Central Locking.

[Jagst]

I wonder if some of you electronic genius's can help me. Over the past few days the Rav's central locking will not work in our driveway. It works away from the drive. Can anyone suggest how and what has suddenly jammed it ? My daughters car is the same?

[Davrav]

Well, after a visit from the DTI, mine was found to be being blocked by a sender unit for an electronic weather station that had a flat Battery.

Quite embarassing as I had been asking all the neighbours if they had installed anything that might be blocking the signal and it was traced by the DTI to the sender unit in my own porch

[jedi134]

Wireless alarm system in the house?

[Joylove]

433MHz. Find something that has that on the sticker on the back and unplug it.

[Jagst]

Thank you for replies. I don't think it is anything in my house as nothing has changed. I will ask some neighbours if they are the same. There are a group of houses in a small area, I assume someone else would also be affected and not just directional to me?

[Davrav]

These effects do seem to be quite localised Alex. The problem I had was that, as the Battery in the sender unit drained, the sender frequency drifted, so for almost a year there were no issues. As soon as I replaced the batteries the problem stopped but I've relocated the sender to the back of the house to avoid a similar situation in the future.

Interestingly the DTI guys did not recognise the sender unit and thought it might have been a listening device planted by a neighbour

[Jagst]

Thanks, that is interesting, we do have a problem with one of the neighbours. I have replaced the Battery in the key which was OK anyway, but now find if I stand very close to the car and point the key fob below and to the left of the door handle the system will work. Will see what happens with my car tomorrow.

[Davrav]

Just to be clear it was the weather station sender unit that need batteries replacing Alex, not the key fob.

If you can't trace the interference, the DTI will come out but, be warned, if they trace the interference to your own property they will sting you for £120. I was lucky since another neighbour called them as his car was being affected too.

[Jagst]

Can you clarify DTI and where I can find them. Thank you.

[Davrav]

Apparently it is the Radiocommunications Agency [RA] now Alex:

http://www.ofcom.org.uk/static/archive/ra/publication/ra_info/ra414.htm

Used to be covered by the Department for Trade and Industry [DTI]

Give them a call on Monday

[Jagst]

Thank you Davrav, once I check with neighbours will follow up.

[Hoovie]

As has been mentioned, effect canbe very localised, but one way to improve the performance (and no, not 1st April yet) is to hold the remote to your head.

Sounds daft but it DOES make a difference (what it does to your brain if anything is a different discussion)

[Jagst]

Neighbours would probably think me crackers!!

[anchorman]

It can be anything wireless - door bell, intruder alarm on the shed etc.

If it won't let you in, follow the instructions on page 2 and page 5 on this;

4.3 interferance of door lock due to radio signals.pdf

[shcm]

It can be anything wireless

So can a bra affect it too? I understand some of those are wireless :P

[Davrav]

It can be anything wireless

So can a bra affect it too? I understand some of those are wireless :P

Never had a problem with a bra keeping me out, wireless or not...........................................

[Jagst]

Great info. Thanks.