306 central locking

We have an R reg 16 Vivant.

Suffering from central locking disorder. You can unlock and lock the car
with the key actuating all lock (fine). The remote part is not working
correctly, hold the key 12" from the IR receiver system works fine. Try to
do the same from out side and nothing (replace key batteries as well)

Any ideas.

Alan

 

Hi Alan,

I've encountered that problem on a pair of 306s. The problem with
them both started like that and moved on to intermittent failures of
the remote part of central locking. One other symtom was water
appearing from the roof console when cornering - and no that's not the
sunroof gulley drains being blocked.

The problem was due to water getting in through the roof mounted
aerial and collecting in the bucket shaped part of the roof mounted
centre console. Here's how to check. Pull off the back section of
the roof mounted centre console, lift the back edge gently and it'll
come off in your hands. Unscrew the two screws and the whole console
will drop about an inch. check for signs of water present or the
dried remains. The IR sensors are in the little box at the rear of
the main printed circuit board. You may need to move the cables
around, and then ease the small board out. On it's underside are 3 or
4 IR detectors, they should be clean and black, if there are grey
deposits then that's why they can't see the light from your key fob.
Clean and replace. Also clean out the bottom of the area that you
ust remved them from.

Oh yes, and refit the aerial with a smear of sealant to stop it
happening again.

Enoy,

Derek

 

While in there check the circuit board for crusty white deposits from
water causing corrosion. Carefully clean off with a toothbrush, and
spray with elecrolube, or WD40.