Central Locking Won't Work!

dazz25 · 9 Jul 2009 at 13:19

Hi,

I have a ford focus and the central locking has just decided to stop working! When I press the button on the key it locks then unlocks immediately. Everything locks fine if the key is used in any of the doors!

I got in the car and tried to lock it and found out that on the drivers side door the lock doesn't go in like it should do. The passenger lock works but then pops straight back out again when it unlocks.

Has anybody seen this type of problem before or know what could be causing the issue?

Many thanks

Malt_Vinegar · 9 Jul 2009 at 13:21

http://ads.honestjohn.co.ukads.honestjohn.co.uk/forum/post/index.htm?t=62554

quick google brought that up.

Ricochet J · 9 Jul 2009 at 13:37

The Focus locks are made of cheese. I have a problem with mine where by I can lock all four doors by pressing the button on my drivers door. But I can't unlock them by unpressing the button. Only way I can unlock all the doors on the inside is by reaching over to the passenger door and unlocking all of them from there or pressing the unlock button on my key fob. :-/

dazz25 · 9 Jul 2009 at 13:44

Ok...so it seems like it could be the central locking unit/actuator. I'll do a bit more investigation this weekend and see what's happening when I take the door panel off.

dazz25 · 9 Jul 2009 at 14:01

Is the central locking unit and the actuator the same thing or completely different parts?

Ricochet J · 9 Jul 2009 at 14:11

The actuator is the mechanism that sits behind the door card. I guess all four actuators are somehow connected to the central locking unit.

dazz25 · 9 Jul 2009 at 14:13

So is more likely it's the central locking unit that will need replacing and not the actuator?

Ricochet J · 9 Jul 2009 at 14:30

But the actuators are a common problem on Foci and not the central locking unit itself. It'll be cheaper replacing the front two actuators and keeping the back two. The front two act as masters so can lock and unlock other locks. Replace these from a breakers yard or salvage site. They don't cost much. If then, it still doesn't work then you know it's the unit itself.

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/BRAND-NEW-GEN...trkparms=65:12|66:2|39:1|72:1683|293:1|294:50

dazz25 · 9 Jul 2009 at 14:33

Good plan! Thanks for that. I only have a 2 door model so is it worth replacing both front actuators or just the one?

Ricochet J · 9 Jul 2009 at 14:37

Entirely up to you. If they're around £13 a pop then might as well get both done as it's fairly inexpensive.