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Date:         Mon, 3 Jun 2002 21:13:36 +0200
Reply-To:     Robert Steven Fish <fish@SALZBURG.CO.AT>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Robert Steven Fish <fish@SALZBURG.CO.AT>
Subject:      Re: Electric Locks clicking and clicking and clicking
Comments: To: Warren Chapman <warren8@EARTHLINK.NET>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1"

snipped ---- Only solution is to replace the lock motor--- snipped ----

HOWEVER.... If you are adventurous, you can do a pretty clean overhaul of even the ugliest electric lock accuator (servo) units. As they are rather expensive, and not easy to find used, this was my solution for both front door locks. It took several hours, and a bit of testing and playing... but they all work like a charm now, after almost 2 years of being dead!!!

The scenerio is: The seals in your windows dry up a bit, and tons of water flows down through the gap, spraying over the lock accuators. Normally the rubber boot at the top will keep the insides of the units dry, but these are most likely after 10-15 years, completely dust. The water has been in there for years, and has done damage... lots of damage. There will be rust and corrosion, and the things will look like they should be thrown out. (the side door and back door will be fine though, so do not worry about them)

You can test the function of the wiring by powering the wires in the correct order, this will show you that the rear and side locks work... while the fronts probably do not.

The contacts in the box will need to cleaned, and the gears all need to be taken out, and the pins where they seat into the plastic housing also cleaned, bored out a bit wider, and lubed. Basically every single little item in that box needs to be brushed with a small wire brush, filed with a file, and/or otherwise cleaned up. Then if the springs are not trashed in the contact rod (the slider that actually switches the motor off and on upon the key turn) you rebuild and test before reinstalling. If the springs are trashed, you need 2 mini Bic lighters.

I posted pretty solid details of the whole process a few weeks ago... complete with my solution for a new boot made from a pink balloon (thanks to a fellow list members suggestion).with a photo.

Check the archives under the topic:

Testing Front Door Power Lock Accuators??

and you will find my posts.

Happy locking!

RSF

<º)))>{ <º)))>{ <º)))>{ <º)))>{ <º)))>{ <º)))>{

Robert S. Fish Salzburg, Austria 1987 Wolfsburg Vanagon 2.1 GL Weekender 1987 Golf Cabriolet 1991 Golf


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