Central & Remote Locking Issue

[Faheem]

Hello.

When I purchased my Z3 last year the third brake light did not work and after reading a little bit on the Internet I found that it is related to the wiring loom.

Sure enough I had a close look at the wiring loom and all the wires were cracked.

I got my soldering iron and soldered the broken wires together and used some heat shrink tubing to secure the wires together.

After connecting all the wires my remote locking decided to stop working. It will arm and disarm the car but won't lock any of the doors. (it's an aftermarket cobra alarm system)

Eventually I found that if I disconnect the brown wire the remote locking works but the light within the boot doesn't work.

Oh I should also mention I've had an issue with locking and unlocking the boot - both with a key and a remote. So if I lock the car from either the passenger or drivers side door the boot will not lock, the boot only locks if I lock the car by placing the key in the boot and turning it (this will also lock both doors in the car). I thought this may be the actuator that's causing the issues so I bought one from @spurs fan in a coupe yesterday and fitted the actuator this morning. After doing so I connected the brown wire in the boot loom again but still I don't have any luck.

It's really frustrating as when I do connect the wire the light inside the boot will work but the remote locking seizes to work. Im also unsure why the boot does not lock with the key or through the remote?

Any thoughts?

P. S I was speaking to @Bozzy about this yesterday and I was almost certain that replacing the actuator would cure the problem.

 

[Faheem]

Anyone?

 

[GazHyde]

Not sure if the guide linked below would be of any use to you?

https://zroadster.org/resources/1999-z3-z3m-electrical-troubleshooting-manual.13/

 

[Grumps]

My central locking is all over the place @Faheem. I live with it. Lock the drivers door which in turn locks the boot, then walk round and lock the passenger door. I have been told it's my acuator that's shot too tho.

 

[Low Rider]

I had a problem with my remote control locking also the interior light wouldn't work and fuel filler cover wouldn't lock.
Until I was told that it's the off side door hasp on the body work once I'd changed this bingo everything worked aflyer I'd reprogrammed the key.

 

[Faheem]

Not sure if the guide linked below would be of any use to you?

https://zroadster.org/resources/1999-z3-z3m-electrical-troubleshooting-manual.13/

Thanks for the pdf Gaz Was ashame that I didn't get to meet you at ZEDfest but I certainly look forward to seeing you there next year.

My central locking is all over the place @Faheem. I live with it. Lock the drivers door which in turn locks the boot, then walk round and lock the passenger door. I have been told it's my acuator that's shot too tho.

The actuator In the boot was surprisingly easy to replace but I wouldn't buy one without having the actuator tested first. I bought one only to realise that the actuator wasn't the issue!!

I had a problem with my remote control locking also the interior light wouldn't work and fuel filler cover wouldn't lock.
Until I was told that it's the off side door hasp on the body work once I'd changed this bingo everything worked aflyer I'd reprogrammed the key.

THE FUEL FILLER CAP IS SUPPOSED TO LOCK?!

I do have an issue where the interior light doesn't turn on when I open the drivers side door, it does turn on when you open the passenger side door. Could this be part of the problem?

 

[Low Rider]

that i'm not sure mate
your zed may not have a lockable fuel filler flap
check by opening the flap and look inside to the rear and you might see a button retracted

 

[Faheem]

that i'm not sure mate
your zed may not have a lockable fuel filler flap
check by opening the flap and look inside to the rear and you might see a button retracted

I've got the system where I put my key in the filler cap and unlock it in order to access the fuel tank. I'll have a look for the button tomorrow.
Thanks

 

[hard top]

I've got the system where I put my key in the filler cap and unlock it in order to access the fuel tank.

Don't know the age of your car but this was the same on my Oct 96 and standard at the time.

 

[Faheem]

Produced 25th March 1997 exactly a month before I was born

... I do think my zed was destined to be with me.

 

[Low Rider]

 

[Low Rider]

Clearly your wiring harness in the boot might be your problem.

 

[Faheem]

@Low Rider I don't know what else could be wrong with it. I've connected all the broken wires but my boot doesn't lock and the remote locking stops working completely.

The boot light does work though which means that there is some power that's being sent through the cables that lead to the actuator.

I may get myself a new loom.

 

[Brian H]

@Faheem i think you need to tackle this issue in two parts, first get you central locking sorted without your aftermarket alarm system and then with the aftermarket alarm system, I feel you are chasing a few separate faults here.

if you connect the brown wire in the boot loom do the doors/boot lock and unlock properly? The issue with the key in the boot lock could simply be lack of use, I.e. Dirt in the lock.

 

[jonco]

@Faheem - the petrol cap on your year will be a key lock type only.

On the boot loom there are 2 brown wires ( one for 3rd brake light circuit and one for locking circuit) - both are earth/ground and end up at the same place. However, whereas I think brake light is direct to earth - I think the lock one is on a loop circuit via other locks. I have tried but can't work this out from ETM but maybe one of our auto elect guys can. If so, have they been crossed over on repair? Can you do some multimeter checks for voltage and continuity.

No need to get a new loom - I inserted a new DIY section from inside boot to boot lid. Fairly easy - especially if you can solder which I can't!

 

[Faheem]

@Faheem i think you need to tackle this issue in two parts, first get you central locking sorted without your aftermarket alarm system and then with the aftermarket alarm system, I feel you are chasing a few separate faults here.

if you connect the brown wire in the boot loom do the doors/boot lock and unlock properly? The issue with the key in the boot lock could simply be lack of use, I.e. Dirt in the lock.

@Brian H There's a very good chance they are two separate faults! Connecting the brown wire just turns the light on in the boot, it also sends power to the actuator, HOWEVER, the boot still does not lock or unlock via central key locking - unless of course I went to the boot and locked the boot with the key - if I were to lock the boot with the key both doors will lock as well.

@Faheem - the petrol cap on your year will be a key lock type only.

On the boot loom there are 2 brown wires ( one for 3rd brake light circuit and one for locking circuit) - both are earth/ground and end up at the same place. However, whereas I think brake light is direct to earth - I think the lock one is on a loop circuit via other locks. I have tried but can't work this out from ETM but maybe one of our auto elect guys can. If so, have they been crossed over on repair? Can you do some multimeter checks for voltage and continuity.

No need to get a new loom - I inserted a new DIY section from inside boot to boot lid. Fairly easy - especially if you can solder which I can't!

@jonco So there's a possibility that the two brown wires have been swapped? I read about this somewhere when I first came to learn about the problem.

Can you possibly be kind enough to link me to your write up?

 

[jonco]

[USER=136]@jonco So there's a possibility that the two brown wires have been swapped? I read about this somewhere when I first came to learn about the problem.

Can you possibly be kind enough to link me to your write up?[/USER]

It is possible but I can't work out the consequences - the wiring diagrams are shown in this link
[URL]http://www.hc.lv/inc/Upload/news_290/File/e36z3_98.pdf[/URL] - you have to select required section by clicking on section number.

 

[Faheem]

After I connected the brown wire yesterday the light in my boot stayed on all night and drained my battery flat