Central Locking Slow

[Mark Elvin]

My central locking is becoming slow. When I unlock using either remote or the key in the door the other doors are sometimes quite slow to unlock, can take 10second or so on occasion.

My initial thought is that the central locking relay is slow as I know it's not related to low battery voltage as both batteries are good.

anybody else had a similar fault?

[Simon Jones]

Do you know if it's factory fitted or aftermarket? Majority of vehicles of your vintage have central locking controlled by the drivers side lock but it's unusual to find one with remote central locking. As the problem occurs with the key as well as the fob, it sounds like the problem may be with switch/actuator in the drivers door.

[Mark Elvin]

It's factory fitted central locking with aftermarket alarm that operates all doors. It was slow before the alarm was fitted.

[jimmo62]

I would guess dirty/sticky contacts in the Driver's door lock is taking a while to make the circuit which tells the control unit to activate the rest of the locks. Not sure how accessible the contacts are, may be worth giving it a good dose of switch cleaner?

[mikeonb4c]

Is your starter battery in good condition?

[Mark Elvin]

My initial thought is that the central locking relay is slow as I know it's not related to low battery voltage as both batteries are good.

[Simon Jones]

Any other symptoms such as slow electric windows? That might point to something like a dodgy earth to the drivers door.

[Mark Elvin]

Nope. Just the central locking.

[g8dhe]

Is the delay constant or does it vary between operations ? If it varies I would suspect the contacts, but if its always constant it could be the control module which is a very simple bi-stable switch circuit driving the relay for the pulse required. Click the Orange box for the actual circuit details;

[mikeonb4c]

My initial thought is that the central locking relay is slow as I know it's not related to low battery voltage as both batteries are good.

Apologies, should have read your post more carefully

[Mark Elvin]

Is the delay constant or does it vary between operations ? If it varies I would suspect the contacts, but if its always constant it could be the control module which is a very simple bi-stable switch circuit driving the relay for the pulse required. Click the Orange box for the actual circuit details;

it varies. I'll try to clean the contacts