Silver Knob II

[straga]

This morning the light in the silver door opening knob was lit for my journey to work but went out after the alarm was set, I've not noticed this before. What is this light an indicator for ?

[ATG]

It shows the doors are locked. On mine its an illuminated button. You push it, the doors lock and it lights up. Open the doors with the knob, and the light goes off as the doors unlock.

[straga]

Thanks - I guess that I must have inadvertantly pressed the button and locked the doors, amazed that I've not noticed this before.

[squirrelz]

Mine seems to have a mind of its own and quite often lights up even when the lock isn't engaged. Not noticed any pattern to it (like whether lights are on etc).

[ATG]

took me a while to notice it too. Benefit of being able to lock yourself in a soft top is ... limited.

[JonRB]

I find the light very distracting at night, but my other half insists on locking us in as she says she feels safer.

My understanding, however, is that the internal door lock button does nothing more than disable the external wing-mirror mounted door release buttons. Is this correct?

[rivergirrl]

JonRB,

I have a P-reg Chimaera with the external door opener fitted to the body (by the door). The internal lock mechanism disables the external door release buttons. Quite handy with regards to the safety issue...I suspect it is the same for the newer models.

But then they are TVR's, so maybe yours enables/disables something else

[JonRB]

quote:But then they are TVR's, so maybe yours enables/disables something else

True, true. Most manufacturers have model years, but TVR have model days.

[ATG]

Rash to assume it does the same thing to both sides of the car...

[squirrelz]

LMAO!

[Marshy]

quote:My understanding, however, is that the internal door lock button does nothing more than disable the external wing-mirror mounted door release buttons. Is this correct?

Don't think so - I think, for some reason, it activates the deadlocks (in the same way the remote does, but minus setting the alarm), because on my 97 500, both doors go "clunk" when I hit the button.

[Robin S]

Very similar thread here. Noticed last night that my "thunk" only came from the drivers door when arming the alarm. I then tried opening the doors - drivers locked ok, passengers sprang open! Very safe!! Anybody any hints for what I should check first? If it's likely to be internal wiring in the passenger door, is it easy enough to get access? Hopefully I'm just looking at a bad connection or something come adrift.
Appreciate the pointers.

Robin

[Marshy]

Robin, have a look at the wiring in the cubby behind the passenger door. There are two multi-plugs at play here: one for the door release, and one for the actual lock.

Having had door release issues on the driver's door (grrr, gnash) and locking problems on the passenger side, I had a good rummage and came to the conclusion that the connectors are sh1te. The fix, in my case, was to take the connectors apart and tighten up the metal terminals in the female half of each. Did the trick, no problems since.

[ChimaeraWolf]

I don't see the point in locking the doors when you're in the car for saftey reasons... anyone trying to get you out the car would have to spend half an hour trying to work out how open it without door handles!



Shane

[JonRB]

I think she's more concerned with the doors flying open under cornering.

So do the Chimaeras have deadlocks then?

[Robin S]

Wow!!! She happens to be a HE !!! When I was on about safety I was talking about after I've alarmed the car... then from outside the passenger door will still open when the under mirror button is pressed, but the drivers doors is locked as it should be. Something wrong with the central locking I thought!

Cheers....
MR Robin S!!

[JonRB]

quote:She happens to be a HE !!!

I bloody well hope not - I was talking about my fiancée!

[beano1197]

Ooooooooh! Handbags at ten paces! And we all thought you were in love with your car Jon!!!!!

Looking back through the thread - can see where it all went wrong though!

Back to topic.....

The Griff remote door switch (push button on dash and a green light) definitely sets the door locks electronically with a "clunk"! I expect it's the same as on a Chimaera. But a flick of the handle (we have two on a Griff - that means an extra part to go wrong!!!) releases the door. So it must simply be the same mechanism which removes the mechanical connection from the outside buttons (whether they are in the body or the mirror). In either event, I cannot see how that would help prevent the door bursting open......

....i'm just being thick-as-a-brick am I?

[JonRB]

Hmm. I knew that the "thunks" were solenoids doing something, but I didn't necessarily equate them with deadlocks.

If they are deadlocks, then engaging them might well go some way towards stopping the doors from flying open (unlikely though such an event would be). However, if they're not then I too can't see any advantage to locking yourself in. But as I said, it's not me, its my 'other half' who insists on this.

For the benefit of anyone confused by the above, 'other half' refers to my live-in female (human) partner who is due to become my wife in June.

(Robin - no offense intended or taken, by the way. My reply was intended to be tongue-in-cheek)

[Robin S]

No worries Jon,
Reckon I've got an evening of fusebox contortion ahead of me!

At the end of the day, my passenger door won't lock, from inside(with button) or outside(with alarm keyfob). Dislocated back and shoulders, here I come!!

Robin