Door Catch Actuator

[ukkid35]

The passenger door does not open reliably anymore

It used to happen when the battery wasn't fully charged, now it happens almost all the time

I have taken the mechanism out and checked that the catch itself operates, which it does

But I don't know whether a weak actuator, or stiff catch, is the most likely culprit

Any suggestions?

[FarmyardPants]

My passenger side is a bit lazy, I put it down to relative lack of use/dried up lubrication. Have you tried spraying the catch mech and actuator with some 3in1?

[ukkid35]

Yes, tried cleaning the catch with brake cleaner, then after drying spraying with bike chain lube

Not done anything with the actuator

[phillpot]

Actuator solenoids aren't expensive but it could just be corroded wiring connections causing a voltage drop?

https://partsfortvrs.com/tvr-parts/part-details/tv...

[FarmyardPants]

I find if I press the button repeatedly it gets better. Same with the boot, but you can hold that one down and hear it get faster and faster/higher pitched. Not really a fix but helps for a while .

[ukkid35]

phillpot said:

Actuator solenoids aren't expensive but it could just be corroded wiring connections causing a voltage drop?

https://partsfortvrs.com/tvr-parts/part-details/tv...

I wow, I hadn't even thought to check - I'll replace it

Much appreciated

[phillpot]

Originals were Ford ka part

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/265428699401?epid=88015...

[Imran999]

I farted around with the boot catch all summer, adjusting the tension on the metal cable, trying to get it to open reliably. But once the car was hot from a drive, it was always a gamble as to whether it would open or not.

Eventually I got fed up, and thought I should replace the solenoid. After doing so, it was perfect, opened every time and instantly.

Thing is, the solenoid I put in, was the one that stopped working properly in the drivers door, a few years ago.



I have a few new ones now

[porterpainter]

phillpot said:

Originals were Ford ka part

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/265428699401?epid=88015...

Cheaper to buy the one from TVR parts though

[phillpot]

porterpainter said:

Cheaper to buy the one from TVR parts though

The Ford one although second hand will be made to a certain quality, alternative part from TVR is probably no different to this one

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/124228297378?epid=25039...

[porterpainter]

Would still prefer the TVR parts one for the warranty/support…and if folks don’t use these companies they won’t be around for much longer.

Each to their own though…

[Imran999]

I bought my new ones from here:

https://www.abacuscaralarms.co.uk/alarmshop/centra...

They appear to made by the same company that made the units for Ford.

[Peter-j8c3u]

Have you checked the multipin connectors in the doors, mine were in a right state. Mine all worked fine but I could imagine it causing issues, probably starting intermittently before packing up.

[Imran999]

In my case, the drivers door solenoid was actually working, except the accordion style boot had come off - this boot acts to provided a little bit of retraction after the solenoid fires, thereby ensuring it’s in the right place to fire again.
I re-attached the boot and tried it repeatedly (while I had the whole thing open) and it worked consistently. But, I put in a new one just because I had one and I wasn’t sure if the boot would come off again.

The boot solenoid has a spring inside which forces the solenoid piston back to full extension - I removed the spring from old one and put it in the one from the drivers door, and it’s been working great.

Note, new solenoids come with bits and pieces but not the spring used in the boot solenoid.

[ukkid35]

I bought a cheap actuator off eBay

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/281499361291

Compared with the original it seemed to have a slightly stronger action, however resting position of the arm was significantly different to the original

So I replaced one of the return springs in the catch itself with a weaker spring so the power needed was less

It now works reliably every time