Something's Fishy With The Boot Lid!

[Taliska]

Hi all,

 

Seems that something's dodgy somewhere...

 

When I unlock the car with the remote central locking on the key, I can open the boot lid. I can then put the weekly shop in the boot, but halfway through loading it in, the car locks itself again. If I try really hard, I can set the alarm off too! :(

 

I've noticed that the lights just inside the boot don't light up either when I open the boot, but they will come on when I open a passenger door.

 

Okay so something's bust, but what?

 

Thanks,

 

Taliska

[shefki]

I think it's a VW quirk that has got into the Galaxy.

 

My mates Golf does it. Unlock the car BUT don't open any of the 4 doos and after a minute or so the car re-locks.

 

Not a spook.. just a German thinking and putting into practice mad ideas.

[Guest vr6galaxy]

If the interior lights are not operating when you open the rear hatch then it could be that the curtesy light/central locking system is not see the hatch as open? it could be the micro switch on the locking mech has failed or one of the wires in the loom failed?

[seatkid]

Your galaxy central locking has been programmed to enable the SWMBO overload sensor. This detects when she has exceeded her shopping budget.....

 

 

or it could be the courtesy light switch/wires for the boot lid which tells the CLU that its open and disables the auto relock. You can prevent auto relock when you open any of the doors for a moment...

[Taliska]

Hummm...

 

Just popped out to see if the dashboard would say whether the tailgate was open or not.

 

Well it did, and after a quick test everything is working just fine, for now...

 

Funny, but I had the same anomaly on my old Audi in its latter years.

 

Is the microswitch right inside the locking mechanism(s)?

 

Thanks,

 

Taliska

[Guest vr6galaxy]

IIRC the micro switch that operates the interior lights in the hatch is a seperate item, they occassionally appear on Ebay they are used across the VW range in rear hatches

[seatkid]

why not warranty job?

[delboyt]

hi seatkid

the guy want's a bit of help &

obviously want's to get familiar with thing's as

his car will not always be under warranty

it's fine to keep telling him (why not under warranty)

but that's not always the answer as most of the mech ar muppet's

as most of us have found out to our cost in the past.

 

best to see for yourself to atleats try before using warranty

option

i'm sure you would agree ?

[Masked Marauder]

Just to clear the re-locking issue.

 

Thatcham 1 alarms MUST re-lock the doors if a door is not opened within 30 seconds of the door being unlocked by remote control. Disabling this feature could void your insurance if the car got nicked and they found out.

 

I locked my keys in a car once doing just this, unlocked the door, dropped the keys on the seat, shut the door. The door switch had not worked and detected the door had opened and the car promptly re-locked it's self. :( Of couse I can laugh about it now, but now until I sit in the car, the keys stay with me...

[Taliska]

Hi,

 

The car is still under warranty, but it'd be nice give Ford a clue as to what is wrong with it. There are folk here that are more helpful and knowledgeable about the Galaxy than Ford mechanics. I know who I'd rather trust.

 

It would appear to be an intermittent fault and that's painful if I need Ford to fix it - it'll be just my luck that it is working properly the day that it goes in for servicing.

 

If the part breaks once, then I guess it'll go again in the future and I'll need to fix it myself.

 

If I can fiddle with the switch now (wherever it may be), then maybe I can check it out with a multimeter and positively identify it as the dodgy bit - then tell Ford what needs replacing.

 

Just need to write the list down of bits to get fixed under warranty...

 

Taliska

[Ogben Schmutzel]

Hi All,

 

Dunno whether this will help or not but I have a similar problem with my Alhambra except the other way round!! By that I mean that the car 'thinks' the tailgate is open when it is not. By carefully but firmly closing the tailgate (rather than slamming it) I don't get the problem.

 

I have been wondering if it is possible to manually test the micro switches with the tailgate open?

 

As far as Taliska is concerned would a liberal spray of WD40 on the slidy things each side of the boot lid help?

 

Regards.

Oggy.

[ALARM MAN]

Just to clear the re-locking issue.

 

Thatcham 1 alarms MUST re-lock the doors if a door is not opened within 30 seconds of the door being unlocked by remote control. Disabling this feature could void your insurance if the car got nicked and they found out.

 

I locked my keys in a car once doing just this, unlocked the door, dropped the keys on the seat, shut the door. The door switch had not worked and detected the door had opened and the car promptly re-locked it's self. :angry: Of couse I can laugh about it now, but now until I sit in the car, the keys stay with me...

Sorry to burst a bubble here.

 

Thatcham requirements are that the immobilisors cut in 30" after disarming the alarm.

the relocking is an added feature not a Thatcham requirement Toad is set at 90" and can be switched off as per customers preference.

 

This would not work on the Galaxy with an aftermarket alarm as this has interior light illumination on disarm so the alarm would presume the door was open

 

Factory auto locking is different as i detects every door individually and as for the boot light not coming on the it will relock as it has not seen it open.

 

Checking of the switches in the boot lock and wiring through the rubbers would be most advantages

so as a total lockout with keys in boot will not happen

 

Ian

[seatkid]

hi seatkid

the guy want's a bit of help &

obviously want's to get familiar with thing's as

his car will not always be under warranty

it's fine to keep telling him (why not under warranty)

but that's not always the answer as most of the mech ar muppet's

as most of us have found out to our cost in the past.

 

best to see for yourself to atleats try before using warranty

option

i'm sure you would agree ?

Dellboyt :angry:

 

If you read the thread,:) I gave an answer (i.e. agreed with VR6galaxy). It is either the lid switch (faulty or adjustment is out) or the tail gate wiring thereto (which as regular readers will be aware is a common problem). The switch is located next to the tailgate lock motor, and you need to remove the tailgate interior trim to gain access to it or to adjust it. I don't see the point in anyone wanting to delve any further if the car is still under warranty. What else is there to say?.... :)

[Taliska]

Dear SeatKid,

 

I don't see the point in anyone wanting to delve any further if the car is still under warranty. What else is there to say?.... 

 

For one very good reason, as borne out today, as I said a while ago: :o

 

The car is still under warranty, but it'd be nice give Ford a clue as to what is wrong with it. There are folk here that are more helpful and knowledgeable about the Galaxy than Ford mechanics. I know who I'd rather trust.

:o

 

The only comment I will repeat from today's debacle is

if it is a fault, we can't fix it!

:o

 

Now where exactly is that microswitch, please - some mechanics don't know and neither do they know how it's damned well meant to work either! :o

 

GGGGGGGGRRRRRRRRRRRR!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

Taliska

[steve67car]

its on the back of the lock :o

remove the tail gate panel and hey presto there the sucker will be

mine does the same but if the door is opened it dont do it

so throw kids in first and the load shopping

two probs sorted no auto lock and no more mum can i have that now :o

[Taliska]

Cheers, :o

 

Taliska

[MrT]

Not sure if this warranted a new thread, but opening any door disables the auto-relock feature, when it is the drivers door that is opened you also hear a few whirrs like a servo from behind the dash or at the back of the engine, that do not occur with the other doors. I am curious as to what this is.

[Taliska]

Sounds interesting - I wonder if it's the engine thinking 'hey the driver's just about to get in, perhaps I can get the car ready to go and do really useful things like warm the glowplugs, etc?' <_<

 

Taliska

[Guest vr6galaxy]

Pre activation of the glow plugs when the door lock was operated was a feature on the MK1's not sure if this feature carried over to the later models?