power locks malfunctioning

[amalowze]

I am having a problem with my power locks. I have a problem locking my car. Well, keeping it locked. My power locks are constantly trying to unlock, whether my car is turned on or off, and even when the car is unlocked. I have had a few nights where this happened all night long and it drained my battery. I don't know what is causing this. Any suggestions as to what is causing this? I have pulled the fuse as a short term solution, but I am having trouble finding any information on this. Thank you in advance.

[etripp111]

Hello and welcome,

I have an 01 and an 02 Sportage with the SAME issue. These vehicles seem to have 'germlins' living in them. One day at work my 01 just started honking as if someone was breaking into it. By the time I got out to stop it, about 7 minuntes later, it stopped all on it's own. It hasn't happened before or since.

If you look through the post here you'll find that ALOT of people have the same type of electrical problems....doors that lock unexpectedly or won't unlock, windows that won't roll up or down, key fobs that work sometime, door ajar warnings when the doors are closed, etc, etc, etc, etc,..........


I know I'm not being to helpful, but what I'm getting at is that these cars (KIA's) are pretending to be something they are not.....high quaility, higher end cars......they are what they are.....point A to point B vehicles.......

I also believe that if anyone knew how to fix ALL these electrical issues, they could write a book and make a mint.........the issues is that the connectors are inferior, the computer is inferior, the relays are inferior, the switches are inferior....well you get the idea

Don't get me wrong, I love my KIA for what it is....a fuel saving alternative to my big, awesome, gas guziling FORD EXPEDITION. I have power everything in it and it works......oh yeah and I paid twice as much for it.......

You'll learn to live with the GHOST IN THE MACHINE............

To sum up, unless your willing to spend hours, perhaps days, tracking down where the problem is, just be happy it gets you to where your going......

Cheers,

Eddie


PS There is a REASON KIA stopped making this vehicle for 2 years from 2002 through 2005...they had ALOT of problems!

[gomer]

Check your connections. In this case, the temporary connection called the "switch". Does/did your vehicle have a keyless entry fob? One of the oddest things I've seen affect a vehicle is stray electromagnetic energy (radio waves, infrared, etc) setting off car alarms and radar detectors Ever drive past a convenience store after closing with your Whistler on?). No reason to think the same thing isn't happening here. Except that I don't have power locks and am taking one huge stab in the dark here.

[amalowze]

Where is the "switch"? as you call it? I bought the kia used, with only one key, and I use the key to lock and unlock it. Once locking, locks all doors with a beep, twice unlocking opens all doors with a double beep. But now, it won't behave properly.

[etripp111]

I'd be willing to bet that Gomer is right. When my 01 alarm went off, there was no one near it. The person who told me about it said that it would go off for a minute or two and then stop and start back up agian........

In my case I know there is something wrong with the wiring, as the rear doors do not respond to the key FOB or drivers master lock.........

Does yours unlock and lock all the time? Or just in certian areas? Do you have a KEY FOB(remote locking)? If you do have a key fob, I'd start by removing the battery from it. I would also see if when you park somewhere else you have the same problem.

Sorry about my last post, I know how frustrating these cars can be. It takes patients to solve these issues, look at mine. I've been trying all summer to figure out why my rear window won't work and why the rear doors don't respond to the power lock system.

I'm going to check every connection from the front to the back and maybe even apply some dilectric grease.

I bet the switch Gomer is talking about is the silonoid inside the drivers door. I believe that to be the 'master' unit of the whole door lock system. I don't know how you would test it other than to swap it out with another one.

Best of luck,

Eddie

[gomer]

Each door should have a solenoid, but that's the switched mechanism that actuates the lock itself.

The switch, I haven't gotten that far into my own Kia yet but the "brain" that receives the signal from the fob shouldn't be too far from a relay or somewhere along a hot lead; One might be able to locate it by following the hot from the fuse block. You can try Global Service Way. Just sign in, click on ETM, select year and model as well as Control Unit. Open Power Door Locks and then Schematic. What I got for my AL Sporty was:

[amalowze]

I think I have the solution for your windows. I fixed one on another sportage I had last year. The window switches rust out underneath the buttons and do not make contact. You will need to take them all apart, clean and apply some oil or slight grease. You will need to be careful of the miniature parts as they can easily be lost.

[gomer]

Dielectric might be better in this application as some oils and greases are flammable.

[etripp111]

Thanks for the info. I'm going to take my switch apart tommorrow and see if that's it.