Having a funny problem tonight.
I have just been defrosting the windscreens and side windows having planned to go on a shopping trip. However, I have now thought better of it and decided to go in the morning. Problem is, I can't lock the car.
It locks via a fob that you click once to lock and twice to double lock. When I do so it sounds as if it is locking, but then all of the doors are unlocked. I wondered if there was some delay that I hadn't noticed, so I waited 30 seconds aftering locking, but the door still opens, and sets the alarm off!
Could it be that this is caused by the cold weather (I think it is about -6C at the moment), or is there likely something more troubling afoot? I have not used the car for about 3 days (roads been too dicey, with no good reason to go out) and it has basically been frozen solid in that time.
Would really appreciate some help on this.
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check all the doors are properly shut
are you really going shopping at 23.30? thought only drug dealers went to the 24 hour supermarkets at this time for more chocolate or whatever they buy
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check all the doors are properly shut
I did go around and make sure that everything was very firmly slammed shut, but still no joy. So I just sat in the car with the engine running for 10 minutes with all the heaters on full blast, and now it locks just fine. Not sure exactly what the problem was, but at least I can lock it now. Thanks for the advice though.
are you really going shopping at 23.30? thought only drug dealers went to the 24 hour supermarkets at this time for more chocolate or whatever they buy
Yup, as I mentioned I haven't been out for 3 days due to the road conditions, so we are very short on food. I was waiting until late so that the shops weren't rammed, but then my neighbour mentioned that the shelves are empty at this time of night, so I am going first thing in the morning instead. And, yes, chocolate was on the shopping list, but it is just normal munchies rather than the drug induced kind...honest :)
Edited by SteelSpark on 22/12/2009 at 23:39
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It sounds like part of the lock mechanism had frozen and now its defrosted it works again.Simples.
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It sounds like part of the lock mechanism had frozen and now its defrosted it works again.Simples.
Yeah, I guess that is probably it, I thought it could be that originally which is why I tried to thaw the car out a bit.
This morning, I had the opposite problem, the door wouldn't open, had to lock and unlock it a few times before it would open (I am pretty sure that the door itself wasn't just iced shut).
I'm hoping that this is all just due to the temperature.
Anyway, finally got the chocolate...and turkey...and mince pies...and sausages wrapped in bacon...and profiteroles...and on...and on...
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Door locks freezing in cold weather is very common. My locks haven't played up yet, but I did have to give my driver's side door a bit of a tug to get it open.
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Door unlocked but can't be opened could be moisture frozen on the door seal. Then you force it with a great heave and rip the seal! Be careful
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squirt a bit of pledge on them if they stick
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> I'm hoping that this is all just due to the temperature
It is partly, but the root cause is that something has got water in or on it and it shouldnt.
Something needs wd40ing and greasing.,
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yes AE i agree with you ive just been to my field and my car doors opened instantly and ive not been there for over a week
older cars usually stop blipping on the central locking once the grease wears a bit thin on the mechanisms or theres wear but i wouldnt normally expect it on a nearly new car but to be fair it has been pretty damm dinkum cold so i would forgive it this time if i was steelspark and just blame the weather this time
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SteelSpark - I had the same problem on my Escort. I understand some moisture inside one of the locks had frozen, so when you tried to lock the car it encountered some resistance, assumed there was an obstruction or an improperly closed door and reverted to the unlocked state. You did the right thing by warming the car up to melt the ice.
I went supermarket shopping at 23.30 last night too, it was horrible. Half a dozen tills open, each with 3 or 4 customers queueing to pay for upwards of £150-worth of food. I'm going to stay with family over Christmas so was just buying food for today, tomorrow and a few bits to freeze, and it took me longer to queue than to choose all my shopping.
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I have the 'opposite' problem on my MkII. If I leave it locked unused for several days, when I get in it fires briefly, then refuses to start for around 15-20 minutes!
Once it's made me wait it then stops/starts perfectly normally on a trip.
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