Ford Scorpio Forum - Print Page


    
      
        Ford Scorpio Forum
        (https://www.fordscorpio.co.uk/cgi-bin/yabb/YaBB.pl)
      

        General >> Problems >> Door Lock Problems
        
(Message started by: exaktaman on Apr 20^th, 2010, 7:04pm)

Title: Door Lock Problems
Post by exaktaman on Apr 20^th, 2010, 7:04pm

Hello All,
Much seems to have been written about keys and doorlocks not working. I have two keys, both black, they look identical but one will lock and unlock the doors and the other will lock but not unlock ! Both remotes work perfectly. Can anyone please explain how this can be.

Both keys have small coloured bits of plastic in the corners of the 'handle' one red, the other brown. Does this have any meaning?
Exaktaman

Title: Re: Door Lock Problems
Post by Simmo on Apr 20^th, 2010, 7:26pm

Yes. ANY Ford key will lock a Ford BUT only the correctly configured key will unlock it. The key which will not unlock the car would appear to be worn and if you replace it with a new key you should have no problems. The coloured 'chip' is the essential part as that is coded to the ignition (Pats). Without the correct code you will not be able to start the car.

Title: Re: Door Lock Problems
Post by exaktaman on Apr 20^th, 2010, 7:50pm

Thanks for that Simmo.
Do I have to go to a Ford dealership for a new key?

Title: Re: Door Lock Problems
Post by Simmo on Apr 21^st, 2010, 8:44am

Not necessarily but if you have one nearby probably better than High Street units. You will need to programme the new key to the car with the red key if you have it. An unprogrammed key will unlock the car but will not start it. There is a way of dealing with the situation if you don't have the red key so let us know if you need further advice.
This article (http://www.fordscorpio.co.uk/pats.htm) will help to explain things.

Title: Re: Door Lock Problems
Post by exaktaman on Apr 21^st, 2010, 9:33am

Thanks again Simmo, that article explains everything!
No, I do not have a Red key. The car came with only two Black keys. Further help would be very much appreciated.

Exaktaman

Title: Re: Door Lock Problems
Post by Highlander on Apr 21^st, 2010, 10:19am

later models only came with two black keys, what year was yours manufactured?

Title: Re: Door Lock Problems
Post by Mike H on Apr 21^st, 2010, 2:54pm

on 04/20/10 at 19:04:43, exaktaman wrote:

I know the answer! ;D

I've got a similar thing going on, the main key I use works everything except the passenger door, although it will lock it (only).

This key is / was the 'spare', i.e. not the one with the light in it which is quite worn so I keep that as the spare. However also got another key that came with a new ignition lock I put on (but no P.A.T.S. on it). That does unlock the passenger door (actually both but not boot!)

Bit of a long story but basically inside the hollow rotating bit of the lock is a stack of little washers, which line up with the cut-outs on the key. The key turns them around by a certain amount depending on their number (depth of key notch). Each washer has a semi-circular cut-out on the edge and in this position they all line up. This allows a steel rod to drop in so that it can clear a step in the outer barrel. Then the lock will turn.

Thing is there isn't much margin for tolerances, if just one washer is a tiny bit out the rod won't drop in. Highly subjective to wear on the key slots and washers, could even go round too far, same effect.

However I discovered something very interesting recently ~ the washers and the step that bars the rod only operate in the unlock direction. There's no obstruction in the locking direction (apart from the spring), so almost anything that will go in and turn it will lock it!

Quote:

Both keys have small coloured bits of plastic in the corners of the 'handle' one red, the other brown. Does this have any meaning?

That is the 'P.A.T.S.', Passive Anti-Theft System, or immobilizer. I believe it's a transponder type of thing, there's actually a tiny electronic circuit under the red bit, there's a coil around the ignition lock; when you turn it on the car both induces an electric current into the transponder by the coil so it can work, then the transponder returns a code by radio which is picked up by the same coil. If the computer don't get the correct number back, it won't allow the engine to run.

Title: Re: Door Lock Problems
Post by stuarte on Apr 21^st, 2010, 4:34pm

i dont have red master key, i read the article and where do i find the serial number to get new master key cut

Title: Re: Door Lock Problems
Post by Mike H on Apr 21^st, 2010, 6:13pm

Did you get any paperwork and / or owner's book with the car? Might be written down somewhere. A six figure number, may be prefixed with 'T'.

Believe it or not you might get it from the key itself.

Don't think I'd be giving any secrets away cos it's all on this page:

http://www.fordscorpio.co.uk/doorlockbld.htm

Halfway down is a picture of the corresponding wafers.

There are only four different numbers, 1 - 4.

On the key:
Maximum height step = 1.
Slight slope = 2.
More noticeable slope = 3.
Deepest notch = 4.

The numbering sequence begins at the handle end

Title: Re: Door Lock Problems
Post by exaktaman on Apr 21^st, 2010, 9:03pm

Thanks everyone for the info and in reply to Highlander in particular, my car was first registered in June '97.
By the way it's a 2.3 Ultima 69k miles, colour Samakand with, I believe, a Pumice leather interior and in really nice condition although a touch of rust on the rear wheel arches. About a year ago I posted that the 'box slips a bit on the 2nd to 3rd shift, it still does but following advice I got then I have become an expert in'gliding' through that shift and it has not got any worse in about 12k miles. I just keep thinking'I can buy quite a lot of petrol with the £1000 it would cost to fix!
Exaktaman