Indicators don't flash when locking car

[HPsauce]

Originally Posted by HPsauce

Would WD40 be a good idea too?

Interestingly, over the weekend, when it got a bit colder, I found the boot more difficult to shut. At times it needed a really good slam or it didn't latch properly.
This made me wonder whether the mechanism is "gunged up" with emulsified grease and that is what's really at the heart of the problem. Having looked inside there are small moving plastic parts around the switch that could be easily impeded.

So this morning I gave the latch some serious and copious attention from the WD40 can. In the middle of squirting it in I heard a tiny movement inside the latch and a chirp from the alarm horn.
It now appears to be working perfectly in all respects, closing and opening smoothly and easily, chirping and flashing the lights.

Now, to follow the old adage, I just need to find something I can fix with duct tape. (TBH I used some earlier, on the other car )

[Adrian E]

That's an interesting observation - I've noticed in the past when locking the car away in the garage that if I lock the car with the boot open (usually closing the windows on the remote but haven't finished retrieving stuff from the boot) I don't get the flash of lights UNTIL the boot lid is shut, so it does suggest the boot was either failing to lock properly or giving the appearance to the control module that it wasn't properly shut

[HPsauce]

Indeed. It was definitely being "detected" as open, but was mostly physically locked along with the car. Until this weekend when it would often bounce open again if closed gently.

I now think that the interior mechanism was probably getting stuck in some interim position whereby it was physically just latched but the part of the mechanism that presses on and closes the microswitch hadn't moved far enough.

Now it's been WD40'ed it also makes a much more positive sound when unlocking as well - a very positive sliding latch sound.

[David's8]

I am having the same intermittent indication problem with the passenger door switch. The door/car can be be locked but the lights dont flash and the interior lights do not fade out. It usually requires slamming the door hard. On Sunday The Laird kindly lent me his garage to do some small jobs (on my car, not his ). Tried WD40treatment which has made the problem occur more frequently! Like every time the door is closed. Next step will be to remove/replace the latch/switch I guess.

[Adrian E]

Sometimes wd40 will make it worse especially if there's gunk in there already as it turns it to an emulsion. Gt85 can be a slightly better choice for a spray and hope treatment

[David's8]

Thanks Adrian, WD40 is often considered as a miracle cure for everything but I guess it is primarily a water displacement fluid and lubricant. GT 85 seems to be much the same - though with added PTFE. See this taken from their site "We have protected our hardwood patio furniture, killed woodworm with it and even eased up old granny’s joints! "

[Adrian E]

The reason I mention it is I race toy cars offroad (1/8th scale buggies) and if you spray WD40 on them in an attempt to clean them or keep mud/dust off it will do precisely the reverse.

GT85 can be sprayed on, left to dry a bit and blasted off with an airline if needed and it will stop crud sticking to the car as badly. It's great for making plastics come up like new as well I did my wheel arch liners with it!

[David's8]

Yes, I noted that with GT85 it dries off leaving a PTFE coating. Sounds good, so I intend to give it a go. Might try it on my joints too!

[ainarssems]

Is that microswitch connected when boot is open or when it's closed?

[HPsauce]

Give me 5 minutes and I'll tell you....

Edit: Circuit closed when boot is open.
And to elaborate, that is with no pressure on the switch, i.e. the microswitch is NC.
Closing the boot latch applies pressure on the microswitch, opening the circuit.