car not unlocking properly

hi, can anyone help me with my problem on my 1999 Carrera 996. when I lock the car with the remote it works fine and indicators flash twice as they should. when I unlock the car it unlocks but does not always flash once as it should and the alarm makes a chirping sound. my interior door lock switch on the dashboard also lights up on its own accord. also around the same time I noticed that my door does not close as smoothly as it normally does and that I was getting a rattle from inside the door. on removing the door panel I cannot see anything wrong. any help would be greatly appreciated. ray.

Was the 'chirp' like a double-beep? If so, that would indicate a system fault, which is most likely a microswitch withing the door lock assembly. (There are 5 switches inside each lock). Either that, or the door lock motor, but that is less likely if you can open the door. A diagnostic check with a Porsche tester should show up what is wrong.

hi Richard, thanks for replying so quickly. as usual I think you have nailed the problem. I am getting 2 beeps and I believe the problem is at the door lock/mechanism due to the severe rattle that I am getting from the lock area whilst driving with the door panel off. can I replace any or all of the 5 microswitches if I were to remove the lock assembly and identify the fault? or would the Porsche diagnostic check identify the exact faulty switch? thanks ray.

You can strip down the lock, and will probably find something like this: Trouble is that Porsche don't supply the switches separately - only the comlete lock assembly at about £100. I believe the switches are made by Burgess, but I haven't been able to find a part number. There are several that look similar on the RS Components site, and I have also heard of people buying a similar switch at Maplins, and modifying it to fit.

hi Richard. I will remove lock and investigate. hopefully I will be able to identify the problem and carry out a repair at little cost. I will let you know how I get on. have been trying to upload pics of car through photobucket but still cannot manage to get them to pcgb. I would really like you to see the new latest type led rear lamps that I have fitted to the car which gives it a more modern look. will keep trying. also my tipec membership expires in june when I will come on over to the other side! thanks once again. ray.

Take a look at this post Ray: http://www.porscheclubgbforum.com/fb.asp?m=428572

CPC have the microswitch. I did post the part number somewhere but cant remember where. Doh.

thanks for letting me know but after taking apart the lock assembly and getting to the microswitches I decided it would be more cost effective with my time to simply replace the lock assembly with a complete new unit. this also allowed me to replace the lock and have the car locking whilst waiting on the parts to arrive from design911. I will keep the old lock and make it available to anyone in the club who has the same problem and wants to overhaul the lock or needs spare parts from it without having to remove their own lock assembly first.

Generous offer Ray. One tip when refitting. MAKE SURE the blade of the key barrel engages in the slot in the door lock before you bolt it all up tight. It is easy to assemble without the blade being in the slot, and it can cause lots of problems in the future.

hi Richard,I was a little premature with my message as I had been patting myself on the back for reassembling the lock and having it ready to fit whilst ordering up a new lock. as it happens when I fitted the lock I have been unable to set the alarm or lock the doors now. numpty comes to mind. I do not think that it is the blade of the key barrel not engaging that is the problem, more likely that I have not reassembled the lock correctly. I intend to have another look at the lock after I receive and fit the new one. perhaps I would be better stripping the lock for its parts at this point so that I would have them available to more members for posting. what do you think? ray.

just to let anyone interested know that I have now fitted my new lock and everything is working correctly. had to visit my local indie though to have airbag light reset after not following Richards advice on disconnecting battery etc. found out also that my single beep from alarm was from the centre consol lid not always closing correctly. anyone requiring parts from my old lock ie microswitches etc make contact and I will post parts on but would advise anyone with the same problem to simply replace the lock assembly with a new one. hope this helps. ray.