Central locking issue, opens all but does not lock all....

[BongoBongo123]

So the central locking has been a little iffy for about 4 months. The symptom is that it opens all the doors when I open the driver side no problem. The issue is it won't close them now so I have to do the run around with the key.

It started by being intermittent and I had to push the inside door tab down harder and harder (whilst pulling the external door handle outwards) to get it to activate what must be a switch/sensor to lock the other doors when I was pulling the handle out.

Is this a known or common fault? I wonder what the likely cause is and how much it might be to repair. I am not really up for pulling the door apart myself so might get some other person to sort it out but would like a rough idea of the mechanism which might have stopped working.

Unless there are a few easy things for me to try first and that's why I am posting.

[mikeonb4c]

So the central locking has been a little iffy for about 4 months. The symptom is that it opens all the doors when I open the driver side no problem. The issue is it won't close them now so I have to do the run around with the key.

It started by being intermittent and I had to push the inside door tab down harder and harder (whilst pulling the external door handle outwards) to get it to activate what must be a switch/sensor to lock the other doors when I was pulling the handle out.

Is this a known or common fault? I wonder what the likely cause is and how much it might be to repair. I am not really up for pulling the door apart myself so might get some other person to sort it out but would like a rough idea of the mechanism which might have stopped working.

Unless there are a few easy things for me to try first and that's why I am posting.

Ha ha yes, I've got the same problem though it is so intermittent I'm not rushing to fix it. See:

http://igmaynard.co.uk/bongo/forum/view ... it=locking

...and I'm sure there are other threads on it. Personally, I think I'll treat myself to a new driver side door loom at some point

Good luck, keep us posted.

[BongoBongo123]

Thanks for the referal to that topic Mike. I actually wondered if quite literally something (switch/wire/damp?) has become loose in the door, from wind slams etc. They do catch the wind a bit those big doors and with the side door open tend go bang.

Is it a hard job to just take the interior bits off the door and do a little visual inspection/cleaning/checking for obvious problems ?

[mikeonb4c]

Thanks for the referal to that topic Mike. I actually wondered if quite literally something (switch/wire/damp?) has become loose in the door, from wind slams etc. They do catch the wind a bit those big doors and with the side door open tend go bang.

Is it a hard job to just take the interior bits off the door and do a little visual inspection/cleaning/checking for obvious problems ?

People say finding and mending a broken wire in the door loom isn't hard (its all the opening and closing over the years that fatigues the wires I think) but it sounds fiddly to me and I can imagine just getting one wire traced and fixed before another one goes. I'm short on time and inclination these days hence why I think I'll bite the bullet and get a replacement at some point. But......I might decide to try DIY and keep the new loom option as Plan B in case I don't get lucky. Just need it to hold on until I'm retired and looking for things to fill my time

[Northern Bongolow]

its not hard to spot and repair the damaged wire/s. open the drivers door and look for the harness, i knock out the door catch strap pin, it comes out upwards. this gives better access to repair the wires.
remove or cut off the black strap that holds the door loom to the hinge, remove the outer skin/protector from the loom wires, its usually very obvious whats going on and you should see the broken wire/s.
i usually solder them back up with a loop of new wire(about 3 inch) inserted, just to give a bit of slack to the fix, then tape up and if you feel the need clip back to the hinge with a loose cable tie.
check the condition of the other wires while your in there look for small cracks in the insulation that let water into the inner.

[mikeonb4c]

its not hard to spot and repair the damaged wire/s. open the drivers door and look for the harness, i knock out the door catch strap pin, it comes out upwards. this gives better access to repair the wires.
remove or cut off the black strap that holds the door loom to the hinge, remove the outer skin/protector from the loom wires, its usually very obvious whats going on and you should see the broken wire/s.
i usually solder them back up with a loop of new wire(about 3 inch) inserted, just to give a bit of slack to the fix, then tape up and if you feel the need clip back to the hinge with a loose cable tie.
check the condition of the other wires while your in there look for small cracks in the insulation that let water into the inner.

Cheers Ady, great advice - sounds like I should try (your) Plan A before (my) Plan B

[BongoBongo123]

This problem deepened yesterday with the passenger window not initially wanting to close from the passenger switch side. Then on the driver side it came up a little, stopped and then started and edged it's way up, just on M25 as well. That provoked a "Don't open that again !" Windows being left open is clearly a very annoying and potentially serious issue of course, weather, theft etc. so I think I need to get this sorted more urgently now.

I am wondering if driver side loom can affect functionality of passenger side window ?

I did read from the other bongo forum that there is a U shaped harness between door and door hole ? (Body, lol) and that there are fine wires that can break or become intermittent.

Question is do I take a look there on a dry day or simply get someone to replace it. Either way it seems to be a quick fix at best to cobble together a few wires only for them to strain or break or crimp again in coming months /years. Central locking suggested as the "yellow-and-red-thin wire".

I might have a little look and if it is a very easy fix well, save a few bob for now, advice from people who have dealt with the harness and related window/central locking issues much appreciated.

Do it properly and cough up ? Or have a look myself. Whatchareckon

[mikeonb4c]

This problem deepened yesterday with the passenger window not initially wanting to close from the passenger switch side. Then on the driver side it came up a little, stopped and then started and edged it's way up, just on M25 as well. That provoked a "Don't open that again !" Windows being left open is clearly a very annoying and potentially serious issue of course, weather, theft etc. so I think I need to get this sorted more urgently now.

I am wondering if driver side loom can affect functionality of passenger side window ?

I did read from the other bongo forum that there is a U shaped harness between door and door hole ? (Body, lol) and that there are fine wires that can break or become intermittent.

Question is do I take a look there on a dry day or simply get someone to replace it. Either way it seems to be a quick fix at best to cobble together a few wires only for them to strain or break or crimp again in coming months /years. Central locking suggested as the "yellow-and-red-thin wire".

I might have a little look and if it is a very easy fix well, save a few bob for now, advice from people who have dealt with the harness and related window/central locking issues much appreciated.

Do it properly and cough up ? Or have a look myself. Whatchareckon

Unless you're keen on diy I'd just fit a new harness and have done with it. That's what I did. I might have taken a diy view if I'd had more time (e.g. retired) and/or didn't need the car everyday but.....I believe though that the wires generally fracture in one location, where the harness experiences most flexing, by the door/bodywork junction.

It's possible of course that not all symptoms are down to the harness, but it seems a likely candidate. Personally, it gives me a good feeling putting a new part on the Bongo rather than just doing running repairs.

[BongoBongo123]

As always good advice and I would take that if I did not just find the U bend in the wires are very wet! (exposed area and parking in a hill has annoying tendency to get water where you do not want it and where the manufacturer could not easily forsee)

My guess is that this could be increasing/casuing the problems I have. I do not know how to proceed other than with care and logic.

I am going to first dry this area out with just dry tissues and then cover it from the top with an air hole so it can vent but not get any more water in. It may be a progessive a fix that may take time and maybe with the end result of a new loom. I will remain open minded with it but drying it out fully must be plan A.

This clip holding the loom to the door seems not to be releasable. I cannot easily find the release with a finger.

I will surely let you know how I get on.

1) Dry off all cables
2) Insulating tape over a piece of plastic from a plastic bag to stop further water ingress.
3) Maybe, if 1) and 2) works out ! = Self amalgamating tape round exposed loom between door and body if/when solved.

It seems a little odd that water alone could caase this so maybe there is a iffy cable + water or maybe water is just coincidental and it is the loom that is screwed, but damp and electrics do is not a good combo.

I will update as I find things it may help others out. Going to try and dry it out with tissue very gently so not to disturb it further and seal off the top of the loom with a little air gap under neath now.

[mikeonb4c]

Sounds like cracked insulation on individual wires could be causing shorting in wet weather. If skills / time / budget allow, I'd try and fix the root problem as you don't want hassle when away touring.

[BongoBongo123]

Initial 1) and 2) seem to have gone ok and it bodes well.

Chances are moisture was just coincidental and that a fiddle around has enhanced the intermittent connections. The central locking works more reliably within at least the short test time over the last 15 mins. We shall wait and see how it fairs over time.

I am hopefully this was a very minor issue at this time and hope it has cleared. (At least I know where to check if I get the issue again out and about) I have covered it with a bit of plastic trying to get the plastic shielding the front and top of the loom where water is either coming down and dripping onto it or through driving in heavy rain as experienced yesterday is coming through the lips between door leading edge and front wing rear edge - gap . It is covered from further water ingress but can breathe.

I hasten to add that the nylon material of the black retaining clip is very strong/ as is the grip on the clip itself. I cannot release the clip. And am not planning to as the force necessary with a screwdriver is almost certainly likely to cause more damage to my mind. If anything I will rather cut that off than risk damaging the attached loom. For now I will leave well alone and see how things proceed and let it dry out further and consider a better sealing off. (which may or may not involve removing the clip in some manner.

Do be careful attempting to remove that loom retaining clip is what I have found out, it does not release easily. It is of a type where a hooked bit of nylon pushes into a opening in the clip and catches into a sprung bit of nylon. Pushing the nylon spring within the space confines of that area (The door pillar limits your leverage) does not exert enough force to release the catch mechanism. More force could break wiring.

Updates as and when I find out what results.

[BongoBongo123]

I plan to speed this drying out with a hair dryer on the next dry day.

Northern Bongolow's input also appreciated as what you outlined seems to be very relevant.

[BongoBongo123]

Update: I just popped out again and there is immediately drops of water from rain happening now on my piece of polythene plastic bag that is covering that loom. That may be due to the slant it is on (rear facing downwards/nose up)

So I am glad it is now protected. This seems like a weak spot for water ingress when on a slope as the drips on the protective plastic prove. Glad it is protecting it temporarily and again central locking working fine right now.

Drying it out properly using a hair dryer on a dry day/few hours and sealing that off more permanently is my next step to see if it resolves the issue.

[BongoBongo123]

A quick photo... that water was in there within a 5 mins shower ! So when it was hammering down on the M25 yesterday it could well have been worse.

[BongoBongo123]

So had this working perfectly and sealed it all up. 1 layer self amalgamating 2 layers insulating chekcing as I went it was still working. Then of course no central locking working after the last bit of tape was applied, ha ha classic ! Although more and then

So pulled the entire lot of self amalgamating tape off and now see clear as day a broken white wire. Fingers crossed that is the central locking one. Now going to solder in a small bit of wire to bridge the gap as NorthernBongolow suggested.

Keep fingers crossed for me !