Central Locking Problems

Hi, I just bought my 2011 C3 on Sunday and I love everything about it bar the central locking, it makes no sense!

When I lock the doors with the keys, all the doors lock except the drivers door, it simply won't lock with the key at all but I've also noticed that on occasion when the drivers door is locked all the passenger doors are open It makes no sense at all. I can lock all the doors turning the key in the lock but when you're wrestling with two dogs it's not that easy.

Am I missing something obvious here?

HELP!

Lisabulbs wrote: ↑Tue Apr 16, 2019 12:17 pm Hi, I just bought my 2011 C3 on Sunday and I love everything about it bar the central locking, it makes no sense!

When I lock the doors with the keys, all the doors lock except the drivers door, it simply won't lock with the key at all but I've also noticed that on occasion when the drivers door is locked all the passenger doors are open It makes no sense at all. I can lock all the doors turning the key in the lock but when you're wrestling with two dogs it's not that easy.

Am I missing something obvious here?

HELP!

Hello Lisabulbs

Think of the C3 central locking like this and it all becomes clear

The C3 is a remote control central locking car.

The key is only to be used on occasion when remote central locking doesn't function (very rare, like a flat battery).


The only problem with this system is to ensure the locks get an occasional lubrication with graphite lock lube because they can get seized from non use over the years. If you keep using the key in the lock, the lock will eventually break.

Hi, sorry, I don't think i made myself very clear. When I try to lock the doors with the remote control, all the doors lock except the drivers door, it simply won't lock with the remote at all but I've also noticed that on occasion when the drivers door is locked all the passenger doors are open It makes no sense at all. The only way I can ensure all the doors are locked is by physically using the key, I hope this makes more sense? Thanks

Lisabulbs wrote: ↑Tue Apr 16, 2019 12:48 pm I hope this makes more sense?

Yes, sorry. I thought you were trying to lock with the key.

For remote locking, all doors (including the tailgate/boot) lock and unlock together.

If this is not happening to yours, then there is a fault

Can the car go back to the dealer?

This was an Ebay Purchase so no.

Lisabulbs wrote: ↑Tue Apr 16, 2019 4:00 pm This was an Ebay Purchase so no.

The central locking is complicated to diagnose because it is computer controlled my the BSI.

There is no 'quick fix' for this, probably why it went on to ebay

Safe to say by there being no "quick fix" that it will be an expensive fix? That's very disappointing to hear, I can lock the car using the key manually but it's a pain

It will take some testing or diagnosis and the is time costs money. Only after that will you know what to change and then you can find the cost of the parts.

There are several main players in the central locking and because some of it works you can narrow it down a bit and save some time messing with the fobs.

It will come down to a wiring/connector fault, a door solenoid fault or a bad BSI.

Did you want to get stuck into changing parts? Diagnosing the locking with lexia or trading it in for a working one?


My advice on buying any car is to test everything. Locks, brakes, lights, the radio, air conditioning, dashboard warning lights, the whole car.

No point buying someone else's problems, there are plenty of working Citroen C3 models out there looking for new owners.