Problem With Remote Locking (immediately Unlocks)!, Guess I spoke too soon!

[mackay1]

Following on from my earlier post (Sensor For Remote Locking - Where Is It?) - I find I still have a problem:

When I arm the central locking from the plipper it operates OK but then immediately unlocks again.

If I first lock the drivers door with the key (hence activating the central locking), I can then unlock the car with the plipper. It will then allow me to remotely lock (and also deadlock) and unlock the car as many times as I like with the plipper - so long as the drivers door has been deadlocked first with the key. (The drivers door remains deadlocked throughout.)

I seem to remember something similar happening on a previous XM years ago but can't recall what the solution was.

Any suggestions would be most welcome.

Thanks

Roy

[noz]

Hi Roy,

Inside the locking mechanism within the door there's a little microswitch which detects when the key is used to unlock the door. As soon as it detects that the key has been used it signals all the other doors to open via the central locking ecu. The same think happens when you lock the drivers door with the key. the microswitch detects that the key has been used to lock the door (rather than the locking motor) and signals to the other doors to do the same. In your case the microswitch (or more likely the levers around it) are sticky and sending the 'open' signal to the ecu. When unlocked the ecu ignores the permanent 'open' signal. However, when you signal the doors to lock with the plipper, the ecu sends the close signal to each of the doors. However, as asoon as they are locked the 'open' signal coming from the drivers door re-opens all the doors again.

The problem is most likely some stiff levers within the door locking mechanism (and there are dozens). I don't think there is much option other than taking the door liner off, removing the foam splash guard closest to the lock and liberally spraying with WD40 or similar whilst at the same time exercising the lock. Just just trip the door catch to fool the mechanism into thinking the door is closed and operate the plipper.

Hope this helps.

Cheers

noz

[xmexclusive]

Hi Roy

I think Noz is likely to be right but it might just be worth playing with the plips to ensure it is not an out of sync problem with the plips and the receiver.
Try alternating the plip on which the key press is made. Try this with the drivers door closed and again with it open.
There is a posibility that the door lock may need changing, if so I seem to think there is a scrap car just turned up in a scrap yard near you!

Regards

XMexc

[mackay1]

Hi noz / XMexc,

Wow - that's brilliant - thanks very much for such a precise diagnosis - I really appreciate it. I'll have a go with the WD40 and let you know how I get on.

All the best

Roy

[mackay1]

Hi,

Taken your advice and blasted the lock with WD40 from all angles - although it's not easy to get at - but without success. I also tried alternating the plips - no luck either.

I'll leave it for a couple of days to see if the WD40 manages to find its way to the offending part - but then I'll have to try changing the lock.

Changing the lock looks like a bit of a nightmare.

Thanks

Roy

[Norman]

Hi Roy,
How did you get on with the doors immediatly unlocking? as i have exactly the same problem lock the drivers door with the key and all the doors lock themselves then unlock again, same with the plip.
what is the syncronising thing with the plips? i take it using the two plips can have strange results,
Regards,
Norman

[xmexclusive]

Hi Norman

It sounds as if one of your door closed sensors is stuck in the open setting. This could be the tailgate/2 bonnet ones as well as the 4 doors.
Out of sync would show as an occasional intermittant fault not a permanent one. It was mentioned mainly because it is so easy to check for.

Regards

XMexc

[Norman]

Thanks XMexc,
All the doors sounds like a holiday time job checking all of them,
thanks,
Norman

[mackay1]

Hi Norman,

I eventually bought a new door lock for the drivers door because the heavy doses of WD40 didn't free the thing up - everything's OK now. It was a bit of a pig of a job to do but I got there in the end. There's just so little room to get the lock in at the right angle and get the linkages hooked up.

I did also have this same problem on a previous XM and there was a much simpler solution that time. The fault was an incorrectly fitted push lock button on the drivers door. I think the best way to fit the push lock button is from the inside with the doors locked - and then make sure that the little catch on the button itself has been set to the right position first (Haynes explains this quite well). If you try to fit the button when the doors are unlocked it can lead to this problem. If you've had any of the push lock buttons off recently - ie when taking the door trims off - this might be worth checking. In the case of your drivers door - I'd suggest removing the push lock button altogether as a first step to see if the system then works OK. If it does - then you'll know where the problem lies. Hope this isn't grandmother and eggs etc.

Good luck - and let us know what the solution is.

Roy

[citroenxm]

Hi all

This is a common problem on the Xantia. But an EASY cure. The locks them selfs never really give a problem, but I have found EVERY time, remove door card, UNPLUG the multi plug from the lock, spray with WD40 into the plug contacts refit onto lock with locking wire in place, and it WILL work.

I've done about 5 Xantia with this problem, and worked everytime!!

I guess its the same or similar problem.

With changing your door lock, your dooing the exact thing, unplugging the harness from the lock and re connecting it - hence it working!

Regards
citroenxm

[Jimcoted]

Not on my XM it don't!! Finally removed the entire lock and soaked it in WD40. Nothing. I cured it in the end by uncliping the four socket plug, don't know what hat does and I dont care the central locking now works so it is staying unplugged

Jim