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Drivers door handle assembly microswitch

Discussion in 'VT - VX Holden Commodore (1997 - 2002)' started by JohnW, Feb 26, 2020 at 10:55 AM.

  1. Feb 26, 2020 at 10:55 AM #1
    JohnW

    JohnW Member

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    In changing the front door lock and actuator assembly today (fiddly job reconnecting the rods but easy enough otherwise) I discovered a three wire electrical connector laying in the bottom of the door. Pretty quickly identified where it had come from, and that is a socket on the back of the external door handle assembly. The workshop manual calls it a "micro-switch connector". It couldn't have just fallen out, so someone at some time has disconnected it.

    What does it do? I've got a copy of the genuine VT service manual and it says how to test it in the BCM section. But no where can I find what it actually does.

    The remote locking was always a bit flakey working sometimes then stopping. Never figured out a consistent pattern. However since fitting the new actuator (genuine Holden) and reconnecting the external door handle micro-switch it hasn't worked at all.

    Anyone any ideas what this external door handle microswitch does, and why someone may have disconnected it?

    Thanks,
     
    JohnW, Feb 26, 2020 at 10:55 AM
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  2. Feb 26, 2020 at 11:58 AM #2
    Trevor loves holden.

    Trevor loves holden. Well-Known Member

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    Trevor loves holden., Feb 26, 2020 at 11:58 AM
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  3. Feb 26, 2020 at 9:07 PM #3
    JohnW

    JohnW Member

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    JohnW, Feb 26, 2020 at 9:07 PM
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  4. Feb 26, 2020 at 9:56 PM #4
    TOLDOR

    TOLDOR New Member

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    i believe it is for the deadlock
     
    TOLDOR, Feb 26, 2020 at 9:56 PM
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  5. Feb 26, 2020 at 10:33 PM #5
    Trevor loves holden.

    Trevor loves holden. Well-Known Member

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    The master solenoids have microswitches in them that tell the central locking control box when a door is unlocked or locked, and the control box supplies the appropriate polarity voltage to the other door motors to lock or unlock them.

    Your problem could be -

    Shagged microswitches in the master solenoids - easy fix if you can get them apart, go to Jaycar or tricky dicky and get some contact cleaner and spray it all over the switches and lock/unlock the solenoid heaps of times to allow the cleaner to do its job

    Dry joints in either the masters or the control box.

    Dodgy wiring between the masters and the control box

    Sorry only applies to the actuator my bad, but may help others in future so I leave it up.

    Intermittent 12v supply or ground to the control box.
     
    Last edited: Feb 27, 2020 at 2:55 PM
    Trevor loves holden., Feb 26, 2020 at 10:33 PM
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  6. Feb 27, 2020 at 7:51 AM #6
    JohnW

    JohnW Member

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    That would make sense, it was about the only thing I thought it might be.
     
    JohnW, Feb 27, 2020 at 7:51 AM
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  7. Feb 27, 2020 at 2:47 PM #7
    Fu Manchu

    Fu Manchu Well-Known Member

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    Does it look like (7)?
    If so, it is part of the external door handle and not part of the actuator.
    The actuator assembly is a common job to do and as you've found, it's easy enough.

    The Microswitch is part of the external door handle assembly and is why for some, when the car gets wet or heavy rain occurs, the door only partly unlocks. Water gets into the microswitch. Screen Shot 2020-02-27 at 12.14.56 pm.png
     
    Fu Manchu, Feb 27, 2020 at 2:47 PM
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  8. Feb 27, 2020 at 2:50 PM #8
    Trevor loves holden.

    Trevor loves holden. Well-Known Member

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    Yeah because that makes since not, hence the reason its been unplugged to allow the door to open as the microswitch is stopping the signal to the bcm to know if its open or not, by removing the harness it tricks the system hence the reason it doesn't open once u plug it in.
    Oh hang on just had another read yes its the dead lock switch. Same thing applies if plugged in and the switch is stuck in the dead lock position then that's preventing the doors from unlocking as its telling the bcm not to open, sorry my bad the other switchers are in the actuator not behind the lock. Oh it might not be the microswitch it self could be a wire between the door and kick panel, they always the first thing to check if something goes wrong in the door, open and closing causes breakage.
     
    Last edited: Feb 27, 2020 at 2:58 PM
    Trevor loves holden., Feb 27, 2020 at 2:50 PM
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  9. Feb 27, 2020 at 2:56 PM #9
    Trevor loves holden.

    Trevor loves holden. Well-Known Member

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    Nice diagram I couldn't find one..
     
    Trevor loves holden., Feb 27, 2020 at 2:56 PM
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  10. Feb 27, 2020 at 4:00 PM #10
    Fu Manchu

    Fu Manchu Well-Known Member

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    That's because you can't google it.
     
    Fu Manchu, Feb 27, 2020 at 4:00 PM
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  11. Feb 27, 2020 at 4:46 PM #11
    Trevor loves holden.

    Trevor loves holden. Well-Known Member

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    Isn't that what I said :D:rolleyes:
     
    Trevor loves holden., Feb 27, 2020 at 4:46 PM
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  12. Feb 27, 2020 at 5:23 PM #12
    JohnW

    JohnW Member

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    Yes, its was the wire and plug that went 6/7 that was hanging in the bottom of the door. It would seem that someone had definitely removed the door trim at sometime, as the bracket in the center of the door that the trim slips into was missing.

    Since reconnecting the wire, as I use the keys to open the door 99% of the time, it certainly has changed the operation. Out of habit I often turn the key to the counter-clockwise like a house door to unlock the car (where it unlocks turns clockwise). I'm sure previously nothing happened. Now it initiates a response which I'm assuming is the deadlock.
     
    JohnW, Feb 27, 2020 at 5:23 PM
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