EL Futura Central Locking Problems - Ford Forums

Kiwi Ford Fan · 09-30-2007, 00:52

Hi all, I have a bit of a problem with my '97 Futura that I was hoping someone could shed some light on ...

Basically the central locking is not working as it should ... the following are some of the symptoms:

1. key doesn't unlock door (have to use remote);
2. when using remote the drivers latch goes up, pauses, then goes down again;
3. when using remote the passenger side latch doesn't move;
4. in the second or so that the drivers latch is up I can open the door - the latch still goes down again but at least I am in the car;
5. opening the passenger door from the inside makes the latch go up as well as driver side latch;
6. in this condition the remote will not lock the car - the latches go down then pop straight back up;
7. only way to lock car is to depress passenger latch from inside car.

I suspect it is to do with the passenger side locking mechanism but am unsure why key doesn't work ... HELP!!

Aussiblue · 09-30-2007, 05:43

Bent snipper rod in passenger door most likely stopping the lock button moving up and down freely - especially if it was ever pranged. You should notice the button has more resistance to being manually pushed down or pulled up. Take off door trim and straighten rod so it moved up and down freely bend slightly and gently with button in up position. Damaged plastic surround on door button or damaged door button can also cause the problem.

Aussiblue · 09-30-2007, 05:45

Note snipper rod is the one with the button (snipper) on top.

Kiwi Ford Fan · 10-01-2007, 02:07

Quote:

Originally Posted by Aussiblue

Bent snipper rod in passenger door most likely stopping the lock button moving up and down freely - especially if it was ever pranged. You should notice the button has more resistance to being manually pushed down or pulled up. Take off door trim and straighten rod so it moved up and down freely bend slightly and gently with button in up position. Damaged plastic surround on door button or damaged door button can also cause the problem.

Thanx for that Blue - I'll take the covers off and have a good look but I don't know if it will be that ... I've had the car for 2 years now and the problem has only started in the last 5 or 6 weeks (I was away for 4 weeks and her indoors was using it).

thefonz · 10-01-2007, 04:47

Sounds like the electric lock actuator

Kiwi Ford Fan · 10-09-2007, 00:30

Well, changed the lock actuator on the passenger side so now that part of the central locking works as it should ... sort of ... for some reason the central locking is not actually locking the drivers side ... the only way to actually lock or unlock is with the key. The rest of the central locking is working fine (all the other doors lock and unlock via remote as they should) - is there a mechanical connection of some sort on the drivers side between the key lock and the central locking system? What else could it be?

Many thanks for your help,

Kiwi Ford Fan

p.s. 1, 2, 3 ... Go FORD, Go Lowndesy & Jamie

Kiwi Ford Fan · 10-10-2007, 02:26

Well ... another $80 at the wreckers for a door lock for the drivers side ... problems all fixed now. Cause?? On the farside of the lock mechanism (looking from inside car) there is a plastic "cam" which actuates the central locking rod for the drivers side (and hence the rest of the car) ... seems that when the passenger side central locking seized and I had to use the key I possibly cracked this little "50c" piece of plastic and it has decided to crack right through so that the cam no longer actuates the central locking ... what a pain in the "donkey".

thefonz · 10-10-2007, 04:28

Glad to hear you're all good now