Central locking and signal lights on Meriva

Mollycat13

Hi,

Two weeks ago, we bought a 2004 Vauxhall Meriva 1.6 Design. We now have a couple of problems which I think might be linked.

Now and again, the left indicator goes click, click, double click. (technical term..lol)

When visually checking the indicators outside, they flash a few times then skip a flash.

Also,

Central locking is playing up. The rear passenger door seems to be out of sync with the others. It won't unlock with the clicker or when I use the key in the drivers door, I have to pull the button up manually. also the button pops up when I double lock the car. It seems secure though as when centrally locked, the door won't open even though the button is up.

How could these be linked? I hear you ask.

Well,

When I lock the car with the clicker, The indicator light on the left side doesn't flash but the others do. Could be two problems with one solution.

Any ideas anyone?


Wendy

Premier_2

I think they may be kind of linked ... but not in the way you hoped.

When an indicator bulb fails, the rest of the bulbs on that side will often flash faster, hence the double click.
You need to check the bulb that you have identified as not working, perhaps it's even just a poor earth at times.

Other than that, the central locking issue probably isn't related to the indicator fault.

Mollycat13

There isn't a bulb not working. I've just had another look and the bulbs all flash sometimes but not others. Also, when I had the indicators on, they all flashed but the left side skipped a flash about every three flashes.
I think it's possibly a loose wire causing the indicator fault. I'm at a loss with the central locking though. I did try re-syncing the key but no joy.

Mollycat13

I'm bumping this post to try to get further input before I fork out a fortune at a garage. If anyone could tell me the most likely causes, it might save me a bit.

Thank you

KeithP

Try posting on a Meriva forum.

Google Meriva forum.

hewhoisnotintheknow

faulty stalk or relay for the indicator

oil the locks and mechanisms first before trying anything else

onejontwo

Sometimes the bulbs can play up, try swapping the bulbs from side to side or even the complete bulb holder if it's the front and see if that cures it. As for the c/locking I think you've got a faulty motor and the only cure is replacement i'm afraid. This would require further investigation.

easytreasure

You need a new flasher unit. This is common fault on Meriva. Cost about £22.00 from vaux dealer. I just fitted one to mine ( nightmare ) should have been a simple job

easytreasure

Driving along, about to turn right or left , and instead of the usual tick tock, tick tock.
You start to get tickety tock tickety tock. If you have kids in the car they find this really funny. You also notice that sometimes when you get out of the car that the indicator is stuck on or as you work the central locking only one indicator flashes .It’s a bulb you are thinking. Its not though. It’s the flasher unit. This is a common Meriva problem. Its just as well to buy this from a Vauxhall dealer. About £21.68 I paid for a genuine part. You don’t want to be changing this too often. It’s an oblong plastic relay about 50*50*25 mm with six pins sticking from the bottom. Fitting is tricky to say the least, but this is how to do it.

[FONT=&quot]Lift up the bonnet. If you are safety conscious disconnect the battery before you start. Just undo one lead. Looking from the front of the car. Try to remove the passenger side wiper arm this will make things easier. I could not get mine off though. There is a nut under the shiny plastic cap on the arm. The nut comes of easy but the arm is on a spline and mine was stuck fast. Worth a try though. Next undo about 6 small black bolts that hold the plastic trim in place under the wiper arm. This makes thing a bit easier. There is a plastic door in this trim. You have to bend it up and look inside. A torch may be some help here. The first item to look for is an oblong black plastic box that contains some large fuses. No need to look inside this. Just wiggle it a bit with both hands and gently pull up till it unclips from the bodywork. Gently move this box down and to the centre. Out of the way. Now look inside again with your torch. There is a larger flat plastic box that contains most of the cars relays but you have to get the top off to get at them. There are 3 screws about 3mm torkx type head. The two on the front come out easy. But there is one on your the right that is hard to get at and needs a short screwdriver about 80 mm long. Once you get all three screws out the lid should come off quite easily. There is another plastic catch at the front. A normal screwdriver will release this no problem. Now calm down a bit and take your time with the next part. There are a couple of traps waiting. Looking in with your torch you will see the flasher relay over on the right at the back. Have a good look at its exact position in relation to the other parts. You must put the new one back in the exact same place. You need to put your hand in. Grip the relay and pull up and wiggle. Its about as stiff has a stubborn 13 plug to pull out. You must make sure when it comes out that you look at the pins and make a mental note of the pin positions. You will have trouble trying to get the new relay in the wrong way around. I managed to put the new relay in about 25 mm too far over to the left. On testing it clicks OK but now you have no indicators at all ( suicidal almost ). So make sure you study the exact position of the old relay before you pull it out. With the new relay in you problem will be gone. Just need to put everything back as it was.[/FONT]

leachcroft

Thanks so much for detail instructions. I had all the problems of intermittent flashing on one side, one side staying lit when central locking activated and, eventually, right indicator sticking on. It was the relay and the instructions here were perfect for sorting it.
The only things I would add is that before removing the wiper, accurately mark its position on the windscreen with masking tape. This allows for it to be replaced accurately. I hadn't done this and spent a long time adjusting its position repeatedly so that it neither hit the other wiper nor went beyond the screen edge.
I paid £21.00 for the relay and was quoted £85.00 to supply and fit so very many thanks for the £64.00 saving.
Also 2 pairs of latex gloves saves a lot of skin scraping.

danazer

do you know why the boot lock won't catch