Central Locking

August 13, 2007

Hi all,

Does anyone know if the "central locking relay", the block described in the Haynes, is an electronic gizmo or simply standard relays etc? The Haynes circuit diagram just shows a rectangle with lines from it, which is not that useful. If possible, I'd also like to know where the unit is located - I'm hoping not to have to take the facia off!!!

I'm asking because I have a problem with the locks - the car locks but will not unlock. The car locks if you turn the key to the "unlock" position, and does nothing if you turn it to "lock" (!). The car also randomly engages the lock, which is highly aggravating. I'm thinking a wiring short somewhere but it's possible the previous owner did something stupid too! (there's an LED wired into the console which isn't original equipment, plus it's on all the time).

I've tested the internal door central-lock switch with an ohmmeter and it seems fine. The switch connects either a "lock" wire or "unlock" wire on the connector to ground. A voltmeter shows 8v on the "lock" wire and 3.5v on the "unlock" which seems completely wrong. Operating the door key makes these lock/unlock wires 0v which indicates the door switch is working properly..

Thanks,

Conor.

PS: How do I get into the car? You turn the key to unlock, hold it there, and then pull the handle. That always works and is great for getting you out of trouble if you have a flat Battery or something...

August 14, 2007

There's an after market alarm in this car that's wired to lots of things. Including the central locking. I guess that must be the problem. Hard to tell what's wired to what in the squashed space behind the kick panel under the fuse box. I see wires that I can't find in the Haynes circuit diagrams.... I guess I'll have to pull the alarm out...

I was pulling relays to see what they did until I thought that's probably a bad idea considering the airbag is around there somewhere!

Oh well. Still, if anyone knows where the central locking relay is located I'd love to know. I also wonder what that relay is way high above the fuse box, all on its own with a few blank positions around it...

Thanks,

Conor.

August 14, 2007

Oops. The car is a 1996 Carina E...

September 26, 2007

Hi all,
Does anyone know if the "central locking relay", the block described in the Haynes, is an electronic gizmo or simply standard relays etc? The Haynes circuit diagram just shows a rectangle with lines from it, which is not that useful. If possible, I'd also like to know where the unit is located - I'm hoping not to have to take the facia off!!!
I'm asking because I have a problem with the locks - the car locks but will not unlock. The car locks if you turn the key to the "unlock" position, and does nothing if you turn it to "lock" (!). The car also randomly engages the lock, which is highly aggravating. I'm thinking a wiring short somewhere but it's possible the previous owner did something stupid too! (there's an LED wired into the console which isn't original equipment, plus it's on all the time).
I've tested the internal door central-lock switch with an ohmmeter and it seems fine. The switch connects either a "lock" wire or "unlock" wire on the connector to ground. A voltmeter shows 8v on the "lock" wire and 3.5v on the "unlock" which seems completely wrong. Operating the door key makes these lock/unlock wires 0v which indicates the door switch is working properly..
Thanks,
Conor.
PS: How do I get into the car? You turn the key to unlock, hold it there, and then pull the handle. That always works and is great for getting you out of trouble if you have a flat battery or something...

September 26, 2007

There's an after market alarm in this car that's wired to lots of things. Including the central locking. I guess that must be the problem. Hard to tell what's wired to what in the squashed space behind the kick panel under the fuse box. I see wires that I can't find in the Haynes circuit diagrams.... I guess I'll have to pull the alarm out...
I was pulling relays to see what they did until I thought that's probably a bad idea considering the airbag is around there somewhere!
Oh well. Still, if anyone knows where the central locking relay is located I'd love to know. I also wonder what that relay is way high above the fuse box, all on its own with a few blank positions around it...
Thanks,
Conor.

The Central locking Relay is located in the Dash board to the left of the Radio, You have to remove the Radio and Vents and also the glovebox. Its a bugger to see but its there, its a black oblong box affair about 3x4x1/2 inch with an orange plug, its held on a bracket which is attatched to the dashbord with one screw, its a bugger to get out, if i was you just disconnect the plug and leave it where it is and plug your replacement by it , i got one from my local scrappies for a fiver,

the One High above the fuse box I think is for the headlight / door warning relay

September 29, 2007

The Central locking Relay is located in the Dash board to the left of the Radio, You have to remove the Radio and Vents and also the glovebox. Its a bugger to see but its there, its a black oblong box affair about 3x4x1/2 inch with an orange plug, its held on a bracket which is attatched to the dashbord with one screw, its a bugger to get out, if i was you just disconnect the plug and leave it where it is and plug your replacement by it , i got one from my local scrappies for a fiver, the One High above the fuse box I think is for the headlight / door warning relay

Thanks stevyn! Very useful to know. Enrax also replied to me with similar info, although you have a good point about just leaving the original there when replacing it. I did guess the relay would be centrally located but I didn't want to just start ripping things out... In the event, it's the alarm that is acting up - even locked my mechanic out when he was replacing a roll bar bushing! He said he broke back in in less time than it would take to call me - yeah, great, that's comforting... I've decided to cut the alarm out and leave it at that...

Cheers,

Conor.

PS: I guess it's common for wire colours to change as they go through the harness? The central locking wires lock/unlock are all brown but the stripes change colour from the door to the wiring harness! Weird!