El central locking of a vehicle It is in charge of opening and closing all the doors of the vehicle through a control, a button or the mechanical actuation of one of the doors. It is one of the elements that most accuses the passage of time in a car, especially when it has been used very intensively over the years.
Bearing this in mind, in this article we are going to give you the keys so you know how it works, how to repair it, if it is possible to install a universal central locking in an old car that does not have it and how to do it.
What is central locking?
central locking it is not only an electric mechanism that opens and closes all doors for convenience. It's actually a vehicle security device that automatically unlocks the doors in the event of a severe crash or locks the doors when a certain speed is exceeded.
These security measures they are not so well known among users, who only see central locking as a comfort feature.
Types of central locking
There are many types of central locking, although modern cars tend to have only one system due to its simplicity. Even so, they can be classified according to different points of view:
According to number of doors
Modern cars have central locking for all doors and the trunk. However, in universal central locking, there is more variety. From central locking of 2 doors, up to 5 doors.
In any case, the most common is that kits with 4 actuators are sold. That is, only for the passenger doors. If only two are needed, simply not install the extra actuators.
Without remote control, with remote control and 'keyless'
Without a remote control, they are no longer easily found, because cars have been sold with remote control-type keys for decades. Furthermore, universal central locking also comes with remote control functionality, because the cheapening of these components has made it wildly affordable for many years now.
They are the systems keyless opening and starting keyless those who are making a difference today. They are spreading more and more and it is easy to find them even in utility vehicles, although not in the most basic finishes. Always maintaining conventional mechanical systems to open the doors when it does not detect the key.
The next step in opening central locking keyless is going through the use of NFC systems such as the one found in most smartphones modern.
According to the type of actuators
In this category you can find electromechanical and electrical central locking. The former work with actuators made up of two electromagnets, one to open and the other to close. The latter are currently the most common due to their smooth operation and greater simplicity. Its actuators work with motors that move a worm screw in both directions, in order to open or close as required.
Conventional or multiplexed circuit
Conventional circuits are applied to a single system, for example: one for the central locking, another for the windows, another for the electric mirrors... Which entails a large number of cables to cover the growing number of car equipment.
A multiplexed circuit allows to control all these systems with the same cables. For this reason, in many modern cars there is a central locking system that shares wiring with almost everything else. It is a switchboard (generally at the door) that receives the signal and sends the order to the correct element.
Install a universal central locking
There are universal central locking kits that can be bought for little money on Amazon, Norauto, Alixpress, etc. The only drawback is that installing them requires some dedication and basic knowledge. However, there are many tutorials that can be very helpful if we dare to install it ourselves, like the video that we leave you a little further down.
In the universal central locking kit You will have all the mechanical elements necessary for the system to work:
- Central locking actuators or motors
- Cables
- Temples
- Screws and fasteners
- switchboard
- remote controls
- Diagram of the universal central locking
However, you will need a series of tools to install it correctly: a drill with drill bits for metal, screwdriver and a guide for cables or grommets.
In addition to this, to do a job that lasts over time and does not damage the car, we recommend that you have some cable protectors y anti-rust paint. With them you will prevent the cables from peeling in the areas where they rub against the sheet metal and that the holes you make with the drill accelerate the degradation of the metal.
Each model is different, but in principle universal central locking is compatible with most models. En el video Above the entire installation process is explained in considerable detail and regardless of the model you have, it can be very helpful. If you dare to do it, we recommend that you take extreme precautions and even disconnect the car battery before touching any wires. In the video below It talks about how to change the car battery, although it will help you to safely turn it off.
Price of universal central locking
It depends on what you are looking for, but nowadays almost all of them move in the price range of between 25 and 40 euros. For example, the one in the house KKMoon, carries everything you need (including system keyless) and is normally found for 30 euros.
You must be careful, because on many occasions kit parts sold separately. For example, just the system keyless, in case you want to put it in your central locking and therefore you already have everything else. Or for example also the motors, rods and fasteners in case you have to change yours, like this one from social.
How does central locking work?
Originally, two electrical coils were used that mobilized a ferrite disk by means of electrical tension. This moved a rod upwards that, in conjunction with some cams, activated the door locking mechanism.
Currently used some small electric motors that act in a similar way to the aforementioned coils. The basic operation of the mechanism is simple and it should be clear if you want to repair, replace or put in an old car that does not equip it.
Un infrared sensor It is responsible for receiving the signal from the remote control. When this occurs, the system sends the electric current by cabling until the motors or actuators. These are attached to the closure rods of each door and are in charge of raising or lowering the latch.
Central locking does not work, what do I do?
Being a item that gets a lot of use It can easily get damaged over the years. If it stops working, you should take into account:
- if the problem is only in one of the doors or in all
- if it is a electrical or mechanical problem.
For the latter, it is enough to prick up your ears to know if the motors that open and close are still working or not.
If it is only one of the doors that does not work and the engine keeps ringing, it is a minor fault that you can easily fix. Disassemble the inner panel of the door, because the problem can be as simple as the motor has become dislodged from the closing rod or that it is the motor itself that has become detached from its place. That is, a minor mechanical failure.
In the event that the motor(s) do not sound, the problem is almost certainly a electric problem. In this case, the solution is not so simple because you have to check wiring to see if it is cut off somewhere or to see if the problem is in the central Sistem. In any of these cases we recommend that you only get involved if you have mechanical knowledge.
Hello, I wanted to ask you if you know how the activation of the electric motor responsible for raising and lowering the latches works. Simply with voltage (12V –> Raise latches, 0V —> Lower latches) Or work with pulses (for example: ______–_–_–_ ). If anyone can explain this to me a bit I would really appreciate it...
Hello Rod_O, the motors work with positive negative, that is, if the motor receives positive from one terminal and negative from the other, it goes up and if it receives the opposite, it goes down.
I have had problems with my alarm for days, it is a prestige brand, I give it the command to lock and the solenoids do not go down, they only unlock and do not lock and at hours it works normally, and the other detail is that when the doors are locked, the alarm starts like crazy to sound beeping in a row very different from normal who could help me in this case
Check the cables that go from the alarm to the door buttons, there should be one cut. Also check the cables that reach the centralized motor
Hello. I have the sg. problem with my 2002 nissan serena. factory alarm. the steering wheel was changed, when removing it worked well, it locked and unlocked the four doors with the remote control (pilot light, closed the four doors, and the folding mirrors) but the horn did not sound when opening only with the keys ( the beep was heard but the Horn did not sound) then I saw that a cable was loose and I adjusted it, it worked like a charm (but it only lasted a while) then it did not work anymore (pilot light, mirrors and nothing sounds at all, nor beep or horn) also the lock knob on the driver's side does not work anymore (complete closing button yes. side of the door) nor the welcome light when putting them in the DOOR position. I have checked the transparent fuses on two legs and there are no blown ones. Could it be that another relay burned? Thanks.
Hello, I'm Nilkson, I have a grand blazer 99, the case of my car is that the front doors were blocked but not the rear ones. The locks do not open with the alarm control, nor by pressing the internal button, even disconnecting the battery, nor inserting the key to force unlocking, would it be good to disconnect the computer to rule out that the solenoids are blocked by her order? If I can't open the door, how do I get to the solenoids? Could there be a short where the front ones burn but not the rear ones?
Thanks in advance.
HELLO, consult, when I insert the key to open the door it doesn't open but when I turn it to close it closes, it's centralized locking without buttons, only with the key I take out all the insurances or put them on. What can be
hello.
I have a 2011 x trailer, I took it to the normal service at the agency (oil change and filters), and when they returned it to me the driver's door lock does not work, in fact I have to lock that door with the key. I complained to the agency that they did it, since my truck didn't have any problem in this regard, and they told me that they didn't do anything to it and that I have to fix it myself, since it coincidentally broke down there.
good morning everyone. I have a mercedes slk-200 compressor. It turns out that when I start the central locking of the left door. It activates and closes at each pothole. Only at this door. My question is. What can be? How to solve it?
good night,,, I have a fiat siena 1.4 and when it exceeds the speed of 20 km/h the doors close,,,,, can someone tell me how I can deactivate the door locks so that after 20 km the doors do not lock doors ?? Thank you
Hello, I have a problem, if you can help me, my car does not lake or glass goes up or down, therefore, it does not get power. thanks for replying in advance.
good night. greetings from Venezuela, I have a spark 2011, a few days ago when I entered the key, it raised the locks of only 3 doors, the one on the passenger side and the two rear ones except the driver's, I have to lift the lock manually and sometimes it's the other way around when closing it through the control the co-pilot's lock was up, now three days ago the rear doors don't open the buttons don't go up when I insert the key or press the button on the control I can't even manually raise the door locks rear, the solenoids can be heard activating, you can hear how some small motors raise the buttons, but when the solenoids finish sounding, the buttons are lowered a little and the rear doors do not open, only the one on the passenger side works well, can you help me with this problem please in advance thank you GOD BLESS YOU
Hello, can someone explain to me in the case of the 2-wire actuator motor and once activated, who cuts off that given pulse with the key or with the latch? in my case it is a 2006 goal that the three doors lock and unlock electrically from the driver's door which has no motor and only the command. I can't find any control unit that manages this system and that's why I don't understand why it cuts the power to the motors once they are activated or deactivated. otherwise they would always remain with current until receiving the next order. Thank you so much
I have a problem with the installation of the automatic blockers of the Nissan frontier.year 2005
Hello, I would like to know what could be the problem with the central locking of a 2008 Berlingo since, being correctly closed with the doors locked, I activate the opening button and it opens the doors and the trunk door correctly, but when I close the doors, I am left marking the doors on the dashboard. open and cannot be closed because you close and open, this lasts about 5 minutes and then if the open doors disappear on the dashboard, all the doors can be closed correctly.. thanks for the information you can give me to see if I can solve it Y
What is the name of the device that activates the central lock for closing the doors when a certain speed is exceeded?
This information is great thanks for sharing.
I have a mitsubishi outlander intense the central locking closes by itself, it is out of control, with the key it works fine but it closes by itself constantly