NC1 Central Locking issue

  1. My model of MX-5 is: __NC1
  2. I’m based near: __Leighton Buzzard
  3. I’m looking for technical help or recommendations on: __Central Locking

Bear with me people.
2 weeks ago after being parked all day (in the sun) I went to open the car and I had to use the key.
I thought fob battery, as it had done similar before so I changed it with a new a new one from my stock but no different.
I know NCs CL can play up due to water ingress (mine is never out in the wet ) but it is 18 years old. I looked at a replacement mechanism at £125 but found a replacement motor on AliExpress which arrived quickly. In the meantime I sourced a new Panasonic battery and lo, all worked well and has done for 2 weeks. Until yesterday it was in direct sun again and same thing, had to use key entry.
All fine again today.
I guess I will use as is until it finally packs up as I believe that changing the CL and /or motor is a bit of a pain.
My query though I that I am puzzled as to why it doesn’t work after standing in heat.
Anyone else had this at all?

First off have you got a link to the AliExpress one.

Yes my drivers side lock actuator starter playing up intermittently at first and noticed similar when out in the sun, the sun in particular on the drivers side.
I eventually replaced the lock actuator with a known working one SH off eBay, £25. That was a good few years ago now, they are becoming increasingly difficult to source SH now although I’ve not looked recently.

Sounds about right for a dealer (Mazda) parts @@£125. It’s a wear and tear thing I guess, with the drivers side lock getting most use although both doors unlock simultaneously when you need to.

Hi sorry to jump in the convo.

Need at least one actuator myself for my NC1. What do you mean “SH” please?

SH = Secondhand

I can’t even use the excuse that english is not my second language.

It was obvious! Thank you

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Thank you! Would these be pretty much plug and play or would these need major work to be adapted please?

Well I have not done it yet but my research leads me to believe that once the lock mechanism is out the housing just unclips and the motor inside is just swapped out. They are universal for many eastern cars.
The difficulty is getting the mechanism out and back again with fiddly rod connections to the handle.
As mine now works fine on normal days it can wait until complete failure before I attempt it!
The amount of work is the same weather you change the motor or complete assembly. But there is a £120 price difference!

It’s not too difficult to get the locking mechanism out, might take 30-40 minutes and similar for refit.
I’ve done worse jobs.

Thanks. Would you be so kind to send me a link for that motor? I’ll give it a shot for 12 quid.

Have a look in this thread, I collected lots of info and posted it for this exact reason.

Update. Although I have the replacement motor I have not attempted it yet. Basically it is working fine most of the time.
Every Wednesday I am a volunteer lock keeper and the car is parked in full sun on that side all day. It does not work after that . Next day and all the coming week it is fine. Till Wednesday and it gerts hot!
Don’t get it.

Mine was exactly like yours, just the drivers side. Occasionally it didn’t work if in the sun on that door, then the weather cools off and it was ok. Left it all winter then the following year into warm weather again it failed altogether.
I fitted a known working one second hand off eBay, never had anymore trouble.
I stripped apart the actuator and found slightly burnt diode, I think that is the part, educated guess with help from another member suggested it could be the diode gone. I was going to fiddle with replacing the diode but I ended up binning the actuator in the end.

I’ve got one of those motors brand new, just arrived if anyone wants it? I bought two and only tried one. I figured I’d try a motor while I waited for actuators to come back into stock.

I received a new actuator today from MX5City.

I’ll send you one for nowt.

That would be amazing, thank you!!! I’ll send you the address via messages and you can let me know how much it’ll cost you to send it so I can also do a bank transfer or similar. Thank you so much!!!

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