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        General >> Problems >> If it ain't one thing. . . . . 
        
(Message started by: Steve_Farlow on Feb 1^st, 2006, 9:42am)

Title: If it ain't one thing. . . . .
Post by Steve_Farlow on Feb 1^st, 2006, 9:42am

Hi Everyone,

I noticed this morning that the central locking on my car, well, wasn't! :'(

The car has been fitted with a Gemini alarm (aftermarket?), which has a remote. When I press said remote the indicators flash to denote the setting/unsetting of the alarm, but the offside door motors don't seem to either fully engage/disengage the door locks (most irritating!!). Sometimes they work, and sometimes they don't! Does anybody have any ideas? Is it just a case of taking the solenoids out of the doors and giving them a spray of WD40? Or just a flat battery in the remote key thingy?

I tried locking the car using just the key and of course - the lock is broken!!!! :(

Title: Re: If it ain't one thing. . . . .
Post by Dave on Feb 1^st, 2006, 9:49am

Hi Steve,

do all the locks work ok when you operate the central locking from inside the car? Try a few times to check. If so then invewstigate the alarm connections. If not then look at the lock motors I guess, or the wiring to them! :)

Title: Re: If it ain't one thing. . . . .
Post by Steve_Farlow on Feb 1^st, 2006, 10:15am

Thanks Dave,

I didn't get a chance this morning as I was on my way into work. I'll have a go at lunchtime, although ideally i'd need someone to lock the doors from the inside whilst I try the handles on the outside. I'm not sure where the aftermarket alarm actually is (haven't noticed it in my travels around the engine bay!), or where/how it's wired in, so that may be something of a "challenge" in itself! I suppose this could problem could very well be tied in with the defunct boot lock, as all of the wiring runs down the offside of the car!

Never rains does it!!

Title: Re: If it ain't one thing. . . . .
Post by Steve_Farlow on Feb 1^st, 2006, 1:49pm

Well, a lunchtime check and the door locks seem to work OK if operated from inside, or the passenger side door lock (I got to the car park to find the drivers door slightly ajar, but luckily still on the catch - dodgey or what!!!). Playing with the remote it appears that sometimes it locks/unlocks the doors fully, and other times it only pulls the motors half way, so the doors are effectively still unlocked/locked.

As this is the case I'm wondering if it's the batteries in the remote that are up the spout? I think this is probably the easiest thing to start with. I found the Gemini alarm website but the number on the remote isn't quoted in their handbook section, so I've sent them an Email (be interesting to see if I get a reply!!)

Title: Re: If it ain't one thing. . . . .
Post by Dave on Feb 1^st, 2006, 2:39pm

Hi Steve,

When I got my car it had an aftermarket alarm on it. It had various features such as remote central locking. This was great - when it worked! Sometimes it unlocked the doors halfway like yours, more often it didn't unlock them at all, or unlocked them locked again straight away! It had other foibles that I won't bore you with (unless you want ;D) that made generally using the car quite difficult.

The car had this alarm put on , I believe, as neither the locks or original remote worked. I had this alarm removed at a car audio/alarm specialist. Took them 1 hour and they charged me £40. I then replaced the locks myself and reprogrammed the remote. No problems at all since!

Of course, yours may just be a loose connection, or low batteries in the fob, but many people are suspicious of aftermarket alarms on the Scorpio - they are already electrically interesting enough :D

See what Gemini say, they may have a quick answer!

Cheers

Title: Re: If it ain't one thing. . . . .
Post by Steve_Farlow on Feb 1^st, 2006, 2:49pm

Cheers Dave, not very reassuring though ;D

Think I'll go for the battery change first, and if that doesn't work I'll resort to using the key. On the driver's side the key turns both ways and unlocks the doors, but in the lock direction there's no resistance to be felt and nothing happens. Is this a problem with the actual lock or a.n.other mechanism in the door do you know?

Thanks

Title: Re: If it ain't one thing. . . . .
Post by Dave on Feb 1^st, 2006, 2:53pm

Sorry mate ;)

To be honest it does sounds like weak lock motors but check the alarm connections and fob battery to be sure - I am just traumatised by my alarm experiences in general so don't listen to me ;)