Central Locking help on E30 1990 325i sport

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deepb123
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Location: Essex

Sun Jan 25, 2009 5:21 pm

Hi
Need help trying to resolve my central locking issue.
The drivers lock has been changed at some point and does not lock when I turn the key, it will open. Passenger door locks and opens but no central locking, and fuel cap doesn't lock.

I have to push the lock down manually from the inside to lock the drivers door and when i do this I can hear a motor whir.

Sorry have asked question before but need some guidence to get to the bottom of the problem.
Where should I start?
Any help appreciated.
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Brianmoooore
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Sun Jan 25, 2009 5:26 pm

You start with the forum search function, looking for "red AND black", and my username!
The driver's door problem is a seperate issue, and is caused by wear/lack of lubrication of the mechanism, especially the L shaped piece at the rear of the lock barrel assembly.
With the central locking working properly, this problem will be masked.
deepb123
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Sun Jan 25, 2009 5:29 pm

Thanks Brian. :D
deepb123
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Sun Jan 25, 2009 6:04 pm

Quick question how many red/black wires am i expecting to see 2 or 3?
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Brianmoooore
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Sun Jan 25, 2009 6:07 pm

On a saloon, you're locking for two seperate red/black wires, each going to a seperate pin on the car side of the door socket.
deepb123
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Sun Jan 25, 2009 6:11 pm

Brian
mines a coupe should i see 3? only asking as I did a search and some people have mentioned a 3rd slightly thinner red/black.
Do I need to disconnect the battery?
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Chris36
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Mon Jan 26, 2009 2:09 pm

Had lots of issues with mine - Did the red/black wire thing. No joy. It was the central locking ECU. There is a repair guide on here - basically had a broken wire on the resistor. Soldered it together - and coolio...........all working. Dead chuffed.
HartgeH27
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Mon Jan 26, 2009 2:17 pm

Chris36 wrote:Had lots of issues with mine - Did the red/black wire thing. No joy. It was the central locking ECU. There is a repair guide on here - basically had a broken wire on the resistor. Soldered it together - and coolio...........all working. Dead chuffed.
Brian will correct me if I am wrong but use caution when resoldering the connection on the central locking control unit as the correct solder must be used or it can cause the unit to blow.

:D
Speedtouch
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Sat Feb 07, 2009 3:29 pm

Had to fix mine today, using guidance from this thread http://www.e30zone.net/modules.php?name ... =red+black

I had to join three wires together: the red and red/black from the thick loom going to the door multiplug and also the other red/black from the thin loom (of three or so wires). I didn't disconnect the battery (though in theory you should): when you connect the third red wire to the other two, the central locking relay clicks.

Mine had been intermittent for a few months; looking at the green discolouration of the multiplug when the rubber boot was pulled back revealed all I needed to know about the state of the pins within, so I didn't waste time trying to pull the multiplug out!

It was possible to do this with the multiplug left in situ, just removing the speaker for access.
///M aurice
ECU Upgrade EPROM Chips, £40 posted within the UK. Note these are not Zone chips.
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