Gs300 Mk1 Central Locking Problem

Pewe · May 27, 2013

My 94 GS300 has developed a central locking problem as follows.

Using either the remote or the key, when locking the door all door locks activate and lock BUT then unlock again. They then lock/unlock twice more finishing with the drivers door unlocked, but all other doors locked.

Before I go spending time stripping door panels, or a vast sum of cash with the local vehicle electrical shop, does anyone have any experience of this problem, or ideas where to start looking to identify it.

Thanks.

TigerFish · May 27, 2013

It normally does this when it thinks something is open. Confirm all doors/boot/bonnet are shut ok.

Pewe · May 27, 2013

Thanks Tigerfish.

All other doors/boot/bonnet re closed.

I had the car laid up for 2 years, and never thought to check the locking after putting it back on the road a couple of weeks ago, and only noticed the 'triple beeps' yesterday which resulted in my checking it.

tameracingdriver · May 27, 2013

Sounds like possibly a sticky lock solenoid?

Pewe · May 27, 2013

Sounds like possibly a sticky lock solenoid?

Hmmm - but which one I wonder.

When I lock the drivers door all locks activate - only the drivers one opens again - so maybe I have a look at that one first!!

Rob-Halifax · May 29, 2013

I have completely no experience of this problem but, if I had to look for a potential place to start, I would go with one of the least used doors, probably the back ones.

Or, how about even a faulty boot solenoid?

Like I said, I don't have experience but that's where I would start.

Good luck

Pewe · May 29, 2013

Thanks for the input Rob.

I thought about the drivers door first as that is the only one that does not lock.

BUT I didn't think the boot was on the locking circuit, and you mentioning that raises another thought.
When I opened the boot after 2 years of laying up there was a mouse nest in there - so I wonder if they have chewed through a cable.

I'll investigate further when the car comes back from the paint shop this weekend.

Thanks for the thought.

steve2006 · May 29, 2013

Not sure if the GS is the same but on the LS the courtesy light switches are a common cause for many problems, if they are physical switches push and hold each one in and wait and see if the interior lights go out.

What happens is the doors initially lock but because one of the switches is faulty the system then thinks a door is still open and so unlocks the doors again.

Pewe · May 29, 2013

I thought about that Steve.

My wife had a locking problem on her Rover. The auto-electrical centre could not identify the problem and wanted it in for a day (or more) to test.

She brought it home (having booked it in for the following week) and when I went out in it that evening I noticed the interior light did not come on when I opened the drivers door. Thinking it was a faulty switch I took it off the door pillar to find the cable disconnected. I fixed it back on and the central locking worked again and has been OK since.

I checked the interior light on the Lexus and all the door lights work OK - but I never checked the boot lock/light/switch/solenoid - so maybe that's where the problem is.

Thanks for the thought.

Pewe · June 16, 2013

Got the car back from the body shop Friday (they did a superb eye matching job and got the colour spot-on) and had another look at the locking.

With the door open I turned the key and released it again, doors locked but drivers door unlocked again.

I tried again, but this time held the key turned to the lock position for about a minute before releasing it. Suddenly the locking started working as normal - so all sorted with no work or expense.