Intermittent door locking problem

[Lovetodrive2000]

Been having problems for quite a while now.

Seems like 75% of the time that I try to lock my car, the doors will not lock and the alarm does not set. If I walk around the car pushing the lock button on the remote, sometimes it will end up locking and set the alarm, sometimes not.

Same thing with the truck lock... sometime it works, sometimes not....

Have put in new batteries in the remote, reprogrammed it, pulled the fuse for the remote and replaced... still does the same.

Weather doesn't matter..... car can be in the garage and it happens... at the store.... cold/hot, dry/wet no difference.

If I do geet it to lock, sometimes I will have to walk around the car (might work standing in one spot?) pushing the unlock button repeatedly to get the car to unlock.

Thoughts would be greatly appreciated!

[repiv]

Do you have the OEM add-on alarm system or aftermarket? It seems to me that you may have a wiring fault in the alarm system, perhaps a short or a ground connection that has gone bad or has corroded. The addition of an alarm system infiltrates the keyless remote entry system. If the installation of the alarm was done sloppily, then malfunctions can happen down the road. It may be necessary to back track all the wiring for the alarm.

[Scooterboy]

Mine acts the same way. I have an OEM alarm system. The dealer replaced the receiving unit but that didn't help. They replaced the switch in the ignition slot and didn't help. If you are not close to the receiving unit it won't work most of the time. I have just given up getting it fixed. I will replace the OEM with a better system this winter.

[Lovetodrive2000]

The alarm is the Honda OEM installed at the dealership when I purchased the car in 2000 new....

Started doing it about 4 years ago... been living with it since then... Figured it was about time to get the dang thing fixed...

Seemed like for a while, when I pulled the under dash fuse for the keyless entry and put it back in, that it would work better for a while...

[Lovetodrive2000]

Repiv...

Where would you suggest to start looking, following wires, etc......

This sounds like this is not going to be fun! :(

Think I'll change the oil instead tonight! :)

[repiv]

Repiv...

Where would you suggest to start looking, following wires, etc......

This sounds like this is not going to be fun! :(

Think I'll change the oil instead tonight! :)

I really feel for you. This sort of electrical/electronic glitch is always a very frustrating thing to tract down. You can always begin by going to the alarm unit and tracing all the wires to the other end where they are attached and separating and re-connecting each connection. Start with the ground wire (or wires if there are more than one). Those are usually the culprits. Undo them and either redo the ground connections or find a new ground where there is no paint around the grounding point. This is what the installer of the system should do but in most cases, it's just far easier for them to replace modules with new ones. In many cases, this won't help either, since replacing the unit doesn't involve doing anything with the ground and other wiring connections.

I just spent about a week myself trying to track down an issue with my speed compensator (YB and YJ). After the ECU shut the whole engine down due to some stupid thing I did, I discovered it was a deteriorated ground connection all along. I could have saved myself a week of frustration and fussing had I gone to the ground immediately.

[Lovetodrive2000]

OK... thanks for pointing me in a direction.... time to get out the manual... find the alarm unit and tracing wires....

Hmmm... or should I go get that root canal done?

Tough decision, leaning towards the root canal! :)

[repiv]

A root canal might be less hassle.

[Lovetodrive2000]

Question before I start to try and trace the alarm system wires....

Is it possible for me to disconnect/disable/turn off the alarm system and just see if the door locks will work all the time?

Or since they may use some of the same wiring, is this not possible?

[desmo4]

In the electrical troubleshooting manual it shows how the alarm is connected. There are + & - connections to the "keyless door lock control I would check there first.

Jonathan

[repiv]

Question before I start to try and trace the alarm system wires....

Is it possible for me to disconnect/disable/turn off the alarm system and just see if the door locks will work all the time?

Or since they may use some of the same wiring, is this not possible?

Go here and look at the installation instructions for your year of car. From that, you should be able to "reverse engineer" the install.

http://www.handa-accessories.com/s2000-04.html

[Lovetodrive2000]

Thanks, just printed it... will look at it tonight....

Go here and look at the installation instructions for your year of car. From that, you should be able to "reverse engineer" the install.

http://www.handa-accessories.com/s2000-04.html

[SXY_S2K]

My car does the same dang thing (it's an '03, completely stock alarm system) Good Luck and let me know how it goes!

[griffon]

Been having problems for quite a while now.

Seems like 75% of the time that I try to lock my car, the doors will not lock and the alarm does not set. If I walk around the car pushing the lock button on the remote, sometimes it will end up locking and set the alarm, sometimes not.

Same thing with the truck lock... sometime it works, sometimes not....

Have put in new batteries in the remote, reprogrammed it, pulled the fuse for the remote and replaced... still does the same.

Weather doesn't matter..... car can be in the garage and it happens... at the store.... cold/hot, dry/wet no difference.

If I do geet it to lock, sometimes I will have to walk around the car (might work standing in one spot?) pushing the unlock button repeatedly to get the car to unlock.

Thoughts would be greatly appreciated!

Your car isn't, by chance, named Christine?:rolleyes:

[Lovetodrive2000]

Hahahaha.... nope, don't think so at least... but then it does start by itself at times.... j/k'g

Your car isn't, by chance, named Christine?:rolleyes:

[joannehaws]

Is this the sort of problem you are having? http://forums.s2kca.com/showthread.php?t=10421 (This was a discussion last year.) I finally did get mine fixed, but it took rekeying it.

[Lovetodrive2000]

Welll.... not really I don't think.....

I can try to lock the car 1-10 times and it may or may not work.... seems like if I push the remotes button enough, it finally will lock (90% of the time). Then I may go thru the same thing to get it to unlock...

That is why it is soooo frustrating.... its not like one time I drive the car it works and the next time it won't... this is happening during one time of trying to get the car to lock/unlock..

Moved the antenna for the remote up between the seats a little... and it seems to be working more now....

[SheDrivesIt]

Your car isn't, by chance, named Christine?:rolleyes:

I seem to recall that Mike's car's name may be Bambi. He mentioned something about taking Bambi for a few hot laps around the block and then he thought he might be a buyer.

[Lovetodrive2000]

Hahahaha...nah... Bambi was going to be my passenger, after I dumped Kathy! :)

We still laugh about that one... now that we are married (Kathy and I, not Bambi and I)!!!

I seem to recall that Mike's car's name may be Bambi. He mentioned something about taking Bambi for a few hot laps around the block and then he thought he might be a buyer.

[Lovetodrive2000]

Update.....

Didn't start to trace the wiring, but relocated the control unit antenna so that it sticks up a little between the seat and center console. Installation instructions show the antenna being parallel to the front of the control unit, and tied into place. Mine is not attached to anything but the control unit.

Wonder if it got bent into a position that cut down its reception?

Now it is working 85-90% of the time.

Will play with it again this evening and see if it is still working. May actually try to attach it like the installation instructions, but if it is working... may just leave it alone! :)

[repiv]

Update.....

Didn't start to trace the wiring, but relocated the control unit antenna so that it sticks up a little between the seat and center console. Installation instructions show the antenna being parallel to the front of the control unit, and tied into place. Mine is not attached to anything but the control unit.

Wonder if it got bent into a position that cut down its reception?

Now it is working 85-90% of the time.

Will play with it again this evening and see if it is still working. May actually try to attach it like the installation instructions, but if it is working... may just leave it alone! :)

Since it's not tied in place, perhaps it's not even in the proper orientation. Maybe it was yanked at one time and it's not solidly connected and by playing with it, you've caused it to make better contact. Also, if it's a reception problem, the antenna might be getting interference from some other electronic wiring nearby.

[Lovetodrive2000]

Possibly I may have caused it by stuffing a bottle of water or hat under the seat????? But since it is working, maybe I'll just leave it alone.... (I know, should not have bottled water under the seat as it could roll up and get under the brake pedal! I don't put it there anymore once I thought about it!!)

Only added wiring is under the center console going to the rear speakers. Ipod and its FM transmitter isn't in that car that often... so it shouldn't be an issue....

Maybe I'll try to look under the seat and see if the antenna looks damaged or frayed where it connects to the control unit.

Since the locks are working, might be time now to get some button plugs or whatever they are called!!!

Since it's not tied in place, perhaps it's not even in the proper orientation. Maybe it was yanked at one time and it's not solidly connected and by playing with it, you've caused it to make better contact. Also, if it's a reception problem, the antenna might be getting interference from some other electronic wiring nearby.

[Lovetodrive2000]

I'll be a son of a b*tch!!!!

Dang thing was acting up again last night at the store....

Took me 10-15 pushes on the remotes lock button to get it to lock... and 5-10 to get it to unlock when I came back out....

Repiv.... does this still sound like s wiring issue? If the car has not been moved, or doors opened/shut... to have this problem?

If nothing has moved, why would a wiring issue be the culprit?

I'm getting frustrated by this blasted thing.. :(

[repiv]

A bad ground (or any other wiring connection for that matter) will play havoc with such things. They can come and go, be dependent upon humidity, vibration and oxidation. I'd check the ground connection first. They are the first to act up if not properly done in the first place.

[Lovetodrive2000]

Was out tinkering around with it today.... and no luck with anything....

What seems weird is that i can unlock/lock the car.... and 30 seconds later not be able to lock/unlock it... then 30 seconds later after walking around the car... it will work or not work again.... No movement to the car, no doors open....

Dang thing must be possessed like someone said! :(



A bad ground (or any other wiring connection for that matter) will play havoc with such things. They can come and go, be dependent upon humidity, vibration and oxidation. I'd check the ground connection first. They are the first to act up if not properly done in the first place.

[repiv]

You may have to perform an exorcism.

[SheDrivesIt]

Hey Mike (Lovetodrive2000 for those who don't know him):
Take a look at this thread "over there". It may help
http://www.s2ki.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=520811

[Looter]

:eek: WOW....That's a great find Mark.....:thumbup: Hey Mike (Lovetodrive2000 for those who don't know him):
Take a look at this thread "over there". It may help
http://www.s2ki.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=520811

[Lovetodrive2000]

Thanks Mark... I actually asked Honda today (again) if they had ran into this... of course, the answer was NO! :(

I'm going to give it a shot... hopefully tomorrow.... or Sunday... or Monday..... maybe even tonight....

Nah... not tonight... family here..... ok... tomorrow.... well.. heading to the lake with the sea doo's....

Ok Sunday... well.. maybe not... hitting the Go Kart place in New Castle...

Ok Monday.... that just might work...

But then... if i get up early tomorrow... i might be able to get it done...

Now where are those instructions on seat removal?

Oh yea... in the Honda manual!@!! :)

[Lovetodrive2000]

Or... i might just try that exorcism!!!!

[Lovetodrive2000]

Well... I'll be a SOB!!!

It works!!!

Took the easy way out since I knew the antenna would reach past the front of the seat....

Just added a 36" pice of wire.... with a wire nut.... and the dang thing is working every time.....

Mark.... I owe you a large beer.... make that 2 large beers!!!!

Don't understand why this would work.... but it did!!!

[SheDrivesIt]

No problem, Mike. That's my job. It's what I do. Bourbon will be fine.

[Lovetodrive2000]

You got it..... couple of Makers wil be provided!! Happily!!

No problem, Mike. That's my job. It's what I do. Bourbon will be fine.

[Lovetodrive2000]

OK..... everything I had tried didn't work for more than a week or two...

Hope I'm not jinxing myself here!!! :)

Been a bit since I tried to fix this problem....

Finally pulled the panel that covers the keyless entry thingmajigs (technical term!) by the left foot....

Disconnected all the remote keyless wires from the junction boxes/connectors.... plugged them back in...

And..... its been working for 3+ weeks now...

All I can figure is that something wasn't making good contact! :(

Hope it keeps working..... nice to be able to lock the car and think it will open when you push the unlock button!!! :)