Central Locking Failure

[adman]

I know similar questions have been posed - I've had a look through the forum, however....

 

After 5 years of fautless motoring in my 1.4 SX C3, the central locking system suddenly fails to operate - start of journey fine, end of journey dead. I've changed the battery and reset the key as suggested in the manual (use key to turn on the ignition and operate the buttons) and the key is still dead.

 

This all happened as I was parking the car in the car parks at the East Midlands Airport prior to flying off on holiday for two weeks. The AA was called - he was the one who put a new battery in. He couldn't sort it out.

 

The central locking system works from within the car using the dashboard button perfectly.

 

I worked out how to manually lock all the doors from the manual, however there seems to be no way to lock the boot manually - am I missing something? I had to leave the car parked up against a wall to avoid entry. Is there really no way to manually lock the boot?

 

Do keys usually fail so suddenly as this? I haven't been tinkering with the electrics and haven't installed a new radio as have others with similar problems. Is there something I'm overlooking in the resetting the system after a battery replacement?

 

I'd be grateful fo any advise before I toddle off to my local dealer for further help.

 

Many thanks

 

Adman

[adman]

Since posting this - I've been advised to disconnect the negative connection from the battery and touch it to the (still connected) positive terminal for a few seconds to reset the whole system. My advisor (who is an AA roadside engineer) tells me, that first, since I only generally use the car the car for short journeys the long journey to Nottingham would have confused the cars systems and secondly that over time (possibly caused by the journey) ststic would have built up and the only way to deal with this is to carry out the procedure mentioned above.

 

Does this make sense to anyone (it doesn't to me) and is the procedure OK to reset the system?

 

Thanks

 

Adman

[stimulator]

NO.

 

Just disconnect the battery + lead and leave it for 15 to 20 minutes for any charge in the systems to decay.

 

If you try to short any of the battrey terminal or leads together you could end up with more problems.

[adman]

Thanks for the tip. I've tried this, but still the central locking system will not respond to the key. I haven't got a spare key - I put it somewhere safe five years ago and haven't the slightest idea where it might be.

 

I suppose I need to take it to a dealer.

 

Thanks

 

Adman

[adman]

I should have added - is there any way to test the key other than its ability to lock and unlock the car?

 

Thanks

 

Adman

[raveydavey]

As someone who occasionally has this problem, here is the way I've found to resolve it.

 

When you park up, listen for the "click" as the little cover over the ignition barrel aperture slides back into place when you remove the ignition key. You'll find that you won't be able to engage the steering lock, no matter how much you twirl the wheel. I've discovered on my C3 that if this doesn't happen the car will not lock.

 

If the central locking won't work, put the ignition key back in, start the engine and rev it 2-3000rpm in neutral for a minute or so. (If a HDi like mine then let the revs settle for 30 seconds or so). Switch off and remove the key. This time you should here the click. The locking should then work.

 

I've heard that if the click doesn't happen then the steering lock doesn't engage, which confuses the BSI which then won't let you lock the car.

 

This may not be the technically recommended way to do things, but seems to work for me and saves messing about under the bonnet. It has only happened a handful of times, but it's usually at the most inopportune time.