central locking only works on passenger door 1 in 3 times

[hamlet101]

Hi,

I've been having problems with my central locking, specifically the front passenger door fails to unlock, and I have to lock/unlock about 3 times to get it to unlock eventually. The two rear doors are fine. I also have problems locking the car, where it fails to lock ALL the doors (makes noise though), and I have to try several times.

I'm wondering if the passenger door mechanism is just a bit sticky, and if it jams on locking all the doors remain unlocked, but on unlocking does not 'block' the other doors.

Is this likely something I can fix myself - or a garage job?

[406Olly]

I just replaced the rear passenger side lock on mine and it was actually a fairly easy job, took around an hour.

Just bought a used unit off ebay for about £10. There's a good video on youtube shows you how to do it.

The faulty one usually makes a different noise to the others if you put your ear to the door and listen whilst locking.

Just gotta get the engine running right now

[pugnut]

Very straightforward job to swap out, used ones are plentiful and cheap on ebay, the only thing I couldn't work out was how to disconnect the long steel lever going to the interior door handle mechanism. I just cut it and re connected both ends with an electrical connecting block.

I drilled out the rivets and destructed my old one to see what was going on inside. If you fancy taking one apart and intend re using it, good luck. Anyway, what's inside is a surprisingly small 12V motor, the lock mechanism itself, a microswitch which is actuated as the motor engages or disengages the catch. The microswitch I believe is the weak point. If it doesn't engage the central locking mechanism thinks it's unlocked. It's a bummer you cant replace this 50p part but like I said, used ones are cheap and plentiful. Hope this helped.

[grasmere59]

My passenger rear door didn't unlock sometimes but i should have tackled the job while it was playing up because now it is deadlocked and won't unlock at all so i now have the hassle of trying to change it with the door stuck shut.