by GHDirect » Fri Jun 10, 2011 11:20 pm
After many days of trial and expensive errors changing parts, I have finally resolved the problem in my 53 Connect locking system and thought it worth sharing with others in case someone sometime finds they encounter a similar issue. As stated the van was brought without history and from my ownership the central locking would lock then 1 second later unlock. All door connections and internal light switches had been checked. As suggested by the forum I removed each wiring loom lock plug from the various door to try to prove the culprit lock but this did not change the symptom. I noted the rear door lock assemble was somewhat worn in its action and thought possible cause so changed it for a replacement from EBay. This improved the mechanical action but didn’t change the fault. My local Ford dealer then suggested the driver’s doors locks are a common failure so after another Ebay purchase this did not change the symptom. The forum suggested others had suffered a failure in the back door wiring loom and this was also my case but finding it was not easy.
The following is a constructive way to check out the nine wire loom for breaks that goes from taillight area to the rear door lock. Mine is a 53 plate so I assume other years are similar. Take off the O/S rear light assembly and drill out the 4 rivets that hold a metal cover plate, lift out the plate. Push through 2 plastic clip ends and this will release a connector plug being one end of the loom that goes to the door lock. Split the connector, pull off the door lock connector released by the little red clip. This gives you one short loom without power to check. Using a meter (on ohms to check continuity) one by one check of the nine wires (all colour coded) feeding the lock mechanism for continuity. I found two were open circuit. On further investigation my loom had breaks inside the door area where the loom enters the black protective tube but not easily visible. Check condition of all wires in that area I found others were functional but damaged. Some soldering and heat shrink sleeving (Maplins) followed by insulation tape put my loom in working order. Replug the lock end and the light area end, replace the connector back in its mounting area behind the light and refit the plate with 4 self tappers screw or pop rivits if your posh, refit rear light. Hurray job done, van actually stays locked.