Locked out ... Help!!

[plipton]

Help!

My 94 L reg Chim has locked me out.

The door locks turn OK and the alarm light on the dash flashes when it should and disarms the alarm correctly (so it appears anyway).

Luckily I managed to get into the car to retrieve my belongings and even more luckily it's at home.

The 1st problem is that the dead locks seem to be stuck in the locked position - I can't even turn the central door release knob (I can get to it but it won't move).

The 2nd problem is the engine won't turn over and the imobiliser key which normally bleeps when inserted and fires up the fuel pump isn't working.

In the short term I think I need to bypass the deadlocks, alarm and immobiliser then repair/replace it. Any help gratefully appreciated (please email for the sake of security)

Thanks in advance.

Plipton

[Big Al.]

Do you have a meta fitted?

[plipton]

Big Al. said:

Do you have a meta fitted?

I believe so - the car is standard as far as I know.

I have a bible, but unfortunately we are living at Mrs Plipton's parents' house while ours is being extended. It's in a box marked "books" at the bottom of a very large pile of furniture etc

[K4TRV]

plipton said:

Help! My 94 L reg Chim has locked me out. The door locks turn OK and the alarm light on the dash flashes when it should and disarms the alarm correctly (so it appears anyway). Luckily I managed to get into the car to retrieve my belongings and even more luckily it's at home. The 1st problem is that the dead locks seem to be stuck in the locked position - I can't even turn the central door release knob (I can get to it but it won't move). The 2nd problem is the engine won't turn over and the imobiliser key which normally bleeps when inserted and fires up the fuel pump isn't working. In the short term I think I need to bypass the deadlocks, alarm and immobiliser then repair/replace it. Any help gratefully appreciated (please email for the sake of security) Thanks in advance. Plipton

It does "sound" like your battery-is-on-the-way-out.

The first thing - The door release is totally independant of anything electrical ('cept for little plastic bit on the top - my '93 doesn't have one !!). The central locking solenoids are not connected to the door opening knob and the effect of turning it (it may have jammed by conincidence!!) will open the door/s. Likewise using your key and depressing the lock will "unlock" the doors and unlock the deadlocks. In other words, the dead locks are controlled by alarm/battery and keylocks.

This leads to 2nd problem - your battery is flat or the imobiliser is ON. I didn't think the "early-ish" Chims used an interupt to the starter motor, only the ignition (ECU), Fuel guage (is it zero? - then immobilser is on) and fuel pump - you say no noise - hence I say your imobiliser is ON or your battery is flat. I would tend to think the latter as you say the solenoids don't move!!

I also don't think there is anyway to by-pass the three circuits easily - it's easier to check or recharge the battery and hope that is what has locked you out. I would also look behind the carpet flaps behind the seats to "see" what's happening when you turn the door opening knob.

Cheers

Trev McM

[plipton]

Thanks for the advice.

Yep the battery is knackered. Not easy to change when you can open the doors, but imagine doing it upside down after having to get in through the roof !!!

Anyway, I managed to open the doors but the battery is well gone so a new on is on order.



Edited to say after a 24 hour charge up, the battery seems fine but the earth lead to it was loose. D'oh !!!



>> Edited by plipton on Wednesday 9th June 13:55