serious central locking problem!

[scotsgent]

Hi Guys,

Twice in the last week, my wifes Mk 4 Ibiza TDI has locked itself. Both times at home luckily, because the keys have been in the ignition!

This has ocurred when she has been preparing to leave the house and has opened the car and placed the keys in the ignition.

She has then gone back in the house and been distracted for 10 minutes or so. On her return to the car it was locked with the keys in the ignition. Luckily, because she was at home she was able to access the spare keys.

So, is this a fault? Or is it a function of some sort of programming for the central locking anti-theft system?

Any advice would be gratefully received.

Cheers, Terry

 

[Guinness]

Thinking its a fault, mine locks itself if it is opened and the door doesnt get opened for a period of time.

 

[bizzaboy]

Sounds more like a delayed security feature, locking the car after a set time (as the keys were in the ignition/on)...

Anyhow, I'd be more worried about someone walking past and driving the car off - open invitation! What was she doing, warming up the engine?

(I am aware some aftermarket Alarm systems will auto-lock the doors when the ignition is on, after a set time). And the Ibiza's will auto-lock the doors when you reach a certain speed while driving too - 10mph or something.

 

[scotsgent]

I can certainly see the sense in the vehicle self-locking when the keys are not in the ignition. Indeed, I can also see some merit in it self-locking even when the keys are in. BUT if for instance like me you have a private driveway up to the house (only a small one!) and you habitually leave the keys in the ignition (I do this with my Volvo all the time), then being locked out just doesnt seem sensible.

She wasn't warming up the engine (I dont suppose this would happen with the engine running? (or would it!!?). She just put the keys in the ignition, (didnt turn the key), then remembered she had to phone her Mum (or somesuch), 10 minutes later, she returned to the car and she was locked out.

If this IS a legitimate function, then I don't like it. Can anyone confirm that this is indeed a normal process (or if it can be 'turned off) maybe after a visit to a Seat dealer.

Cheers, Terry

 

[bizzaboy]

Perhaps its a case of the car self-locking if left unlocked after a certain period of time, when the doors are closed? The keys being in the ignition might just be a red-herring (co-incidence).

To get a decisive answer, probably best giving your local SEAT dealer a call?
(or I can have a GOOD read through my SEAT Owner Manual when i get home this evening, for anything related)

 

[Ad Lav]

You need a new door catch, mine did this, vag-com noticed fault and got it replaced, fine now!

 

[RichIbizaSport]

I dont think theres anything wrong with your car. Ive put a computer in my ibiza, i spent alot of time messing with the ignition. The car is supposed to lock itself after a certain amount of time.

When the key is inserted into the ingition barrel the car doesnt know this has happend. Only when the key is turned is the ignition "live", when turning the key to turn the engine off the ignition stays live until the key is fully removed from the barrel. So, i assume, if you're going to leaving the key in the barrel and not turning it, the auto-lock feature will continue, only when the ignition is live will it be disabled

 

[Ad Lav]

Mine did it when the door was open and engine on, run a vag-com then see what happens.

If it locks like the above, its buggared.

 

[rashcupra]

does the interior light come on when you open the door??????? if not then it will be your open close sensor in the catch the car thinks you have unlocked the car but not open the door so it self locks! if the interior light does come on when you open the door then its a dealer job for diagnostic testing

 

[FR*Man1984]

sounds to me there is a problem
the car should only relock if the door isn't opened within 60secs of it being unlocked.
I have heard of cars relocking tho even when a door is opened, and per previous thread the ignition needs to be switched on/live not for this to do it.
Also when on the move when the car reaches 8mph the doors will lock (FR/Cupra only, option on other models)
Getting the car booked in ASAP is my advice

 

[Engram]

Yeah, I also agree that something is wrong. As stated by several others; car should ONLY relock if none of the doors are opened.

Use Rashcupra's idea of seeing if the interior light comes on. That way you can eliminate the door switch.

 

[RichIbizaSport]

he didnt say anything about leaving the doors open did he? or am i missing something! with the doors closed, key in the ignition (not on/live) the car will lock. there is nothing wrong with your car. just in future turn the key, so the ignition is live

 

[Engram]

he didnt say anything about leaving the doors open did he? or am i missing something! with the doors closed, key in the ignition (not on/live) the car will lock. there is nothing wrong with your car. just in future turn the key, so the ignition is live

That's wrong.

Once you open a door it disables the auto-relock feature.

 

[jwmurdoch85]

I have a similar problem, my passenger door lock appears to be on its way out. It locks ok from the outside provided you only press the lock button once other wise it unlocks itself!

However it does not activate the interia light where as the drivers side does, and if you lock the doors manualy from inside or wait for the auto lock when driving off it unlocks its self almost instantly! Also if you are loading something via the passeger side the alarm goes off - - very embarasing when your in the middle of a car park!

VAGCOM reports "Locking Module for Central Locking; Front Passenger Side (F221) 27-00- Implausible Signal" so I'd guess the locking unit is knackard and requires replacing.

Local dealer quoted about £30 for a passenger side door lock unit, so I'd consider fitting this my self has any one done this, or know if its easy to do?

Thanks

Jon

 

[andyfras]

if you lock the doors manualy from inside or wait for the auto lock when driving off it unlocks its self almost instantly!

I have exactly the same problem with my driver's door. It was intermittent for while; now it's permanent.

I have heard that damp gets into the locking circuit in the door. This sounds feasible as when mine was intermittent, it always seemed worse when the weather was cold and damp. Another possible cause that I have heard mentioned is a connection, that is inside the rubber gaiter from the door to the body, can get corroded; but I couldn't find it on my mine.

 

[keefy]

As stated above, the door should only auto-lock if NO doors are opened. With my car, if I unlock & then pfaff around before opening the doors, I often get to the car & it has already locked.
If i don't want it to do this (while I am preparing some stuff to put in the boot), I unlock the door, pull the door open, then close it. It has so far never re-locked.

So, you have a problem; get the car to the dealers. It sounds like quite a common problem so they should be able to sort it pretty sharpish.
It is good to know that this fault can occur. I often go mountain biking in remote places & would be screwed if my car locked the keys inside!!

 

[skott101]

This problem is caused by a faulty (worn down) micro-switch on the lock mechanism in the door. Basically the switch stops registering that the door has opened and as a result the auto-lock feature doesn't turn off.

It's a pig of a job to get at, but i managed to replace the microswitch with one from maplin. Cost about £3 and took about 2 hours for the whole job. My car hasn't locked me out and now i have an interior light which works when i open the door.