'97 expl randomly unlocks itself
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Joined: Dec 2004
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'97 expl randomly unlocks itself
My daughters '97 Explorer has a very strange problem. After you park and lock the vehicle, it will randomly unlock itself. I've removed door panels looking for a stuck switch, pinched wire etc. but have found nothing. We've change the key chain FOB but it still unlocks.
I recently replaced the battery, during which I noticed that with everything turned off, there was a small load on the battery. When I replaced the terminals there was a small spark, as if something was turned on inside the vehicle. Could there be a relay stuck or something?
This has become a real problem and I am stumped. After a recent short family trip, my daughter came home to find that her stereo had been stolen out of her truck. She swore she locked it before we left. It was shortly after that that I witnessed it unlocking itself.
I've got a feeling its got something to do with the keyless entry system but I don't even know where to begin to trouble shout it. Is there a module that can be replaced? Ford wouldn't give me any clues, they just wanted me to take it in so the can play with it.
Any help would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks
MRH
I recently replaced the battery, during which I noticed that with everything turned off, there was a small load on the battery. When I replaced the terminals there was a small spark, as if something was turned on inside the vehicle. Could there be a relay stuck or something?
This has become a real problem and I am stumped. After a recent short family trip, my daughter came home to find that her stereo had been stolen out of her truck. She swore she locked it before we left. It was shortly after that that I witnessed it unlocking itself.
I've got a feeling its got something to do with the keyless entry system but I don't even know where to begin to trouble shout it. Is there a module that can be replaced? Ford wouldn't give me any clues, they just wanted me to take it in so the can play with it.
Any help would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks
MRH
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Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 941
Likes: 4
The keyless entry module may have inadvertantly gotten programmed to your neighbor's code. Or it may have become unduly sensiitive to interference, or maybe some thief is using a code grabber or scanner. Ask yourself whether the unlocking is happening in only one geographic location, or whether it is happening all the time, in many different places.
This will help to isolate localized effects from some problem in the vehicle itself.
I know from my own experience that the "spark on the battery post test" is not valid on Explorers. If you disconnect the battery ground strap for some time (as to clear codes or reset the BLM corrections or idle strategy), and then you reconnect the battery, you will find quite a hefty spark coming from the terminal. I believe this is due to the computer's back-up power supply charging up, plus maybe other capacitors and/or stepper motors in the system. You can't separate out an inappropriate stand-by load from this initial current surge -- you would have to hook up an ammeter and watch for a long-term draw -- one that lasts longer than 15 seconds or so.
This will help to isolate localized effects from some problem in the vehicle itself.
I know from my own experience that the "spark on the battery post test" is not valid on Explorers. If you disconnect the battery ground strap for some time (as to clear codes or reset the BLM corrections or idle strategy), and then you reconnect the battery, you will find quite a hefty spark coming from the terminal. I believe this is due to the computer's back-up power supply charging up, plus maybe other capacitors and/or stepper motors in the system. You can't separate out an inappropriate stand-by load from this initial current surge -- you would have to hook up an ammeter and watch for a long-term draw -- one that lasts longer than 15 seconds or so.
