Beware EBay Central Locking CUs

[Radar]

I’m making a new topic of this because I dodged a big bullet by pure chance.

I bought a used eBay Central Locking Control Unit. The fuseable link had been repaired with standard solder not low temp solder. I couldn’t tell. It looked like as new condition.

I replaced mine, cleaned the body drains and reinstalled it in the standard location.

Mine flooded again and put power to all the actuators. Frying them all and actually setting fire to one. It was only by pure chance that I went to use the car that I caught it before it set fire to the surrounding cars and house. Maybe corona saved me. Because of the virus, I’m using my fun cars more than the boring cars.

If I knew how to post pics here I would. Will put pics on Facebook zone. Was a very close call.

To hell with the inertia switch. I’ve relocated mine to an unfloodable location.

[minesapint]

viewtopic.php?f=114&t=277018

Try this to learn to post

[DanThe]

Ive removed burned lock actuators from a few cars, usually find them with scotchlocked alarm installations

[BenHar]

That compartment will not flood if you clear the sill drains.

Ben

[Brianmoooore]

That compartment will not flood if you clear the sill drains.

Ben

Totally agree! In most cases, the problem is carelessly applied underbody sealant.

I've warned many times on here of the danger of repairing locking ECU thermal fuses with the wrong solder. Now we have some pics. to back up those warnings! The fuse for the circuit, in the fusebox, will protect against a direct short circuit to earth of the wiring, but it will not protect against an overload of the kind we see here.
Similar results can be achieved if the resettable thermal overload for the electric windows is bypassed.

[Radar]

That compartment will not flood if you clear the sill drains.

Ben

I’ve checked them multiple times, even borrowed a boroscope this last time.

I’ve moved it to beneath the ABS CU now. The inertia switch may not work anymore but it’s better than it burning the house down.

[Brianmoooore]

Was the ECU mounted properly on a triangular metal plate?
Your car is a cab. IIRC., so there's no sunroof drain tubes emptying in the sills, but there must be a major problem with drainage somewhere if water is building up in the sills to a depth enough to cause problems. There are three drainage slots; two at the front and one at the rear, and between them they should easily handle the small amount of water that gets in there, even in the heaviest rain.

[Radar]

Was the ECU mounted properly on a triangular metal plate?
Your car is a cab. IIRC., so there's no sunroof drain tubes emptying in the sills, but there must be a major problem with drainage somewhere if water is building up in the sills to a depth enough to cause problems. There are three drainage slots; two at the front and one at the rear, and between them they should easily handle the small amount of water that gets in there, even in the heaviest rain.

It was on that plate. I’m happy with my relocation solution for now. Next time it’s on a lift I’ll have a really really thorough inspection. As far as I can tell, there’s no reason it should flood, despite the biblical rain on that day. My relocation solution should hopefully put this to bed. I’ve spent a fortune on Central Locking actuators, both new and used, learnt in the process that despite the cost, new is ALWAYS best.

Next task is rebuilding the headlight washers... Soon to be followed by my S14B27 installation and engine bay cleanup.