Mini - how to extend central locking to passenger door?

[Mike Tomlinson]

2003 Mini Cooper. The central locking only operates on the driver's
door when opening. On locking using the fob, both doors lock, so the
relevant bits presumably are present.

Can the central locking when unlocking be extended to include the
passenger door? The handbook is silent on the subject.

Thanks.

[PCPaul]

Post by Mike Tomlinson
2003 Mini Cooper. The central locking only operates on the driver's
door when opening. On locking using the fob, both doors lock, so the
relevant bits presumably are present.
Can the central locking when unlocking be extended to include the
passenger door? The handbook is silent on the subject.
Thanks.

Often they do this deliberately to stop someone opening the passenger
door and running off with your handbag when you open the drivers door for
yourself.

Try pushing the unlock button twice, or for longer.

[Dave Plowman (News)]

Post by PCPaul

Post by Mike Tomlinson
2003 Mini Cooper. The central locking only operates on the driver's
door when opening. On locking using the fob, both doors lock, so the
relevant bits presumably are present.
Can the central locking when unlocking be extended to include the
passenger door? The handbook is silent on the subject.
Thanks.

Often they do this deliberately to stop someone opening the passenger
door and running off with your handbag when you open the drivers door
for yourself.
Try pushing the unlock button twice, or for longer.

Ah. I *completely* misread the question. ;-)

That sounds like a US feature and might well be a dealer programmable
option. Best to ask one.

[Chris Whelan]

On Sat, 13 Jun 2009 11:59:36 +0100, Dave Plowman (News) wrote:

[...]

Post by Dave Plowman (News)
That sounds like a US feature

Not especially. Many European cars of the last 10 years have it.

Post by Dave Plowman (News)
and might well be a dealer programmable
option. Best to ask one.

Assuming the OP's car is not broken, and it does indeed unlock the
passenger door on 2nd click, I think it a very good feature. I can't
visualise a situation where I *wouldn't* want it.

Chris

[Dave Plowman (News)]

Post by Chris Whelan

Post by Dave Plowman (News)
That sounds like a US feature

Not especially. Many European cars of the last 10 years have it.

Post by Dave Plowman (News)
and might well be a dealer programmable
option. Best to ask one.

Assuming the OP's car is not broken, and it does indeed unlock the
passenger door on 2nd click, I think it a very good feature. I can't
visualise a situation where I *wouldn't* want it.

Can't say it bothers me. Except remembering to do it if you have
passengers. But then I don't tend to leave my handbag on the passenger's
seat. ;-)

[Dave Plowman (News)]

Post by Mike Tomlinson
2003 Mini Cooper. The central locking only operates on the driver's
door when opening. On locking using the fob, both doors lock, so the
relevant bits presumably are present.
Can the central locking when unlocking be extended to include the
passenger door? The handbook is silent on the subject.

Sounds like the driver's door has a combined motor and switch whereas the
passenger one a motor only. Must have saved a few pennies.
Trouble is many of these things are microprocessor controlled these days
and may not be a simple matter to modify. Even with a basic system it
would likely mean changing parts and adding wiring.

My old SD1 Rover just had a switch on the drivers side - no motor. That
operated the locks on all the other doors and tailgate. As I discovered
when I added a remote - the drivers door lock didn't do anything. Ended up
using Maplin parts to sort it - they do a combined switch and motor which
fits. But then you need to add a timer so the motors stop after locking -
that was built into the original switch.

It might be possible to fit a motor/switch from a LHD model and just link
the switch wiring to the existing switch on the driver's door. But sadly
things aren't always that easy now, as I said.

[Blah]

Post by Dave Plowman (News)

Post by Mike Tomlinson
2003 Mini Cooper. The central locking only operates on the driver's
door when opening. On locking using the fob, both doors lock, so the
relevant bits presumably are present.
Can the central locking when unlocking be extended to include the
passenger door? The handbook is silent on the subject.

Sounds like the driver's door has a combined motor and switch

fob- being wireless - sono key so switch irrelevant?

[Dave Plowman (News)]

Post by Blah

Post by Dave Plowman (News)
Sounds like the driver's door has a combined motor and switch

fob- being wireless - sono key so switch irrelevant?

Yus. Totally misread the question. ;-)

[Brownz (Mobile)]

Post by Mike Tomlinson
2003 Mini Cooper. The central locking only operates on the driver's
door when opening. On locking using the fob, both doors lock, so the
relevant bits presumably are present.
Can the central locking when unlocking be extended to include the
passenger door? The handbook is silent on the subject.
Thanks.

Your local mini dealer can set the keyfob to do all sorts of trickery,
opening both doors being one of the options.

[Abo]

Post by Mike Tomlinson
2003 Mini Cooper. The central locking only operates on the driver's
door when opening. On locking using the fob, both doors lock, so the
relevant bits presumably are present.
Can the central locking when unlocking be extended to include the
passenger door? The handbook is silent on the subject.
Thanks.

Press the button twice? My Mitsubishi does:

1st press: unlock driver's door
2nd press: unlock remaining doors
3rd press: unfold wing mirrors

[Mike Tomlinson]

Thanks for the replies, guys. Pressing the fob button twice or holding
it down has no effect. When I lock the car using the fob or, sitting
inside, pressing the button on the dash to lock/unlock the doors, if I
hold my hand on the passenger door I can feel a clunk when attempting to
unlock it, as if the mech is trying to operate.

A google suggests that these door mechs are prone to failure so I
suspect I might have a duff one. Not a problem, I can live with it.

Ta again.