Passenger door solenoid not working
Discussion
blaze_away said:
Ok. It could be the door actuator, so you need to get your multimeter out and start testing those wires in door pillar.
Are you able to do that ?
ie do you have the tools and knowledge to do that or do you need full detailed instructions ?
Full detailed instructions please as my n/s solenoid needs replacing I think Are you able to do that ?
ie do you have the tools and knowledge to do that or do you need full detailed instructions ?
Tony91 said:
Take the door card off and check the connectors they can get water damage and can oxidise.
Just unplug and clean the contacts to make a good connection.
Sorry Tony that's not quite right, All the door wiring is in the B pillar, the only wiring that's in the door behind the door panel is speaker, mirror and window wiring. It does include the wires for the door button but those can be accessed by removing the glass from the door mirror.Just unplug and clean the contacts to make a good connection.
Agree he needs to do 'unplug and clean contacts' but in B pillar on solenoids.
Classic Chim said:
blaze_away said:
Ok. It could be the door actuator, so you need to get your multimeter out and start testing those wires in door pillar.
Are you able to do that ?
ie do you have the tools and knowledge to do that or do you need full detailed instructions ?
Full detailed instructions please as my n/s solenoid needs replacing I think Are you able to do that ?
ie do you have the tools and knowledge to do that or do you need full detailed instructions ?
blaze_away said:
Sorry Tony that's not quite right, All the door wiring is in the B pillar, the only wiring that's in the door behind the door panel is speaker, mirror and window wiring. It does include the wires for the door button but those can be accessed by removing the glass from the door mirror.
Agree he needs to do 'unplug and clean contacts' but in B pillar on solenoids.
Yes agreed but if you take out the speaker there is a connector with 2 thin wires that goes to the button check that for continuity Agree he needs to do 'unplug and clean contacts' but in B pillar on solenoids.
Tony91 said:
blaze_away said:
Sorry Tony that's not quite right, All the door wiring is in the B pillar, the only wiring that's in the door behind the door panel is speaker, mirror and window wiring. It does include the wires for the door button but those can be accessed by removing the glass from the door mirror.
Agree he needs to do 'unplug and clean contacts' but in B pillar on solenoids.
Yes agreed but if you take out the speaker there is a connector with 2 thin wires that goes to the button check that for continuity Agree he needs to do 'unplug and clean contacts' but in B pillar on solenoids.
The first thing that I would check is the passenger door curtesy light switch this can cause all sorts of problems for the door opener switch.
I had this on my Chim the push in switch was not being pushed in with the door shut I put a piece of rubber glued into the recess to activate the switch when the door was closed. The switch is a non earth type so needs 2 connectors on it as the switch is not earthed as a convential metal bodied car.
I had this on my Chim the push in switch was not being pushed in with the door shut I put a piece of rubber glued into the recess to activate the switch when the door was closed. The switch is a non earth type so needs 2 connectors on it as the switch is not earthed as a convential metal bodied car.
blaze_away said:
OP (Ben) here is my suggestion on where to start.
When you say 'wont open from outside' do you mean
1. Does It open on the key fob when you unlock the car ?
2. Does it fail to open when you blip the mirror button ?
1. Lol. I'm not sure the alarm button does anything much! It does make the immobiliser turn off. The car is bone stock, complete with crappy alarm! One day it will get the Baker treatment with luck and a following wind.When you say 'wont open from outside' do you mean
1. Does It open on the key fob when you unlock the car ?
2. Does it fail to open when you blip the mirror button ?
2. Yes. This is it. It used to open with that button, but not any more. Oddly it's done it before as in the docs I have it failed the MOT on it previously (how I know it's an MOT fail).
I have a multimeter and and I can be competent with it on myh day. Obvs if someone has done something like this before, I'd appreciate the pointers. If not, I'll have a poke about in the B pillar and see what gives.
blaze_away said:
Ok. It could be the door actuator, so you need to get your multimeter out and start testing those wires in door pillar.
Are you able to do that ?
ie do you have the tools and knowledge to do that or do you need full detailed instructions ?
I have the tools. The knowledge is something I'm looking for. I guess there's lots that I can check, but I'm looking for a 'try here first, and here next' type thing. Are you able to do that ?
ie do you have the tools and knowledge to do that or do you need full detailed instructions ?
Mostly things that go wrong IME have common problems, or a weak point somewhere that follow the 80:20 rule...
1st job then.
We need to establish the door button works.
The door mirror glass needs to come off. If its standard there is a little lever that slides left and right to lock/unlock the glass from the body of the mirror mechanism. Its a little bit of plastic roughly centre just below bottom of the glass.
Slide it left (or maybe right) about 1 cm and glass will unlock for removal. If its had a replacement glass fitted it maybe just glued on.
Once thats off you can see the inner part of the button.
Short the terminals on the button together.
If the solenoid operates then button is the issue. If it doesn't then its time to go in the b pillar.
I will do some tests on mine tomorrow to give more info.
We need to establish the door button works.
The door mirror glass needs to come off. If its standard there is a little lever that slides left and right to lock/unlock the glass from the body of the mirror mechanism. Its a little bit of plastic roughly centre just below bottom of the glass.
Slide it left (or maybe right) about 1 cm and glass will unlock for removal. If its had a replacement glass fitted it maybe just glued on.
Once thats off you can see the inner part of the button.
Short the terminals on the button together.
If the solenoid operates then button is the issue. If it doesn't then its time to go in the b pillar.
I will do some tests on mine tomorrow to give more info.
So got the glass off - on mine the tiny lever thing goes left to undo. I've undone the screws to release the back of the mirror housing. The button wires are not exposed at all (i.e. there's no connectors to undo) so shorting them isn't possible without cutting them etc.
So I moved on to looking at the B-Pillar.
Here the plot thickened. Neither actuator worked (so pressing the little button on the door release knob doesn't make the actuator do anything, pressing the outside button doesn't do anything. Removing both and trying them on the driver's side - both work. So it looked like I got two problems, not one. The door lock actuator is 5 wire, the latch is 2.
Looking again, I realised that there were two 5 way plugs in the passenger side door pillar. So I tried them both. One works (again using the knob button), the other doesn't. So that's one problem solved (I think).
Got the multimeter out (although a test bulb would have worked I guess), and put it in the pins of the 2 wire one. Nada. So snipped the wire of the button, shorted these out, and success! The relay clicks and the actuator, well, it actuates!
So now I need a new button. It looks like a bog standard 12mm momentary button switch. I'm sure I've used these before for another project, but can't remember where I got them. Any clues?
Also, I'm guessing that the button switch has a connector on it, but that's inside the door. Looks like the easiest way in is through the speaker hole. It's not obvious how the speakers are fitted in the doors. I have the (I think) standard Pioneer ones. Clues on how to get them out?
So I moved on to looking at the B-Pillar.
Here the plot thickened. Neither actuator worked (so pressing the little button on the door release knob doesn't make the actuator do anything, pressing the outside button doesn't do anything. Removing both and trying them on the driver's side - both work. So it looked like I got two problems, not one. The door lock actuator is 5 wire, the latch is 2.
Looking again, I realised that there were two 5 way plugs in the passenger side door pillar. So I tried them both. One works (again using the knob button), the other doesn't. So that's one problem solved (I think).
Got the multimeter out (although a test bulb would have worked I guess), and put it in the pins of the 2 wire one. Nada. So snipped the wire of the button, shorted these out, and success! The relay clicks and the actuator, well, it actuates!
So now I need a new button. It looks like a bog standard 12mm momentary button switch. I'm sure I've used these before for another project, but can't remember where I got them. Any clues?
Also, I'm guessing that the button switch has a connector on it, but that's inside the door. Looks like the easiest way in is through the speaker hole. It's not obvious how the speakers are fitted in the doors. I have the (I think) standard Pioneer ones. Clues on how to get them out?
EggsBenedict said:
So now I need a new button. It looks like a bog standard 12mm momentary button switch. I'm sure I've used these before for another project, but can't remember where I got them. Any clues?
With the demise of Maplins I'd say RS online or there are bound to be some on EbayEggsBenedict said:
Also, I'm guessing that the button switch has a connector on it, but that's inside the door. Looks like the easiest way in is through the speaker hole. It's not obvious how the speakers are fitted in the doors. I have the (I think) standard Pioneer ones. Clues on how to get them out?
Pull mesh off and four screws behind?Forums | Chimaera | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff