Can't Lock/unlock Rear Driver Side Door From Central Locking

[barcelona]

Xantia Estate Forte Hdi W reg

 

This model does not have electric rear windows.

 

I can't lock or unlock the driver side rear door locking mechanism from the central locking - both with the key and with the plip. I can manually open it by simply flicking the lock up or down on the rear door itself.

 

I have previously had a problem with my tailgate not unlocking. This was the result of wires that had come apart that has been resolved. The wires that came apart were situated in the rubber conduit that joins the tailgate to the body of the car. I can see that the previous owner replaced the rear door button about a year ago and that did not resolve the problem.

 

There is a 4 inch rubber conduit that connects the rear car door to the car. Obviously there are a bunch of wires in there that I want to have a look at. It looks a bit tough to open. Can the conduit be easily prized apart? To get the door trim off it looks like there are 2 screws embedded in the arm rest. Is it as simple as that?

 

Are there any common places for the central locking to fail?

[Guest Colin Hunter]

Hi Again.

 

As well as the two large screws holding the armrest in place there are another 4 round the rear speaker which also secure the door trim. Prise out the speaker grill and you'll see them. There may also be some in the bottom of the door pocket but I can't remember for sure. Once all the screws are out, pull up the locking button. Near the bottom you'll see a small catch in the plastic. Depress it with a narrow bladed screwdriver or similar and pull it up and off. Next, go round the edge of the panel, carefully prising out the plastic clips as you go. Two broad bladed screwdrivers, one each side of the clip is ideal. Once the panel is free you'll be able to lift it out of the groove in the window rubber. You'll then find another membrane! Remove it around the lock area and you'll see the wires going to the lock solenoid. Remove the plug and test the circuit with a meter or test lamp. you'll get voltage to the plug during the lock/unlock operation. If there's no voltage coming you have another broken wire. If there's volts there it's the solenoid. Re-assembly is the reverse as they say in all the good manuals. The locking button can be a pain in the A*&E to get back on though!

 

Cheers. Hope this helps. <_<

[barcelona]

I took off the trim on the front door of a Xantia a few years ago and remember what a pain the lock was to get back in place. I think I'll give it a go this weekend.

 

Any idea if the rubber hose/conduit stuff joining the car to the car door is easy to get access to?

[Guest Colin Hunter]

Once you get the trim and membrane off you should be able to get to it on the inside of the door and pop the rubber out of the frame. Likewise, if you remove the door seal strips from the door apertures in way of the B pillar you should be able to get that trim panel off and access the wiring etc behind it.

 

Cheers. ;)

[barcelona]

Can't quite get the trim off. Basically the window winder handle is preventing it coming off. Obviously I need to take the winder off but I don't want to bust it. How do I get it off? There appears to be a cover over the spindle bit, but I can't seem to get it off.

 

Managed to have a feel of the wires behind the trim. Everything seems to be ok unfortunately. Will try and see if there's a current going to the locking mechanism once I get the flaming trim off.

[barcelona]

The window winder just pulls off - easy when you know how...

 

Managed to get to the wires via the rubber hosing/conduit that goes from the actual car and then into the rear door. Got to the hosing/conduit by removing the bottom part of the seat belt mechanism at the bottom of the door. There were two sets of wires that had come apart. Almost as if they had been cut. Must be from years of wear and tear from opening and closing the rear door.

 

Will try and fix it the same way I fixed a boot locking/unlocking problem recently. I will use a couple of splice type things bought from Maplins, in order to rejoin the wires.

[Guest Colin Hunter]

Sorry! I forgot about the winder handle! Yes, they just pull off. Some other makes have either a little clip you have to pull out or a pin you push out after pushing back the trim panel. Glad you've got to the bottom of it.

 

Cheers. :)

[barcelona]

Fixed it! The rear door now works from the central locking.

 

The lock button was a bit of a bugger to sort out though...

[Guest Colin Hunter]

Yes! They can be a complete PIG! ;)