Door Solenoids Chattering

[Chimpafrolic]

As the title suggests my door solenoids are chattering away when I corner or hit a bump in the road.

It's always done it a bit, but last night is got much worse, the constant chattering is driving me to distraction.

I assume I have lost one of the little plastic buttons on the doors that push on the sill mounted courtesy switch?

It was a bit too dark last night to have a proper inspection.

Before I make the assumption on the door buttons I thought I would see what others have found.

I did replace the courtesy switches last year and made sure the buttons were in place and connecting properly with the plunger in the courtesy switch.

Everything checked out fine but I still got the occasional chatter from the door solenoids.

Perhaps it's a short in the courtesy switch wiring, or are the solenoids themselves prone to internal shorts?

I have a funny feeling it's more than just a switch issue.

Anyone else had the chattering door solenoid issue?

If so how did you solve it?

[Harrytsg]

I had a problem where the central locking chose to work or not work randonmly, long story short it was a dry joint on the relay ( large one far left under dash) . Might be worth a look if the easier to get to bits dont solve your issue.

[Goaty Bill]

Sounds like a hive of bees sometimes doesn't it?

Thankfully it's not.
The door is likely not closing fully to shut off the light switch (at sill level)
Or the switch has personal issues.

In my case tightening the door worked.
Edit;
A small stick-on bumpstop stuck on the bottom of the door where the switch makes contact is a good test, and temporary (permanent maybe if checked regularly) fix.

Take yer pick

Small warning;
Leaving it can cause battery death.

Edited by Goaty Bill on Monday 31st October 17:23

[bigdods]

I had this, I thought it was the switches not making contact so added some rubber so ensure they were being pushed home.

Didnt solve it and a few months later it all went wrong, both solenoids jammed solid and the relay disintegrated. Ended up replacing the relay with one from ebay and both solenoids with maplins items

If adding the rubber back in solves it then all well and good but if not be prepared to replace the relay.

[Goaty Bill]

bigdods said:

If adding the rubber back in solves it then all well and good but if not be prepared to replace the relay.

Fair warning.

[Chimpafrolic]

bigdods said:

I had this, I thought it was the switches not making contact so added some rubber so ensure they were being pushed home.

Didnt solve it and a few months later it all went wrong, both solenoids jammed solid and the relay disintegrated. Ended up replacing the relay with one from ebay and both solenoids with maplins items

If adding the rubber back in solves it then all well and good but if not be prepared to replace the relay.

Good advice bigdods, I will try adding to the buttons but I have a sneaking feeling I may have underlying solenoid issues.

Battery going flat after 7-10 days was solved by fitting a Halfrauds maintenance charger, you make a good point there Goaty Bill.

Cheers chaps

[bigdods]

Chimpafrolic said:

Battery going flat after 7-10 days was solved by fitting a Halfrauds maintenance charger, you make a good point there Goaty Bill.

Cheers chaps

I had this, it was maddening. Turns out the interior light delay relay was stuck on. Removed the relay (who needs that delay anyway) and now it goes for 3-4 weeks without any problems.

[Chimpafrolic]

bigdods said:

Chimpafrolic said:

Battery going flat after 7-10 days was solved by fitting a Halfrauds maintenance charger, you make a good point there Goaty Bill.

Cheers chaps

I had this, it was maddening. Turns out the interior light delay relay was stuck on. Removed the relay (who needs that delay anyway) and now it goes for 3-4 weeks without any problems.

Interesting bigdods, where will I find the interior light delay relay?

Is it one of the yellow ones under the dash?









I would be grateful if you could point out the central locking relay too.

Edited by Chimpafrolic on Tuesday 1st November 08:35

[Pink_Floyd]

Chimpafrolic said:

Interesting bigdods, where will I find the interior light delay relay?
Is it one of the yellow ones under the dash?
I would be grateful if you could point out the central locking relay too.

On the sockets that you have marked Relays, I think that the 2 yellow relays are the door opening relays that activate when the button under the mirror is pressed.

The grey box with all the white markings/circuit digram on next to the alarm unit is the central locking relay.

Edited by Pink_Floyd on Tuesday 1st November 08:58

[Ribol]

Chimpafrolic said:

Perhaps it's a short in the courtesy switch wiring, or are the solenoids themselves prone to internal shorts?

Why not disconnect both door switches, then just one if that fixes it and so on, that would remove some variables like switches, door adjustment, spacer sizes etc?

Door solenoids themselves won't cause the chatter as you are driving, they should not be powered up, a duff central locking relay or alarm could though.

[nawarne]

Had similar symptoms when I had my Chim.

I removed the courtesy light switches, cleaned them up, applied plenty of silicone grease and job done - no more chattering solenoids. The switches, when I removed them were pretty mucky, so felt I was on the right track. Believe they are Vauxhall/GM parts. I did ensure rubber pads were in place and 'hitting' the plastic striker of the switch.

The interior light delay is easily tested.....just ensure the light switches off once you close the door - simples. Usually stays on for 30 secs or so.
Nick

[bigdods]

The fault with mine was the central locking relay, I think its the big grey one in your pic under the dash - mine was blue and had a circuit diagram embossed on the outside. When I opened it up it was in bits.

The interior light delay is on the fuseboard above the battery in the passenger footwell, IIRC it was big and yellow

I dont have my bible to hand so cant be more precise I'm afraid.

Interior light delay I just removed and threw away. Central locking relay was an ebay special IIRC about £20

[Chimpafrolic]

bigdods said:

The fault with mine was the central locking relay, I think its the big grey one in your pic under the dash - mine was blue and had a circuit diagram embossed on the outside. When I opened it up it was in bits.Central locking relay was an ebay special IIRC about £20

Thanks again bigdods, looks like this one?

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/300609007353?ssPageName=...

[bigdods]

Chimpafrolic said:

Thanks again bigdods, looks like this one?

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/300609007353?ssPageName=...

Thats the one, I checked back, I bought the same relay for £11 from that seller, worked perfectly. At £11 I guess you can just take a punt and see if it fixes the problem

[bigdods]

this is the thread of my little saga

http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...

[Chimpafrolic]

bigdods said:

Chimpafrolic said:

Thanks again bigdods, looks like this one?

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/300609007353?ssPageName=...

Thats the one, I checked back, I bought the same relay for £11 from that seller, worked perfectly. At £11 I guess you can just take a punt and see if it fixes the problem

Totally agree bigdods,

I fully expect its a courtesy switch/door button issue but by the time I have lifted the dash top and checked the relay, for £11.00 I may as well just replace it for a new one.

Thanks for your help, Dave.

[FlipFlopGriff]

Have you got the rubber pad on the door that sits on the door switch? If so does it actually activate the switch when the door is shut as it may not be in the right position. If so I'd clean up the switch as they get crapped up and the contacts aren't the best when new, or buy new ones as they do wear, and are cheap enough.
You can test the switches by pressing the switch in with the door open then set the alarm. Does it still chatter? If not try taping the switch down and going for a drive.
The courtesy light relay is a long yellow one (about 2.5 inches long); I think it has either Ford or Vauxhall stamped on the end.
FFG

[Chimpafrolic]

FlipFlopGriff said:

Have you got the rubber pad on the door that sits on the door switch? If so does it actually activate the switch when the door is shut as it may not be in the right position. If so I'd clean up the switch as they get crapped up and the contacts aren't the best when new, or buy new ones as they do wear, and are cheap enough.
You can test the switches by pressing the switch in with the door open then set the alarm. Does it still chatter? If not try taping the switch down and going for a drive.
The courtesy light relay is a long yellow one (about 2.5 inches long); I think it has either Ford or Vauxhall stamped on the end.
FFG

Re the courtesy switch & associated door buttons, bump to the top.

The courtesy light relay info helps though.

A new central locking relay is on it's way, I will fit it & add to the door buttons at the weekend if the predicted monsoon holds off.

Thanks FFG.

Dave.

[Ribol]

FlipFlopGriff said:

The courtesy light relay is a long yellow one (about 2.5 inches long); I think it has either Ford or Vauxhall stamped on the end.

Mine (2000 Chim) is from a Ford Scorpio.

[Chimpafrolic]

Ribol said:

FlipFlopGriff said:

The courtesy light relay is a long yellow one (about 2.5 inches long); I think it has either Ford or Vauxhall stamped on the end.

Mine (2000 Chim) is from a Ford Scorpio.

Thanks Ribol,

Looks like the Ford part number for the courtesy light delay relay is:

85GG13C718AA

I don't expect it's the cause of my issue as my courtesy light works perfectly, but it's certainly useful to know the part number of the delay relay for future reference.

Thinking about it.... all the crazy solenoid chattering started when I went a bit too fast over a speed bump on Sunday.

As it stands my money is now on the central locking relay under the dash top.

My guess is the relay has probably worked loose on it's mounting socket, or maybe it's started to break down internally following that speed bump induced jolt.

Since the Sunday speed bump incident I have gone from the very occasional solenoid chatter to an almost constant & maddening machine gun noise.

I have a feeling the relay was always sensitive to vibration and that why I always had the occasional solenoid chatter on bends & bumps in the road.

Lets face it there is no shortage of vibration in a TVR, perhaps that speed bump has just made it worse.

I will still add extensions the door buttons as I bought some of B&Q's finest cupboard door silicone anti slam buttons last year with just this little job in mind.

Thanks to everyone that has contributed, lets hope (when it's all fixed) this post will help others in the future.

I will let you all know the outcome at the weekend.

Dave.

Edited by Chimpafrolic on Wednesday 2nd November 11:45