Central locking has mind of its own

[fenderbender]

Car has been stored a while and now I have a weird problem. The car will not lock - the lights flash and the relays go "whump" but instead of locking the car up they just repeat themselves without promting and the car opens up again.

Batteries in fobs are new.

I have managed to get the car locked with a combination of using the internal door over ride locking catches on each door , but if I do this the thing locks itself completely as soon as you get out & close the drivers door, with the risk that you leave the keys inside.

I think this is a sticky or inoperative door solenoid.

Anybody know a simple process for checking and isolating the faulty one?

[triple7]

Fender I am almost 99.9% sure it is probably your car battery, either below charge or on its way out. You may find even more electrical gremlins as just 0.5v below norm can send these cars in a tis.

G

[fenderbender]

Thanks , I'll check that out - although battery seems in good nick having been constantly groomed by an intelligent battery conditioner whilst in store. Engine roared into life after I spun it over a few times to get the oil pumping round (with fuel pump fuse removed of course )

My manual tells me the dealer's PDU system can identify most faults but before I take it in I wondered if there was a simple way of checking each door actuator for correct operation.

[deva link]

Some cars do that if they think one of the doors (or the boot or bonnet) is open - could that be the case (or the relevant switch has been displaced)?

[8Pack]

Also check that all the windows are "fully up"....

[Trooper2]

Get the battery fully charged and then do a "Hard Re-set" to bring all of the modules back to baseline. All you have to do is disconnect the negative battery lead for at least 2 minutes and when reconnected all modules will re-set. You may be dealing with a confused driver's door module due to low voltage....

[.richard]

Had very similar problem with Scorpio. Turned out to be sticking door lock. Solenoid not strong enough to overcome therefore wouldn't set and couldn't make its mind up. Cured by spraying lock with WD 40. Continued to luricate every service and no problems and sold car four years later.

[fenderbender]

problem fixed

It was a combination of the possible problems you have all suggested. Battery voltage was showing 12.3 when fully charged but the new one I fitted gives 13.5. The offside rear latch responded well to a shot of WD40 and - to cut the story short - after three or four trial cycles the system settled down and now works quite happily.

So many thanks to all of you who took the time and interest to respond. Have a great Christmas.