Alfa Spider central locking problems

Anyone faced this problem before?

The key-plip part of the central locking on my Spider has long since
died, but I am still able to unlock and lock the old-fashioned way -
by putting the key in the lock. However since Monday it has not
worked any more.

When it gets REALLY cold the lock doesn't unlock unless you pour warm
water over both door locks and unfreeze them first. Sometimes the
water re-freezes which is a nightmare. On Monday I did this, but as
soon as you release the pressure on the key, the door locked itself
again. Eventually I managed to open the passenger door by holding the
key in the unlock position and pressing the door open button at the
same time. What I hadn't noticed at the time was that it had not
automatically unlocked the driver door as well... and I was unable to
open or unlock the driver door from the inside either. Now it can't
be unlocked at all, not even with the key.

Any idea what I can do about this? Climbing over from the passenger
side every time is not a sustainable option!

Thanks.

wrote:
> Anyone faced this problem before?
>
> The key-plip part of the central locking on my Spider has long since
> died, but I am still able to unlock and lock the old-fashioned way -
> by putting the key in the lock. However since Monday it has not
> worked any more.
>
> When it gets REALLY cold the lock doesn't unlock unless you pour warm
> water over both door locks and unfreeze them first. Sometimes the
> water re-freezes which is a nightmare. On Monday I did this, but as
> soon as you release the pressure on the key, the door locked itself
> again. Eventually I managed to open the passenger door by holding the
> key in the unlock position and pressing the door open button at the
> same time. What I hadn't noticed at the time was that it had not
> automatically unlocked the driver door as well... and I was unable to
> open or unlock the driver door from the inside either. Now it can't
> be unlocked at all, not even with the key.
>
> Any idea what I can do about this? Climbing over from the passenger
> side every time is not a sustainable option!

When I had a GTV the locks used to freeze regularly, a hairdryer worked
well. The only time I get to use them these days...

> wrote in message
ups.com...
> Anyone faced this problem before?
>
> The key-plip part of the central locking on my Spider has long since
> died, but I am still able to unlock and lock the old-fashioned way -
> by putting the key in the lock. However since Monday it has not
> worked any more.
>
> When it gets REALLY cold the lock doesn't unlock unless you pour warm
> water over both door locks and unfreeze them first. Sometimes the
> water re-freezes which is a nightmare. On Monday I did this, but as
> soon as you release the pressure on the key, the door locked itself
> again. Eventually I managed to open the passenger door by holding the
> key in the unlock position and pressing the door open button at the
> same time. What I hadn't noticed at the time was that it had not
> automatically unlocked the driver door as well... and I was unable to
> open or unlock the driver door from the inside either. Now it can't
> be unlocked at all, not even with the key.

I wonder if your water pouring has let water into the lock mechanism,
enabling it to freeze more solidly and more easily! Try getting some
oil/grease into the lock to help lubricate things. Might not prevent the
freezing, but would help prevent more damage.

Incidentally, do you have an alarm on the car? Because if you lock with the
key, the alarm won't be activated and if the car is stolen, your insurance
company might not pay up!! Its worth getting a new battery for the key fob!

On 22 Mar, 11:08, "GT" > wrote:
> > wrote in message
>
> ups.com...
>
>
>
>
>
> > Anyone faced this problem before?
>
> > The key-plip part of the central locking on my Spider has long since
> > died, but I am still able to unlock and lock the old-fashioned way -
> > by putting the key in the lock. However since Monday it has not
> > worked any more.
>
> > When it gets REALLY cold the lock doesn't unlock unless you pour warm
> > water over both door locks and unfreeze them first. Sometimes the
> > water re-freezes which is a nightmare. On Monday I did this, but as
> > soon as you release the pressure on the key, the door locked itself
> > again. Eventually I managed to open the passenger door by holding the
> > key in the unlock position and pressing the door open button at the
> > same time. What I hadn't noticed at the time was that it had not
> > automatically unlocked the driver door as well... and I was unable to
> > open or unlock the driver door from the inside either. Now it can't
> > be unlocked at all, not even with the key.
>
> I wonder if your water pouring has let water into the lock mechanism,
> enabling it to freeze more solidly and more easily! Try getting some
> oil/grease into the lock to help lubricate things. Might not prevent the
> freezing, but would help prevent more damage.
>
> Incidentally, do you have an alarm on the car? Because if you lock with the
> key, the alarm won't be activated and if the car is stolen, your insurance
> company might not pay up!! Its worth getting a new battery for the key fob!- Hide quoted text -
>
> - Show quoted text -

Thanks, I'll try some oil and see how it goes.

The car does have an alarm but it has been disconnected since the key
plip went wrong. I replaced the battery in the key but for some
reason it didn't disable the alarm, and subsequently failed to even
unlock the doors. I think there's a problem with the PCB in the key,
which obviously I am not smart/techie enough to fix. So we figured
we'd be better off with no alarm at all. Hardly ideal, but I find
with Alfas you do have to make do and mend quite often.

[By the way as a newbie on here is there any way I can hide my email
address from webcrawler software? When I registered the site asked
for my email address but didn't state - until it was too late to
change - that it would be visible to anyone on the internet. Grrrr.]

> wrote in message
ups.com...
> On 22 Mar, 11:08, "GT" > wrote:
>> > wrote in message
>>
>> ups.com...
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>> > Anyone faced this problem before?
>>
>> > The key-plip part of the central locking on my Spider has long since
>> > died, but I am still able to unlock and lock the old-fashioned way -
>> > by putting the key in the lock. However since Monday it has not
>> > worked any more.
>>
>> > When it gets REALLY cold the lock doesn't unlock unless you pour warm
>> > water over both door locks and unfreeze them first. Sometimes the
>> > water re-freezes which is a nightmare. On Monday I did this, but as
>> > soon as you release the pressure on the key, the door locked itself
>> > again. Eventually I managed to open the passenger door by holding the
>> > key in the unlock position and pressing the door open button at the
>> > same time. What I hadn't noticed at the time was that it had not
>> > automatically unlocked the driver door as well... and I was unable to
>> > open or unlock the driver door from the inside either. Now it can't
>> > be unlocked at all, not even with the key.
>>
>> I wonder if your water pouring has let water into the lock mechanism,
>> enabling it to freeze more solidly and more easily! Try getting some
>> oil/grease into the lock to help lubricate things. Might not prevent the
>> freezing, but would help prevent more damage.
>>
>> Incidentally, do you have an alarm on the car? Because if you lock with
>> the
>> key, the alarm won't be activated and if the car is stolen, your
>> insurance
>> company might not pay up!! Its worth getting a new battery for the key
>> fob!- Hide quoted text -
>>
>> - Show quoted text -
>
> Thanks, I'll try some oil and see how it goes.
>
> The car does have an alarm but it has been disconnected since the key
> plip went wrong. I replaced the battery in the key but for some
> reason it didn't disable the alarm, and subsequently failed to even
> unlock the doors. I think there's a problem with the PCB in the key,
> which obviously I am not smart/techie enough to fix. So we figured
> we'd be better off with no alarm at all. Hardly ideal, but I find
> with Alfas you do have to make do and mend quite often.

My 156 key fob (both of them) stopped working. The boot release button
worked, but the normal button broke. I took it apart and there was a little
microswitch that had dropped off the circuit board under where the plastic
button is on the case. I solderred this back on and all is well again. It is
a hellish job to get the key fob open and it will look like you have messed
with it afterwards, but it gets things working again and I have never had a
frozen lock yet (I live in scotland, so frozen locks are common!)

> [By the way as a newbie on here is there any way I can hide my email
> address from webcrawler software? When I registered the site asked
> for my email address but didn't state - until it was too late to
> change - that it would be visible to anyone on the internet. Grrrr.]

Probably too late, but have a look at a different newsgroup provider. Go to
Google, click groups and see what they offer. I subscribe to a (pay)
newsgroup service and use newsgroup reader software (XNews and
OutlookExpress) and you can set your email address on your account to be
something non-existent - read my profile for this message and you'll see
what I mean.

Thanks GT, that's (hopefully) really useful.

I did take the key apart before, and you're right it was tricky, to
say the least! I think at the moment if I can just get the doors to
unlock both sides, I'll be happy with that, and not worry too much
about keyless entry and/or alarms. I'll therefore give your oil
solution a punt and see what happens.

Cheers pal.

Tony, thanks to you too - I may well try that if I can find an
extension cable!

> wrote in message
ups.com...
> Thanks GT, that's (hopefully) really useful.
>
> I did take the key apart before, and you're right it was tricky, to
> say the least! I think at the moment if I can just get the doors to
> unlock both sides, I'll be happy with that, and not worry too much
> about keyless entry and/or alarms. I'll therefore give your oil
> solution a punt and see what happens.

Don't overdo it - just a little bit to help things along smoothly, then give
it plenty of 'wiggling' to work the oil in.

Another thing to try, when the locks are actually frozen - hold the key in
boiling water for a little while until it is hot, then shove it in the lock
and leave it there to warm everything up. Repeat procedure 2 or 3 times at
most - then give up and wait for summer!

GT > wrote:

> > The car does have an alarm but it has been disconnected since the key
> > plip went wrong. I replaced the battery in the key but for some
> > reason it didn't disable the alarm, and subsequently failed to even
> > unlock the doors. I think there's a problem with the PCB in the key,
> > which obviously I am not smart/techie enough to fix. So we figured
> > we'd be better off with no alarm at all. Hardly ideal, but I find
> > with Alfas you do have to make do and mend quite often.
>
> My 156 key fob (both of them) stopped working. The boot release button
> worked, but the normal button broke. I took it apart and there was a little
> microswitch that had dropped off the circuit board under where the plastic
> button is on the case. I solderred this back on and all is well again. It is
> a hellish job to get the key fob open and it will look like you have messed
> with it afterwards, but it gets things working again and I have never had a
> frozen lock yet (I live in scotland, so frozen locks are common!)

Is that one of the newer 156 'switchblade' keys?

If so, I have a couple of VW versions of that type of key knocking
around the house that may be useful as spares for people.
--
SteveH 'You're not a real petrolhead unless you've owned an Alfa Romeo'
www.italiancar.co.uk - Honda VFR800 - Hongdou GY200 - Alfa 75 TSpark
Alfa 156 TSpark - B6 Passat 2.0TDI SE - COSOC KOTL
BOTAFOT #87 - BOTAFOF #18 - MRO # - UKRMSBC #7 - Apostle #2 - YTC #

"SteveH" > wrote in message
. ..
> GT > wrote:
>
>> > The car does have an alarm but it has been disconnected since the key
>> > plip went wrong. I replaced the battery in the key but for some
>> > reason it didn't disable the alarm, and subsequently failed to even
>> > unlock the doors. I think there's a problem with the PCB in the key,
>> > which obviously I am not smart/techie enough to fix. So we figured
>> > we'd be better off with no alarm at all. Hardly ideal, but I find
>> > with Alfas you do have to make do and mend quite often.
>>
>> My 156 key fob (both of them) stopped working. The boot release button
>> worked, but the normal button broke. I took it apart and there was a
>> little
>> microswitch that had dropped off the circuit board under where the
>> plastic
>> button is on the case. I solderred this back on and all is well again. It
>> is
>> a hellish job to get the key fob open and it will look like you have
>> messed
>> with it afterwards, but it gets things working again and I have never had
>> a
>> frozen lock yet (I live in scotland, so frozen locks are common!)
>
> Is that one of the newer 156 'switchblade' keys?
>
> If so, I have a couple of VW versions of that type of key knocking
> around the house that may be useful as spares for people.

If my description below sounds like the same keys, then why not stick them
on ebay - somebody might buy them if you list them as 156s. I have 2
generations of key fob for my 156. I bought the car in Jan 2003
(pre-registered from October 2002). It came with 2 'switchblade' keys. One
broke whilst under warranty and they replaced it with a newer version, which
has never failed. Since my warranty expired the second original key has also
broken, but I have fixed it myself. I don't have anywhere I can post
pictures, so I will have to describe them as the newer one is different and
feels much more reliable (and hasn't broken!).

Both keys are the same shape - sort of curved triangular, although the newer
one is a consistant thickness and the older one's thickness tapers towards
the 'top'. Both have the silver key 'flicker' in the same corner. The older
key fob has a small LED just above the silver key flicker and the 2 buttons
are separate distinct plastic squashy 'circles'. The newer key fob has no
LED and the 2 buttons are both have a rubbery feel and are housed within a
'lined off' curvy area. The buttons on both generations are the same size
and in the same position, so perhaps it is the same circuitry underneath.

I have just found a picture of the 2002 key on ebay - search ebay for item
number 190094062356. Can't find a picture of the newer one.