Door locks - designed with future failure built-in?

-Joe · 13th October 2011, 01:15

I stripped down the drivers door and removed the door lock. It was not easy.

I noticed how the lock has 2 motors. the lower motor is activated by the internal switch. The top one by the key fob.

My drivers door lock always (99%) works with the interior button so the lower motor is more reliable than the top one.

I lubed the whole lock with lots of oil and it worked fine... for a week or so.

Has anyone atempted to strip down the lock itself. I decided not to at the time, in case i broke it completetly. These locks are very poorly made, maybe designed to fail, like the clutch slave cylinder.

The fault I have and many others experiance to with these Bosch locks is due to mechanical wear. The electric motors still work. Has anyone pinpointed the exact cause inside the unit of the anoying problem.

My rear drivers side door is also dodgey. I think it may well be possible to repair these locks.

I have no money, so can't afford just to buy a replacement, but I have plenty of free time to tinker.

jcwatrichmond · 14th October 2011, 08:02

For things that you can't normally get at, grease is better than oil as it tends to stay in place, oil runs off or dries up.
Car parts aren't designed to fail they're just designed down to a price. According to Honest John in the Telegraph Motoring pages, car manufacturers design and make cars to last fo eight years. Anything after that is a bonus.

JCW

greendriver · 14th October 2011, 08:07

My bonus time started last February then

SD1too · 14th October 2011, 08:42

Quote:

Originally Posted by jcwatrichmond

... car manufacturers design and make cars to last for eight years ....

Honest John is a good column, but that is a meaningless generalisation.

Simon.

fegyvej · 14th October 2011, 08:59

I bought a "new" at a breaker and tried to disassemble the old one without success. Seems to be impossible without breaking it. There are metal peaces punched together through the lock.
The problem begins when the door is superlocked and the lock is stucked, so better to replace.

Andy K · 15th October 2011, 18:17

brave man taking them apart.

One motor maybe for the deadlocking function

RKDE · 15th October 2011, 18:57

Got three broken locks in my garage, 2 off the new mini (same as 75) and 1 from the rover all same fault. Plan to strip one and fault find. Used to design locks for homes and automotive so may find fix

kaiser · 16th October 2011, 12:33

The Germans may not have won the war, but they certainly won the peace!

As if the English can't build mediocre cars without the help of the Germans.!!

My mind spins.

-Joe · 19th October 2011, 01:57

@rkde

If you strip down a lock and pinpoint the exact point of wear it might be possible to find a way to fix the others with a less intrusive strip down.

For example, drilling a hole in the outer casing in a precise position. I notice the motors rattle when energised. I wonder if drilling and packing with hot glue could stop the rattle and maybe improve the working.

The finder of such a remedy deserves a medal of honour from R75, BMV and mini fans.

13th October 2011, 01:15	#1
-Joe Avid contributor Rover 75 Classic SE 1.8T Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: wink Posts: 135 Thanks: 0 Thanked 20 Times in 15 Posts	Door locks - designed with future failure built-in? I stripped down the drivers door and removed the door lock. It was not easy. I noticed how the lock has 2 motors. the lower motor is activated by the internal switch. The top one by the key fob. My drivers door lock always (99%) works with the interior button so the lower motor is more reliable than the top one. I lubed the whole lock with lots of oil and it worked fine... for a week or so. Has anyone atempted to strip down the lock itself. I decided not to at the time, in case i broke it completetly. These locks are very poorly made, maybe designed to fail, like the clutch slave cylinder. The fault I have and many others experiance to with these Bosch locks is due to mechanical wear. The electric motors still work. Has anyone pinpointed the exact cause inside the unit of the anoying problem. My rear drivers side door is also dodgey. I think it may well be possible to repair these locks. I have no money, so can't afford just to buy a replacement, but I have plenty of free time to tinker.

14th October 2011, 08:07	#3
greendriver This is my second home MG ZTT 180 in Poseidon Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: Croydon Posts: 3,745 Thanks: 44 Thanked 86 Times in 75 Posts	cars last 8 years? My bonus time started last February then __________________ *None of my troubles are Rover*

15th October 2011, 18:57	#7
RKDE Loves to post MG 180 ZT-T SE+ Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: Solihull Posts: 477 Thanks: 0 Thanked 8 Times in 8 Posts	Got three broken locks in my garage, 2 off the new mini (same as 75) and 1 from the rover all same fault. Plan to strip one and fault find. Used to design locks for homes and automotive so may find fix __________________ Visit my blog Project blue support the build

19th October 2011, 01:57	#9
-Joe Avid contributor Rover 75 Classic SE 1.8T Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: wink Posts: 135 Thanks: 0 Thanked 20 Times in 15 Posts	lock fixing union @rkde If you strip down a lock and pinpoint the exact point of wear it might be possible to find a way to fix the others with a less intrusive strip down. For example, drilling a hole in the outer casing in a precise position. I notice the motors rattle when energised. I wonder if drilling and packing with hot glue could stop the rattle and maybe improve the working. The finder of such a remedy deserves a medal of honour from R75, BMV and mini fans.

14th October 2011, 08:02	#2
jcwatrichmond Loves to post Rover 75 1.8T 2003 Club SE Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Solihull, Posts: 370 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	For things that you can't normally get at, grease is better than oil as it tends to stay in place, oil runs off or dries up. Car parts aren't designed to fail they're just designed down to a price. According to Honest John in the Telegraph Motoring pages, car manufacturers design and make cars to last fo eight years. Anything after that is a bonus. JCW

14th October 2011, 08:59	#5
fegyvej Newbie Rover 75 Saloon Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: Nagykata, Hungary Posts: 4 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	I bought a "new" at a breaker and tried to disassemble the old one without success. Seems to be impossible without breaking it. There are metal peaces punched together through the lock. The problem begins when the door is superlocked and the lock is stucked, so better to replace.

15th October 2011, 18:17	#6
Andy K Avid contributor 75 Saloon petrol 2.5 Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: England Posts: 193 Thanks: 11 Thanked 9 Times in 8 Posts	brave man taking them apart. One motor maybe for the deadlocking function

16th October 2011, 12:33	#8
kaiser This is my second home 75 Tourer 2.5 Auto, 1.8T, 75V8ZT Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Johannesburg ZA Posts: 6,200 Thanks: 1 Thanked 859 Times in 613 Posts	The Germans may not have won the war, but they certainly won the peace! As if the English can't build mediocre cars without the help of the Germans.!! My mind spins.