Keyless Entry will only unlock?

[slavrenz]

Has anyone ever heard of the keyless entry system on a 2001 Protege LX 2.0 only being able to unlock the car at certain times? I will go a couple of months at a time with it working normally, but then for a day or two, I can't lock the car with my remote, but I can unlock it. When I try to lock the car, it will make all of the sounds and flashing lights properly, the only thing is that the door locks do not physically go down. If I lock the doors manually, the car will unlock properly with the remote.

Any ideas on why this happens?

 

[slavrenz]

nobody has any ideas ???

 

[slavrenz]

I have a feeling that I've posted in the forgotten subforum, judging by the scarce number of posts. (boom02) Ah, well, any help would still be appreciated. Thanks.

 

[slavrenz]

bump

 

[briggs.rd]

Sure your standing close enough to the car? Cuz my remote only works within like 20-25ft, any furthur than that doesn't work. Sometimes it seems like your standing close enough, when I'm really not.
I don't know much about radio frequencies, etc. but it could be that if your in a crowded area, where there are more radio signals, it's harder for the car to hear the radio signal from your remote.... just a theory... im no radio signal expert.
Only theories I have.

 

[slavrenz]

Hey man,
I at least appreciate the response. Yes, I am sure I am close enough - there are times when I will be inside the car or pressed against the glass and it won't even work!
As for radio frequencies, I will probably never know for sure if this is it or not. This issue never seems to occur in one specific place, but rather over a multitude of different locations and cities, so I guess I'll just have to deal with it.

 

[bucksatan]

Maybe something from your pocket worked its way into the button, blocking it from fully depressing. Probably a long shot, but it could be worth checking out.

 

[prichmbz]

I have always found problems with the keyless entry. I put a Viper 350hv in my wife's car(the protege). It was easy and you can integrated it with the existing keyless.

 

[slavrenz]

I have always found problems with the keyless entry. I put a Viper 350hv in my wife's car(the protege). It was easy and you can integrated it with the existing keyless.

Man, anything with the word "Viper" in it sounds expensive . Besides, my problem only seems to happen a handful of times every year, so I guess it's something I'm willing to live with.

 

[prichmbz]

Man, anything with the word "Viper" in it sounds expensive . Besides, my problem only seems to happen a handful of times every year, so I guess it's something I'm willing to live with.

It cost me $65 installed. I did cheat being a mobile installer and working at best buy, but you can get the parts for the install for about $120. If you do the install yourself, its not to expensive, and not to hard to do.

 

[spbumz]

my guess would be the remote. like buck said, maybe something worked its way in there...if it were me, id just pop apart the remote and make sure everything looks good and clean then put back together. You could also probably find another remote on ebay or somewhere for pretty cheap...programming is not too hard as long as you follow the instructions

 

[mx-p5]

^^ What he said ^^

Or, pick up a new remote off ebay for $20

 

[slavrenz]

The problem is that I have two remotes, and using one or the other doesn't seem to make a difference. Honestly, I don't really plan on investing any time into solving this, since it only acts up every few months for a few days at a time max.

 

[mx-p5]

Both remotes do it?

 

[slavrenz]

Both remotes do it?

Yes

 

[TTBadDog]

Possible low voltage to whatever? Try this, no that it helps but may rule something out and help you go where.
Check battery voltage with DVM and test remote for operation.
Let your battery run down to say 11.7 and then test it.

If it fails at 11.7 then perhaps the whatever is not getting enough current or voltage to operate. Check connections etc.

Does this occur only during certain weather conditions?

 

[80sGuy]

I have the same problem with my '00 LX, most times it works and at times it doesn't. It will lock when armed (CodeAlarm) and will not unlock when I press to disarm (vice versa). I have to press on, off, on, off a series of times for it to properly lock and/or unlock via the remote, but it works fine when I use the key manually. This seems like a common problem with the Proteges. My front driver door lock actuator had just failed on me a week ago and are making this annoying grinding noise every time I lock/unlock the doors, I just disconnect the wire for the time being and ordered a new part for it and will install it when I get the chance.

 

[slavrenz]

I have the same problem with my '00 LX, most times it works and at times it doesn't. It will lock when armed (CodeAlarm) and will not unlock when I press to disarm (vice versa). I have to press on, off, on, off a series of times for it to properly lock and/or unlock via the remote, but it works fine when I use the key manually. This seems like a common problem with the Proteges. My front driver door lock actuator had just failed on me a week ago and are making this annoying grinding noise every time I lock/unlock the doors, I just disconnect the wire for the time being and ordered a new part for it and will install it when I get the chance.

It's actually the opposite of what I have - I can always unlock the car with my remotes, there's just once in a while where they won't lock (but the lights all still flash and the horn beeps).

As to the previous poster, it has happened in winter and summer, rain and shine, so I don't really see a correlation there. I will try your electrical test suggestion if I get a chance - honestly I was expecting this problem to get worse, which I why I posted for help, but it actually happens less now than it used to.

I did see a TSB on some earlier Proteges where the driver's side power door lock actuator needs to be replaced because it gets susceptible to corrosion and makes the doors unlock and lock by themselves. This has also happened once or twice to me while driving, so while my Protege is not specifically listed as an affected unit, it may still be something to look in to.

 

[80sGuy]

Well, I have same problem as you - the doorlocks can 'unlock' after disarming with the alarm remote and it can also armed 'lock' but won't lock at times. It goes both ways and have a mind of its own. The parking lights flashes when arm/disarming but the door locks can either lock or unlock vice versa.

My door locks never lock/unlock automatically because of corrosion, I just have the problem described above and I believe this also had something to do with the alarm system. When I took the 'actuator' apart, there were water leaking out of the unit but I couldn't find any trace of corrosion and the grease were all there. The problem was a worm gear inside broken off by the neck.