Help! Door Locks
 

Our '02 X5 door locks are not working properly. This morning, the door would not unlock with the key (we use the master key without keyless function as the key battery died out last year). Anyhow, since we could not access the car, we got a locksmith to open the vehicle with a coat hanger.

Now, the central lock button seems to be dead. The doors doesn't unlock or lock when the button is depressed. The rear doors can't be opened as they are still locked. The passenger door can only be unlocked from the inside when you pull the handle. The driver's door can only be locked and unlocked from the inside.

The vehicle does start up and drive. I drove it for 30 min hoping it may reset something...no luck.

Thoughts?

checked fuses?

Can you let me know location of fuse?

i can't right now, too late to go to garage... lol... there two main banks of fuses, one is in the glove compartment, when you open the lid, the fuses are under a plastic cover stuck to "ceiling" of the compartment. turn two thumb knobs and you will see it. also, on the cover is the legend for fuses.
the other bank is in the back, on the right side of the trunk area is a carpeted cover with a handle, as you pull it open, the bank of fuses is there, along with legend...
assuming that you have the X5 - can you put down the year and model (if you to put down the last 7 of vin, i can get you complete list of factory installed option on your car)
once you find the fuse, pull it out and check with a tester, not just visual...

EDIT: nevermind, you did say it is a '02 X5 - tells you how late it is and how sleepy i am... lol... keep us posted of your progress

Checked the fuses in glove box location....all appear to be fine. Still, central locking button on center console is dead. When depressed...nothing happens. We can only enter the X5 through driver and/or passenger side. Lock and unlocking for both front door can only happen from inside manually.

Rear doors are still locked and cannot unlock or be opened.

Thoughts?

well, it is definetely an electronic/electrical issue... since the rear doors are double locked (can't be opened froom inside), is the gas cover flap locked too? If it is, there is a pull string on the inside that should allow you to open the flap...

the locks are controled by EWS module, if I am not mistaken... So, either the EWS went belly up, or it does not get the juice... If it went belly up, replacement, while availble on a secondary market, MUST be coded to the car by a dealer (or a reputable indy), in order to assure that the keys are matching to the car and that the odometer reading is not throwing an orange "tamper" dot - then you will not be able to sell the car... EWS, AFAK, is one of the many modules storing the odometer reading.

So, lets hope that the module is not getting the juice... let me pull some diagrams and see where it is being fed from...

Meanwhile, guys, we have a lot of folks on this forum who know their stuff, c'mon guys, chip in!!!

thanks for the info..... doing more search within the forum, looks like there is another set of central lock fuse in cargo area. I will have to climb through the back (rear door and hatch are doubled lock) and look at the fuse box.

Dumb question: do you think the battery is too weak to power the central lock system? The car does start-up.

well, weak battery is known for throwing some weird electronic gremlins, and if the battery is aroound 3-5 year mark, it might be a good time to look into replacing it... for the time being, let's see if the other fuse would help...

Check the battery. I had a strange issue with GT1 when I had low voltage. My EWS module would not power on, causing all sorts of issues. This happened when I didnt use it for a while. After charging it, and now driving every day, EWS module always works.

Well, according to the documentation, if the EWS is dead, then car con not be started... interesting...


Electronic Vehicle Immobilisation System EWS 3.3

The EWS 3.3 serves as an antitheft alarm system and enables the start of BMW vehicles.
A transponder chip is integrated in each of the vehicle keys. A ring coil is fitted about the ignition lock. The transponder chip is powered by the EWS3 control unit via this coil, i.e. no battery is required in the key. The power supply and data transfer take place in the same way as a transformer between the loop antenna (coil) at the ignition lock and the transponder chip.
The key then sends data to the EWS3 control unit. If these data are correct, the EWS 3 control unit enables the starter by means of a relay located in the control unit and additionally sends a coded start enable signal via a data link to the DME/DDE. These procedures may result in a start delay of up to half a second.
Components

Data link to DME/DDE

The EWS3 control unit sends a coded enable signal to the DME/DDE via the data link. The engine cannot be started before this signal has been transferred.
Engine control unit (DME/DDE) with coded start enable input

The engine control unit (DME/DDE) only enables engine start if a correct enable signal is received from the EWS control unit.
EWS-DME/DDE interface

Identical variable codes are stored in the EWS 3.3 control unit and in the DME/DDE control unit. The value of these codes changes after every start procedure. Start enable only takes place if the code sent by the EWS control unit agrees with the code calculated in the DME/DDE control unit.
The control units are allocated only during initial programming of the DME/DDE control unit. The engine control unit then adopts the basic code of the EWS control unit.
Important
It is not possible to replace the DME/DDE or EW 3.3 control units for test purposes!
In rare cases, it is possible that the variable codes in both control units deviate from each other. In these cases, it is possible to reset both codes to the initial value via the service function DME(DDE) EWS III matching.
Key identification and start procedure

The following procedure takes place after inserting the vehicle key in the ignition lock:

• The transponder in the key is powered via the loop antenna and sends the key data to the EWS3 control unit.
• The EWS3 control unit checks the key data to ensure it is correct and only then sends an enable signal to the starter.
• The EWS3 control unit sends the variable code to DME/DDE. There, the variable code is checked against the saved variable code; if they match, the fuel injection is released.
• After the engine has started, the EWS3 control unit generates new key data (change code) and transfers them to the transponder in the key.
• A new variable code is also created and stored in the DME/DDE control unit.

Fault recognition in engine control unit

The following faults are monitored in the engine control unit:

• Interface, i.e. line to EWS control unit: In this case, the check is carried out in order to establish whether a signal is received and whether this signal is not subject to excessive interference.
• Variable code: A check is conducted as to whether the variable code which is sent by the EWS control unit agrees with the value calculated in the DME(DDE) control unit.

Engine start is inhibited if a fault is detected.