Any mechanics out there...

[Popeye]

The other half has a 1999 V reg Ford Ka and it's bleeding money at the moment.

Now the central locking is no longer working leaving the car doors open at all times. When you turn the key to lock it, the mechanism sounds like it's locking but rather than stopping there it then continues and opens again.

Our local garage gave me two options the cheapest being £250 which as the car is probably only worth £700 I don't want to take up. I suggested a third option, disabling the central locking and they wanted to charge me a further couple of hours labour to do this so I declined.

I can't find a fuse that controls this nor having taken off the inner door pannels can I see anything standing out that I could simply unplug or cut. It appears to be a common issue on these Ka's but having read about most 'experts' suggest replacing the wiring looms etc.

Any ideas as we can live with manually opening and locking the car but I just can't fathom how to do it.

There are no valuables, tools or pies left in the car overnight before anyone get's any ideas.

[Heeeed the Ball]

Originally Posted by Popeye

The other half has a 1999 V reg Ford Ka and it's bleeding money at the moment.

Now the central locking is no longer working leaving the car doors open at all times. When you turn the key to lock it, the mechanism sounds like it's locking but rather than stopping there it then continues and opens again.

Our local garage gave me two options the cheapest being £250 which as the car is probably only worth £700 I don't want to take up. I suggested a third option, disabling the central locking and they wanted to charge me a further couple of hours labour to do this so I declined.

I can't find a fuse that controls this nor having taken off the inner door pannels can I see anything standing out that I could simply unplug or cut. It appears to be a common issue on these Ka's but having read about most 'experts' suggest replacing the wiring looms etc.

Any ideas as we can live with manually opening and locking the car but I just can't fathom how to do it.

There are no valuables, tools or pies left in the car overnight before anyone get's any ideas.

Pics?

[Spot]

not a Ka but I had the same problem, I went round the doors manually locking each with the button then tried the central locking and by a process of elimination found a combination which worked.

[mackemdave]

my focus has a similar problem, sometime it works sometimes it doesn't.

I've found that by locking the passenger door from the inside before I get out, then press the locking button on the key fob it locks everytime

[little e]

Originally Posted by Spot

not a Ka but I had the same problem, I went round the doors manually locking each with the button then tried the central locking and by a process of elimination found a combination which worked.

Never seen a combination lock on a car before

[Stevie Freestein II]

Originally Posted by Popeye

The other half has a 1999 V reg Ford Ka and it's bleeding money at the moment.

....

Try filling up with petrol. Or Diesel if it's a diesel.

[Popeye]

Originally Posted by Heeeed the Ball

Pics?

Aye cheers lads it's only 3 door and isn't remote central locking and no matter what combination I try I still hear the same god forsaken noise

[Gaz]

Faulty wiring loom in the door or faulty motor.

If you open drivers door, find where the cable comes from the footwell into the door - there is usually a connector on the door end if i remember right.

Open the window so you don't lock yourself out and disconnect the connector - if that allows you to lock / open the door manually it is that door at fault. If not try the same on passenger side.

Normally wiring loom mate, its a common problem on them by all accounts. You can leave them disconnected but electric windows etc won't work

[Popeye]

Originally Posted by Gaz

Faulty wiring loom in the door or faulty motor.

If you open drivers door, find where the cable comes from the footwell into the door - there is usually a connector on the door end if i remember right.

Open the window so you don't lock yourself out and disconnect the connector - if that allows you to lock / open the door manually it is that door at fault. If not try the same on passenger side.

Normally wiring loom mate, its a common problem on them by all accounts. You can leave them disconnected but electric windows etc won't work

Thanks very much Gaz - will give that a go.

[Gaz]

Originally Posted by Popeye

Thanks very much Gaz - will give that a go.

You might even be able to clean the connector up if its corroded, can't remember what its like tbh