside mirrors and even door glass in past incidents). Anyway, I pushed the rod down on the drivers door and hey, it stayed locked! I checked passenger door, no button, I suspect it has come off at some point recently but will have a better look for it in the light and dry. It was however definitely badly fitted.

Anyway, excercised the locks a few times from inside, stayed locked (but have to open door to unlock without buttons).Then I got out and locked it stayed locked! Will monitor the situation. Really hoping it is just the button issue. That car still has issues (2 heater flaps stuck and whiffs a bit of petrol and no sounds and a knackered rear end including one spoiler mount gone) and I really should just weigh it in and reclaim the tax give my current precarious financial situation but hey I've suffered enough keeping that car alive over the years lets at least wait and see what the DVLA say about my license before doing something rash like that. MOT was only 85 quid in Jan too, cheapest ever, but everyone who looks under the bonnet just shakes their head!

Thanks again, lets hope I don't have to resort to dismantling the doors again on the street.

Great the forum is back online too, I only noticed because I got a new posting email.

Sad to say car was unlocked when I checked just now. Tried slamming a few doors, drivers door seemed to improve things somewhat, will try more diagnosis before dismantling

OK latest status.

Problem is defininitely related do driver front door, managed to undo the door wiring connector for that door, spntaneous unlocking no longer occurs, the other doors lock and stay locked.

Door panel off now. Managed to unplug to two connectors to the door lock (not easy but got there in the end. Sprayed with WD40, reconnected, same proble, also internal wire to lock from inside won't work anymore and door open sensor for that door not working now.

Worked out as someone has previously posted that leaving the 4 pin connector disconnected allows all other doors top operate on central locking (and stay locked) but drivers door needs to be manually operated with key to lock. I could live with that, however second attempt to remove door lock connectors was not successful, will have another go later.

To really fix it it looks like I need to get the whole door lock out.

Where is the door open sensor. Is it part of the lock, or and independent system?

regards

Further update.

Today door open sensor on drivers side was working.

Disconnected 4 pin plug on door lock (they came off much easier today!).

Now car stays locked except for drivers door. which must be locked/unlocked manually with the key. At least its locked.

However door open sensor not working with 4 pin plug out. Presumably this means car won't go into hard mode when getting in/out, so there is a possibility the suspension might jump/kick. Not great as there are a lot of high kerbs nearby and often I have to lean in and start from outside with the door part open resting on the pavement until it reaches normal height (no anti sink on the car). What do you think?

Hi Dr Tim,

Apologies for the lack of responses. I hope you weren't thinking that we were ignoring you.

By disconnecting the drivers door lock and observing that it all works again apart from the drivers door proved my earlier point made here:

http://club-xm.com/forum/index.php?showtopic=1147#

You are indeed correct about the hard/soft changeover. The ecu needs to know when the door is open to activate soft mode to avoid the problem you correctly identify.

I appreciate its a pain but the original problem still exists. The set of levers inside the door lock mechanism which act as the open/close trigger are seized. If you lock the door it immediately gets the signal from the seized trigger to reopen. The set of levers connected tot he trigger microswitch need to be freed. It may be that the only way you can do this is to continue to squirt release oil all over the mechanism and hope it will eventually free itself or remove the whole lock assembly from the door and repair it outwith the car. Of course, if you do remove it from the car you might even consider buying another second hand lock mechanism and simply swap them over.

Either way, the long term solution is to get the trigger microswitch unseized. I'm not sure if thats what you wanted to hear buts its the best I can offer I'm afraid.

Please let us know how you get on.

Cheers

noz