Jammed Locks Help

Post Mon Jun 17, 2019 12:00 am

Hey zone,

Having some issues with my E30 locks. Was all working fine for a few weeks after I bought the car, however has been playing up over the last few days. Have tried using some dry lock lubricant however I think the issue is electrical:

1. Drivers door won't lock or unlock. The door pin by the window is completely stuck, wont move up or down and stays in the unlocked position. If I manually flick the hinge of the actual lock, to the locked position, the door pin/knob will start moving again. However obviously I cannot then actually shut the door as the hinge is locked shut and it just bangs against the little loop it is supposed to connect to. Any ideas? Thinking actuators... The barrel still operates the central locking, just not the drivers door.

2. Front passenger door locks with central locking but will not unlock. Just gets stuck and I have to manually pull it up for passengers. Any ideas?

Appreciate any help! Don't want to leave it too long as I cannot actually lock the vehicle !

Cheers

Jo

Post Tue Jun 18, 2019 12:02 pm

Hey guys,

Can anyone shed some light on this one? The driver lock is jammed, wont lock or unlock. Problem is intermittent as occasionally it will start working again then break. Cannot move the rod at all, however when you loosen actuator it seems to move, also when you push the latch into locked position the rod does move.

Very confusing..

Appreciate any insight for these symptoms!

Post Tue Jun 18, 2019 2:26 pm

Have you looked at this?

https://www.e30zone.net/e30wiki/index.p ... g_problems

Post Tue Jun 18, 2019 3:18 pm

Steve wrote: ↑
Tue Jun 18, 2019 2:26 pm
Have you looked at this?

https://www.e30zone.net/e30wiki/index.p ... g_problems

Hi Steve,

Thanks, I have read over that a few times, however wasn't sure if it related to mine due to my symptoms?

I did notice when I pulled the door card off there was wet water marks at the bottom of the door inside. Will take a look at the relay and 404 connector if you think it could be that?

Cheers
Jo

Post Tue Jun 25, 2019 10:31 pm

Think you have a seized actuator which wont allow the rods to move. It may occasionally work temporarily all right. Unfortunately these cannot be repaired. After 30 years of locking and unlocking some of them call it a day.

Post Sat Jun 29, 2019 1:20 am

If things are getting stuck it sounds more mechanical than electrical, I would take off the door card and lubricate everything that moves or should move.
The central locking ECU could be at fault, it lives in the cavity by the driver's footwell, which has the drain from the sunshine roof passing through, and if the drain holes in the sill gets blocked water can build up and drown it, which never does electrical devices much good. If lubrication does not work, pull it out (instruction in the wiki) and see if it has tide marks on it, as mine did.