MikeV8SE

MikeV8SE

New Member
...how annoying! Drove my soft dash RRC to and from work yesterday without issue. Parked it outside in its usual spot last night, went out this morning and it won't unlock! I've only got the one remote for the alarm/immobiliser/central locking and although the red light comes on when I press the button as usual, nothing happens.

I can unlock the drivers door with the key (this only operates the drivers door though, not the central locking - is this normal?) but didn't open the door as I imagine the alarm would be going off all day.

Nothing change overnight, apart from a lot of wind and rain, but can't see why that would upset it.

Any ideas?
 
Fob is fine, the red light comes on when you press the button. I'd be surprised if the battery had died like that overnight, it was running fine yesterday. Good shout though, will check that...when it stops raining and it's safe to get a battery charger on there!

EDIT: just thinking, a flat battery would probably explain the central locking not working too, wouldn't it...hmm!
 
Last edited:
Mike,
Central locking should work off key so does rather point towards the battery.
Depending on your alarm it may not go off if the battery is dead?
It may be that you are arming and disarming the alarm but the cl is not operating.
Problem is you don't know whether you are armed or not!
Only way to find out is open the door.
Not terribly helpful but you will have to open the door to pop the bonnet.
 
To know if it is alarmed or not....there should be a flashing LED on the top of the dash somewhere....

If the alarm goes off, just put the key in the ignition ad turn to Pos 2 to cancel....
 
Turns out it was a user error! Whilst trying (unsuccessfully) to change the light bulbs in a couple of the switches, I seemingly caught the interior light switch. As the door was open anyway, I didn't realise, and didn't check when I locked the car - so ran the battery flat. Oh bugger.

Oh well, left it on charge overnight - is it bad to run a battery completely flat, or good for it?
 
Ni-Cad batteries like a good cycle
Li-Ion batteries like a deep cycle
Ni-Mg not fussed on cycle
Lead Acid - don't like going completly flat to fully charged...they will tolerate it a couple of times, but constant cycling is not good for them as it causes the plates to warp with the heat cycles....best to do a trickle charge over a about a week or so to try and revive an old duff one...fast charging causes excessive heating of the lead plates causing them to warp if done to many times....

Gel-Cell batteries aren't so fussed about cycling the charge....but do go off after about 5 years as the gel starts to break down...

Thats only my opinion though.....
 
Thanks Saint - I take it I will have a standard lead acid battery? This is the second time it has gone completely flat, I put it on charge overnight and it seems fine today, fingers crossed no lasting damage!
 
The vast majority of Vehicle batteries are Lead Acid....

If this is only the second time you will be fine...4-5 times and the batteries start thinking 'enough is enough..'
 
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