Need Help! Cannot Power Lock the Doors

[igzy]

Problem started about two weeks ago: intermittently I cannot use the remote nor the controls on the doors to lock the car. I can unlock all the doors using both ways but the lock function would not work. I can manually lock all the doors but not the drivers door. If I try to lock the drivers door manually then I can hear the actuator cycling it back to unlock - so I can't lock the drivers door! To avoid this I disconnected the drivers door actuator and now I can lock it manually (of course power on it doesn't work now). The power locks still "sometimes" work on all doors but this is again still intermittent - so I know it is not the drivers door lock actuator. I confirmed the fuses and are fine. Any ideas???

[igzy]

Oh, I have 2004 GT....

[dj_adamix]

You need to identify if the problem lays on the RF connection or mechanical side of system.

Does your car blink when you press the remote but door doesnt lock/open?
Or it doesnt blink at all as the is no connection from your remote to your car.

Does the problem apply to all your doors or just one?

[dj_adamix]

After reading your post again i can tell u have connection to the car but just ur actuators are stuck in one position. well i think the microprocessor controlling your actuators has issues. you should get that replaced. now if you had aftermarket kit you would pay 10 bucks but since its factory oem device youre looking anywhere from 100 to 200 bucks.

[igzy]

You need to identify if the problem lays on the RF connection or mechanical side of system.

Does your car blink when you press the remote but door doesnt lock/open?
Or it doesnt blink at all as the is no connection from your remote to your car.

Does the problem apply to all your doors or just one?

Thanks!!

When locking it with remote, the car would blink but it would not actually lock any of the doors...

[dj_adamix]

oh one more thing, maybe its just your acctuators that are too cold to operate?? could be... best thing would be to hook up a voltmeter to your actuator wires and click it open close and see if there is voltage goin through. but if you know for sure that problem is not your actuators then scrap that idea lol. it could be just a simple wire kink, or lose wire, and sometimes due to vibrations connection is reestablished and it works for few times untill you drive again and make wires disconnect.

[igzy]

After reading your post again i can tell u have connection to the car but just ur actuators are stuck in one position. well i think the microprocessor controlling your actuators has issues. you should get that replaced. now if you had aftermarket kit you would pay 10 bucks but since its factory oem device youre looking anywhere from 100 to 200 bucks.

Sounds like I need the wireless door lock module? Is that the one behind the glove box?

[dj_adamix]

yeah get a volt meter and find the controll box for your acctuators, i dont know where the oem system is but i installed mine below the steering wheel (aftermarket). then check condinuity between the box and actuators. might be just a lose wire.. if your mocrocontroller blew out it wouldnt work at all. For oem system your alarm might be your actuator controller all in one system.

[igzy]

When I manually tried to lock the drivers door then the actuator would cycle to open it so I can tell it works :P

[dj_adamix]

im not sure if it would be behind your glove box,(i have aftermarket kit which i installed my self so i dunno), but worth checking. it not fully wireless, its wireless to the remote but then signal gets distributed to each actuator through wires. And thats the connection you want to check. But on other hand when i think about it its very unlikely that all wires got lose...

[igzy]

yeah get a volt meter and find the controll box for your acctuators, i dont know where the oem system is but i installed mine below the steering wheel (aftermarket). then check condinuity between the box and actuators. might be just a lose wire.. if your mocrocontroller blew out it wouldnt work at all. For oem system your alarm might be your actuator controller all in one system.

Good idea, thanks! I have an aftermarket alarm too Compustar, so will need to check wiring for both I guess OEM and this one too...

[dj_adamix]

When I manually tried to lock the drivers door then the actuator would cycle to open it so I can tell it works :P

yeah looks like you controller failure... even tho try and see if you see any lose wires just in case. but if not then i would say getr a new controller box.

[dj_adamix]

Yeah well if you have aftermarket alarm then there are two wires from your controll box to your alarm box, now it might be problem with your alarm relay!!!. it doenst send signal to your actuator box. but on other hand if it still doesnt work when you press unlock button on your dash then it points to acctuator box.

[igzy]

im not sure if it would be behind your glove box,(i have aftermarket kit which i installed my self so i dunno), but worth checking. it not fully wireless, its wireless to the remote but then signal gets distributed to each actuator through wires. And thats the connection you want to check. But on other hand when i think about it its very unlikely that all wires got lose...

This issue is the same when I try to use the lock controls on the door to lock (not just the remote) so it would be somewhere between the actuators and control unit?

[dj_adamix]

This issue is the same when I try to use the lock controls on the door to lock (not just the remote) so it would be somewhere between the actuators and control unit?

That's correct. Alarm is not even hooked up to your buttons on your door. maybe you can find totaled mazda on a junkyard and take out the box. Its a simple circuit. If you had some experience with electronics you could try troubleshoot it, if not just get it exchanged for a new one.

[dj_adamix]

Try looking in here :

http://www.davidgowenlock.co.uk/mazda3/

This is a whole service manual for MZ3.
it should say where the box is located and how its connected.

[dj_adamix]

Yeah i looked at it and there is a whole set of instructions for troubleshooting. So follow those steps and youll know whats wrong but im betting its your control module which (i checked) is located behind your glove box.

[igzy]

Thanks, found it on diagram behind the glove box above body JB. Will try to confirm it now and will also check the alarm relays under hood.

[dj_adamix]

sounds good man, Good luck and report back after you find something new or fix it.!!
Thanks

[igzy]

Well, verified all the wiring and all checked off as OK, then took it to the dealership and seems that I need a new body module :(

[dj_adamix]

That sucks man, how much is a new module anyways ?? You can maybe look inside the box, maybe its something simple like blown cap or resistor that you can change your self.

[igzy]

They quoted me total $1,200 for the part including 2 hrs of labor. They also offered to first try to fix it, if possible, before replacing it. Apparently the "new service part" is an updated version that avoids this problem so am certain that this is a known design issue! I will just wait for the recall to come out and get it done for free. In the mean time, manual locks it is :P

[dj_adamix]

LLLOOOOOOOOOOOOLLLL wow never never pay 1200 for that lmao. what a rippp offfff :P and all it is is a microcontroller - $10-$20, some resistors, capacitors, transistors and pcb board $20 bucks. s like 40 in total to make it lool where the hell they get those prices from lmao.... if you cant get it replaced just buy a kit online and install new system and re route it to you buttons. it cost me $30 shipped for a set of 4 actuators and control module which supports alarm system as well. so yeah not worth 12000 lmao .

[dj_adamix]

but yeah try looking inside of the box your self, maybe youll see something burnt.... if you can figure out take a good pic of the board inside and i might be able to point you where damage is.

[dj_adamix]

lol or you can even use the same module i bought with your acctuators i think it will work. you can verify by applying dc voltage to your actuator and see if it opens/closes by just applying voltage, i doubt its PWM controlled. if it does then simple module would work just fine with your stock actuators.
you would just need to do quite a bit re wireing. but remember nothing is impossible. lol

[igzy]

Yeah, I thought so too. Will first try to fix it and then look to get a used one. I'm kinda lazy now to mess with it as it is cold out (no garage). Will do it when it gets a bit warmer out....

[dj_adamix]

Yeah i know what you mean. Just got a remote starter + keyless entry module from my gf for xmass.... very nice gift but timing is not really that good lool :P she shouldve waited till the summer lol :P . Well im goin to suck it up and install it over xmass holidays. i dont have a garage either... but at least i already found out all the wires i need to hook up to so it shouldnt be that hard. Ill just freeze my baaalllssss out lol

[igzy]

Aw, you are awesome! I am sure she will appreciate it!!

I have this to fix and install a stereo in my car....