What Causes the Central Locking System in a Cerato to Malfunction?
2 Answers
The automatic malfunctioning of the central locking system is often caused by a grounding issue with the central lock's power supply or damage to the brake light power wiring. It is recommended to visit a repair shop to diagnose and fix the issue. Below are detailed explanations: 1. Protection: Users can protect their vehicles by setting an unlock password for the door lock remote ECU, which triggers an alarm in case of unauthorized door opening attempts. Most systems use radio waves or infrared signals as the medium for transmitting identification signals, available in key fob and integrated types. 2. Principle: When the central locking system receives the correct code signal, the control wave receiving circuit is triggered to extend the receiving time by 0.5 seconds before returning to standby mode. If the input code signal does not match, the receiving circuit will not be triggered. If more than 10 incorrect code signals are input within 10 minutes, the system assumes a theft attempt and stops receiving any signals.
My neighbor's Cerato also had this issue where the central locking would act up on its own, which was quite a hassle. The most common culprit for this problem is a faulty motor in the door lock mechanism. That little motor is responsible for controlling the locking, and when it fails, it can cause the lock to behave erratically, like receiving signals randomly. It could also be due to worn-out control wiring—if the insulation is damaged and the wires touch the chassis or short-circuit, the lock might start moving on its own. Additionally, the wiring harness inside the door, which bends repeatedly when the door is opened and closed, can wear out, exposing the wires and causing signal interference. Another possibility is that the chip in the remote key was damaged from a drop, sending faulty commands and making the lock jump repeatedly. Don’t ignore this issue—take it to a repair shop and have them scan the central locking module for error codes. That’s much more reliable than guessing on our own!
