door solenoid

[minkybob]

Anyone fitted the 5 wire sloenoid to replace the 2 wire door opening solenoid?
Got one coming but not sure which wire's to use or not use?

Cheers

[fenderbender]

Yes I have, and dont pay for TVR parts - they are less than £4 each (shipped)on eBay so worth getting a couple in. Check these out - they are a direct replacement fit: ebay item number 290349164159

If you do not have a meter the trick is to start with the wire which looks most likely to be the earth (probably black) and touch it and every other wire in turn to a battery's terminals or charger output. Just work your way through the permutations and you will find the pair which operate the solenoid.

All you have to do then is to attach them the right way round to the car. You want the solenoid to push away from its housing when the door button is pressed. Sometimes you might have to unclip a small extender from the shaft of the original solenoid, and clip it onto the new to ensure the fully extended shaft length (oooh matron! ) is the same as the old.

You might have to replace the connectors on your new solenoid so they fit right.

Fitting to the car is a doddle. Just drop the seat back, pull up the access cover and undo the three bolts holding the strike plate in place. This will free the locking assembly plate enough for you to remove the solenoid, but it is not worth taking the entire lock mechanism off the car. Make a careful study of how the solenoid is attached (3 screws) and make sure you attach the small coil return spring to the solenoid body when you put everything back together.

If do you have a meter you will find that the other wires have useful functions too.

Edited by fenderbender on Monday 2nd July 13:08

Edited by fenderbender on Monday 2nd July 13:10

Edited by fenderbender on Monday 2nd July 19:52

[minkybob]

THANKS YOUR A STAR

[bsdnazz]

minkybob said:

Anyone fitted the 5 wire sloenoid to replace the 2 wire door opening solenoid?
Got one coming but not sure which wire's to use or not use?

Cheers

There are two solenoids on each side. The two wire that opens the door and the 5 wire (only 4 are used) that does the central locking. I don't think they're interchangeable...

[fenderbender]

bsdnazz said:

There are two solenoids on each side. The two wire that opens the door and the 5 wire (only 4 are used) that does the central locking. I don't think they're interchangeable...

Actually they are in physically identical cases but have different wiring. A 5 wire can be substituted for a 2 wire, but a 2 wire will not suit the central locking. This is because one of the functions of the five wire is to shut power down to some circuits when it is set. The is a 3-way microswitch inside which is enabled when the solenoid shaft is extended, hence the extra connections.

I've fitted quite a few because I've been experimenting with a remote control door opening system (hand held fob). The door opening solenoids will burn out if current is left to flow through them constantly, eg if you hold the door button down for several minutes. As a result I've been able to take them apart to see how they work: unclip the two halves of the case and you'll see a small 12v motor driving a shaft by means of a small rack and pinion assembly

Edited by fenderbender on Monday 2nd July 19:54

[bsdnazz]

Thanks for the correction.

[fenderbender]

bsdnazz said:

Thanks for the correction.

?? You were correct! They are not completely interchangeable - a 5 wire will do a 2 wire's job but not vice versa..

[eagle eyed]

Aha..!!
Haven't had my central locking working for months, since trying to replace the drivers side solenoid, because the door locking mechanism was getting lazy and intermittantly not unlocking that door.....
Didn't realise there were actually 2 solenoids on each side...?? Any pointers or better still pics to show me where each of them are...?? Please.

[eagle eyed]

Oops,
Think I may have just realised the stupidity of my previous post...

I'm guessing the 2-wire solenoid that's been mentioned is for 'popping' the door open on later models, with the button under the wing mirror...??
Whereas I have a '94 Chim with a key operated push button on the rear quarter...hence why I can only see the single 5-wire solenoid....?!?!?!?

Doh....

[bsdnazz]

fenderbender said:

?? You were correct! They are not completely interchangeable - a 5 wire will do a 2 wire's job but not vice versa..

Half correct at best!

[bsdnazz]

eagle eyed said:

Oops,
Think I may have just realised the stupidity of my previous post...

I'm guessing the 2-wire solenoid that's been mentioned is for 'popping' the door open on later models, with the button under the wing mirror...??
Whereas I have a '94 Chim with a key operated push button on the rear quarter...hence why I can only see the single 5-wire solenoid....?!?!?!?

Doh....

My Chim is post facelift so has the button under the mirror. The 2 wire solenoid is operated by the button and unlocks the door. The 5 wire (only 4 are used) is used to activate the central locking.

On my Chim the whole lock mechanism is held in with three allen bolts that you see when the door is open. Undo these and the whole lock mechanism can be pulled out behind the seat. It's quite easy to work on it and replace it once done.

[eagle eyed]

Thanks for clarifying that...what an idiot..!!

[Quietlybonkers]

Call me timid, but when my door solenoid stopped working I simply got a man who knows what he is doing to change it. Now it works again.....