Central Locking problem on Acclaim VS II

[avickerstaff]

Hey, I was wondering if anyone else has this experience or can point me in the right direction.

I have recently purchased a 2nd hand Acclaim VS II 1997. The central locking was working perfectly for 2 weeks.

This weekend the central locking stopped working. Neither pressing the button on the key or manually pulling up/pushing down the locks on the doors has any effect.

However, when pressing the button on the key or pushing down/pulling up the door locks I can hear a noise that sounds a bit like a gas noise. I am guessing this is the system trying to work but failing. None of the doors respond to the central locking in any way.
The interior light does not turn off when closing the doors now or when locking the car manually.

I have checked all the interior fuses and they appear to be fine.

Does anyone have an idea what the problem could be or resolution?

Thanks

[Brett_jjj]

Id start by removing the door trims and spraying the lock actuators etc with WD 40 or similar.They can get frozen up and sometimes need loosening with a bit of WD spray and some manual manipulation from inside the door to get them moving freely..If everything seems ok and is all free moving.Then Id look at the BCM (Body Control Module).The BCM is located under the dash/steering column, up behind the fuses.This controls a lot of the body systems including the central locking.Id try to borrow a BCM (one thats the same level) from a mate or whoever,and plug it in and see if that fixes it.If it does fix it,and you need to replace yours,then theres a few things you need to know about the BCM.It comes in a few different levels ,LOW,MED and HIGH level BCMs (depending on the equipment level,like calais BCM is different to an executive BCM)and they are mostly not interchangeable.And the BCM also controls the securtiy (immobiliser) ,so you need to get the matching key fob for the ignition key from the car the BCM comes from.Your old key fob will be no good any more.(just swap the plastic fob over onto your key).Also write down the VIN of the vehicle the BCM comes out of.It will help if you ever need to see holden to get a new ignition keyfob programmed if you ever loose your ignition key.Holden use the VIN to get the security code so they can program new keys.If the BCM doesnt match the VIN any more because the BCM has been replaced,the keys security code will be wrong,and thats why you need the other cars VIN.

[hako]

That gas noise you hear when pressing the unlock button would be the BCM recognising the unlock signal and processing it (for want of a better word). Fuse number 7 inside the passenger compartment is the fuse that powers them - it is not unknown for the rear of the fuse holder to melt - not sure, but you may be able to use a mirror to have a look at the back - or use a multimeter or test lamp to check there is power on both sides of the fuse with ignition off. Finally try to remember back to when they failed - were you installing a new head unit or did you have a door trim off etc. Last thought (but it shouldn't affect it) have you tried to deadlock the car via the drivers door lock?
Good Luck and welcome to the forum.

[avickerstaff]

Hi thanks for the advice guys.

I was cleaning the inside of the car at the weekend and next time I went to use the car the central locking was no longer working. The only place I was working on the trim was below the passanger back seat door where the carpet had come loose. I pushed this back under the trim, there is a wire down there, but I would not have thought this would effect the central locking.

I have tried deadlocking the car via the drivers door and this jams the signal from the key so I don't hear the 'gas' noise when pressing the unlock button. When the car is not deadlocked then I hear the noise. If this means that the problem is not the BCM then does anyone know what stops the signal getting to the doors?

I will see if I can look behind the fuses to check if anything has melted.

[avickerstaff]

Checked fuse 7 all seems ok. When removing that fuse and trying the key button or manual locks to trigger the central locking I only hear a click and no 'gas' noise. This returns when placing the fuse back in.

[Brett_jjj]

If something is making a noise in the car when the buttons are pressed on the remote,the key signal and power is getting to the BCM which means the fuses should be ok.Id be looking elsewhere.Also where exactly are these "clicking" and "gas" noises coming from?

[hako]

I love clues and yours is:
"I was cleaning the inside of the car at the weekend and next time I went to use the car the central locking was no longer working. The only place I was working on the trim was below the passanger back seat door where the carpet had come loose. I pushed this back under the trim, there is a wire down there, but I would not have thought this would effect the central locking."

You are going to have to retrace every move you made.......

[PanthaVS]

if it helps... get another BCM... even though it's not coded, and swap it over temporarily... your central locking will still work (by manually pushing down the drivers button) on the other doors if the problem was the BCM.

if the problem STILL persists... at least you know its not the BCM.

Oh, BCM's... without a coded key at the wreckers, i paid $35 at "pick-a-part" wreckers after he said it was $55 and i explained nicely how it didnt have a coded key with it.


Mind you... only reason i did it was i needed a "MID" series bcm. you can use a LOW series to test it.

[Brett_jjj]

Im sure Ive read on here somewhere that different level BCM's have different connectors and arent interchangeable..

[edals]

Im sure Ive read on here somewhere that different level BCM's have different connectors and arent interchangeable..

I Still have not been able to find one for the mrs VR Berlina. Holden have no clue what type it is, its not stated LOW< MID<HI<LUX
Just seems like some bosch special once off lol. I Would swap a BCM like for like, who knows whats different and how its controlled.

[Brett_jjj]

I Still have not been able to find one for the mrs VR Berlina. Holden have no clue what type it is, its not stated LOW< MID<HI<LUX
Just seems like some bosch special once off lol. I Would swap a BCM like for like, who knows whats different and how its controlled.

If holden plug their Tech 1 scantool into your car.It can show what type and level the BCM is.

[avickerstaff]

I love clues and yours is:
"I was cleaning the inside of the car at the weekend and next time I went to use the car the central locking was no longer working. The only place I was working on the trim was below the passanger back seat door where the carpet had come loose. I pushed this back under the trim, there is a wire down there, but I would not have thought this would effect the central locking."

You are going to have to retrace every move you made.......

Thanks Haku,
I was thinking about this and wondering how it could affect the central locking and also why the interior light was not turning off and also what else I have done to the car recently.

Well I did add the interior globe approx a week ago, the central locking and lighting was working fine for a for a few days until cleaning the car. The central locking stopped working and the interior light then would not turn off when driving.

So I pulled the interior illumination fuse as the interior globe was too hot to remove after driving for an hour, then yesterday replaced one of the front headlights, tried the central locking again and it was working. Replaced the interior illumination fuse locked/unlocked the doors a few times and then the central locking stopped working. Removed the fuse, central locking still not working..

Today drove at lunch to buy some coolant as noticed it was getting low and central locking started working again, haven't replaced interior illumination fuse yet and will see if central locking keeps working for a while or not..

Phew, what is going on here?? Some cross wire somewhere?

[James39]

I love clues and yours is:
"I was cleaning the inside of the car at the weekend and next time I went to use the car the central locking was no longer working. The only place I was working on the trim was below the passanger back seat door where the carpet had come loose. I pushed this back under the trim, there is a wire down there, but I would not have thought this would effect the central locking."

You are going to have to retrace every move you made.......

That tells me I should be checking the wires under the trim I was messing with lol

[hako]

When cleaning the inside of the car and you pushed a wire under the trim, that wire may be one going to either the central locking solenoid on the nearest door OR the nearest courtesy light door switch. Possibly this wire has either broken internally or earthed out somewhere (near where you pushed it) and also possibly this is giving the BCM the message that either a door is open (courtesy light switch) or the lock solenoid is giving the signal that it's been manually lifted requesting the BCM to open the other door lock solenoids....and confusing it and/or it can only do one thing at a time and ignores your key fob request to lock/unlock. That's all conjecture, but probably somewhere near the truth.
I'd also make sure you have the exact correct bulb in the courtesy switch and it's not earthing out in the switch.

[avickerstaff]

Ok, so checked under the trim where I tucked in the carpet whilst cleaning the car and there was no cable, turns out it was just the rolled carpet I assumed had a cable under it. Sorry for the mislead.

Central locking has stopped working again, interior illum fuse still unplugged so think that can be crossed off the list. I will see if I can source another BCM, but in the meantime any other suggestions?

Thanks

[wamboin23]

hako is definatley on to something there. if the interior light is staying on all the time (and the manual override is turned off), chances are there is a door switch wire shorted to ground somewhere, which is telling the BCM to not operate the central locking.

[James39]

Do all the doors lock and unlock when you use the key on the drivers door? By the way once you dead lock the door the central locking will not fucntion.

[edals]

If holden plug their Tech 1 scantool into your car.It can show what type and level the BCM is.

Yep and charge me $120 todo it lol.
I just gave them part numbers and nothing showed in there system.
Same with the holden tech on here, he only said it was a Hi because the berlina had the Intermittent wiper adjustment. I Bought a VR Hi BCM but plugs were totally different.

[greenacc]

If Hako likes clues I like puzzles. Try unscrewing the light switches in all the door jams and pull them out far enough to check for broken wires. Do the same for the interior light just to be sure and after that well, um, hopefully hopefully you won't have to pull all your trims off...
Has your car been out in the rain lately ? the only time my VS had trouble with the central locking was in the rain.

[hako]

Try disconnecting the battery for 30 secs and see if this resets the BCM - this sometimes works on 'strange' problems. If you still have the factory Eurovox wireless installed, make sure you have the security code for it.

[avickerstaff]

Do all the doors lock and unlock when you use the key on the drivers door? By the way once you dead lock the door the central locking will not fucntion.

Hi James, Nope - when the central locking doesn't work with the fob it also doesn't work when using the key in the drivers door, nor when using the door locks on each door inside the car, seems something is blocking it..

Try disconnecting the battery for 30 secs and see if this resets the BCM - this sometimes works on 'strange' problems. If you still have the factory Eurovox wireless installed, make sure you have the security code for it.

Thanks Hako, I will try this first thing tomorrow - doesn't have original stereo unit.

[avickerstaff]

If Hako likes clues I like puzzles. Try unscrewing the light switches in all the door jams and pull them out far enough to check for broken wires. Do the same for the interior light just to be sure and after that well, um, hopefully hopefully you won't have to pull all your trims off...
Has your car been out in the rain lately ? the only time my VS had trouble with the central locking was in the rain.

Hi greenacc, I'm happy to take things apart but not sure what I'm looking for to find the light switches in the door jams, do you know where there is a picture for reference? Cheers

[Brett_jjj]

Just look around near the door hinges in the door jamb for the switches.They are black and made of plastic and the little knob on them pushes in when the doors shut onto them, which then switches the interior lights off..Theres a screw that holds the switch in place.Just undo it and the switch will pull out ,which gives you access to the wiring behind them.

[avickerstaff]

Ok, so I checked all the door switches. When the door is closed it opens the switch breaking the circuit. These all looked ok.

Next I sourced a spare BCM module, this can also be ruled out as it did the same as my current module. It sounds like something is happening when pressing the button on the keyfob or unlocking a door manually, but the central locking still does not work.

Also tried disconnecting the battery with the key in the ignition and on and without the key in for a few minutes, still failing.

[tezza]

Have you pulled off a door trim to see what is happening and that? All plugs in the door looms and to the door actuator plugged in firmly?
I would start at the BCM with a test light to see if the central locking is sending the signal to the BCM output and then follow it to the door wiring harness to check that works and then finally to the actuator plug in the door.