New Suzuki Vitara doors not opening and car not starting
Discussion
I picked up my brand new Vitara on the 21st December, the next morning the doors wouldn’t open with the keyfob ( had to put the key into the door lock to open) and the car wouldn’t start so had to call the AA. The patrol man checked the car battery, he started it the car by closing the drivers door then locking and unlocking the door using the button on the drivers door. The car then saw the key and started.
It’s done it several times since and more worryingly the car cut out twice when travelling on the main road near my house.
At this point I have to tell you I live next to a communications mast.
The dealer changed the battery in the keyfob’s, then a few day later new codes were put in the transponders
On the Wednesday I went back to work (there is a phone antenna on top of an old Mill next to the car park), at break I was showing my mate the car and again the car didn’t open or start .
My car has been at the dealer since Wednesday and I’ve been given a Swift. The dealer has had no problems opening and starting the car and the Swift has been ok too.
I’ve lived in my house for 31 years with no problems and parking at work for 21 years with no problems.
What could it be ? Thanks
It’s done it several times since and more worryingly the car cut out twice when travelling on the main road near my house.
At this point I have to tell you I live next to a communications mast.
The dealer changed the battery in the keyfob’s, then a few day later new codes were put in the transponders
On the Wednesday I went back to work (there is a phone antenna on top of an old Mill next to the car park), at break I was showing my mate the car and again the car didn’t open or start .
My car has been at the dealer since Wednesday and I’ve been given a Swift. The dealer has had no problems opening and starting the car and the Swift has been ok too.
I’ve lived in my house for 31 years with no problems and parking at work for 21 years with no problems.
What could it be ? Thanks
I'm not sure.
But I've got two Swift Sports on my driveway. 2016 and 2018 models. Both have key fob locking / push button start. I've not come across a similar issue to yours.
That said another family member had a Swift - bought used - that would unlock / lock the doors by using the button on the fob, but you couldn't unlock / lock the car via the button on the door handle. He couldn't start the car without holding the fob right near the start button either. It was if the car wasn't in communication with the fob. Batteries were replaced in the fob twice. Made no difference.
The problem for him in the end was the rear parking sensors that he had fitted to the car. The car wasn't originally sold with them, but when he came to buy the car used - he got them fitted. He still took the car away at the time because he needed transport. The dealer hadn't had time to work out what was going on before he needed to collect the car. So he arranged to take the car back to give them more time. Anyway, turned out to simply be a fuse. Probably something that was upset during the install of the parking sensors.
In your case though. Sounds like an electrical problem to me. With the car itself. I don't think the fobs are the problem. As your issue seems to come and go, it sounds like a bad connector / connection or bad earth.
Have you had the dealer fit anything to your car? Perhaps something electrical too?
If that is the case, they may have upset something.
Experience of Suzuki myself, and other family members. They are bullet proof. So something is odd about your car.
But I've got two Swift Sports on my driveway. 2016 and 2018 models. Both have key fob locking / push button start. I've not come across a similar issue to yours.
That said another family member had a Swift - bought used - that would unlock / lock the doors by using the button on the fob, but you couldn't unlock / lock the car via the button on the door handle. He couldn't start the car without holding the fob right near the start button either. It was if the car wasn't in communication with the fob. Batteries were replaced in the fob twice. Made no difference.
The problem for him in the end was the rear parking sensors that he had fitted to the car. The car wasn't originally sold with them, but when he came to buy the car used - he got them fitted. He still took the car away at the time because he needed transport. The dealer hadn't had time to work out what was going on before he needed to collect the car. So he arranged to take the car back to give them more time. Anyway, turned out to simply be a fuse. Probably something that was upset during the install of the parking sensors.
In your case though. Sounds like an electrical problem to me. With the car itself. I don't think the fobs are the problem. As your issue seems to come and go, it sounds like a bad connector / connection or bad earth.
Have you had the dealer fit anything to your car? Perhaps something electrical too?
If that is the case, they may have upset something.
Experience of Suzuki myself, and other family members. They are bullet proof. So something is odd about your car.
Edited by DazzaSport on Saturday 5th January 09:16
We have a Vitara and a Swift.
We did get key fob issues especially in winter and I put it down to poor connections with the battery in the fob.
I bought a little tube of carbon conducting grease on amazon and placed the tiniest blob on the battery. Not had a problem since.
It seems that a bit of condensation makes the connection intermittent.
The grease is very dirty stuff so seriously just use the tiniest bit if you try it.
Downside is that it’s about £20 for a small tube but it will last you forever.
I have similar issues with my gate opener fob. The grease fixed that too.
May be worth a try?
We did get key fob issues especially in winter and I put it down to poor connections with the battery in the fob.
I bought a little tube of carbon conducting grease on amazon and placed the tiniest blob on the battery. Not had a problem since.
It seems that a bit of condensation makes the connection intermittent.
The grease is very dirty stuff so seriously just use the tiniest bit if you try it.
Downside is that it’s about £20 for a small tube but it will last you forever.
I have similar issues with my gate opener fob. The grease fixed that too.
May be worth a try?
On the previous model GVs the door sensors (the ones that bring on the interior light) would occasionally be mis-aligned so the car central locking would fail to lock/unlock.
They dump the signal to earth when the door is open, so moisture ingress/bad contact would cause similar problems. They are/were attached with a single screw which formed the earth contact. The rear door was the main culprit on my 2.4L GV, replaced the door contact switch and it was fine.
Similar problems caused by bad main battery earths.
If the Swift is OK then it points to 'something' wrong at the GV.
They dump the signal to earth when the door is open, so moisture ingress/bad contact would cause similar problems. They are/were attached with a single screw which formed the earth contact. The rear door was the main culprit on my 2.4L GV, replaced the door contact switch and it was fine.
Similar problems caused by bad main battery earths.
If the Swift is OK then it points to 'something' wrong at the GV.
This is it...
MG Chemicals Premium Carbon Conductive Grease, 85mL Tube
Seriously apply the tiniest amount on a tooth pick.
MG Chemicals Premium Carbon Conductive Grease, 85mL Tube
Seriously apply the tiniest amount on a tooth pick.
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