PT Cruiser Remote Entry

Anyone know if this is a common happening? The wife's '03 PT with 50k miles
decided to start locking and unlocking the doors rapidly for a few minutes
while she was driving and continued after she stopped and shut down.
The dealer wants $300 to replace the RKE, which may or may not fix the
problem.
A quick google found a Jeep forum where the keyless quit working and was
fixed by repairing the antenna on the rke but nothing about repeated lock
unlock.
I'm not into working on cars any longer so don't have a fsm, anyone know
where the rke is located on a PT?
Thanks,
BF

 

How old is the 2003 PT battery? If original and the voltage is too low the
body control module may not be functioning properly. If the battery is
fairly new and nominal voltage looks good, then check all the door sensors,
connectors, and grounds.

Bob

 

This vehicle does not use a Body Control Module. If one of the arm/disarm
key cylinder switches on either door including the liftgate shorts out it
may be telling the RKE to lock and unlock the doors randomly. This would
normally occur after a wet day or if the vehicle has been washed but could
happen anytime.

Glenn Beasley
Chrysler Tech

 

Thanks for the reply Bob and Glenn,
I'm thinking Glenn may have nailed it. We've had a very dry summer, but it's
been raining for the last several days.
Maybe some silicone spray in the lock cylinders?? To my knowledge, none have
ever been used.
BF

 

It has nothing to do with the cylinders, the switch is mounted on the
outside of the key cylinders. The problem is determining which one is bad.

 

Sorry, a bit dense!
Does the cylinder not do the actual unlocking and just energize these
switches to do the unlocking? That would be an unfortunate design.
To my knowledge the cylinders only unlock the one door they are on, so does
the switch turn off any theft alarm? Or, what are the switches for?
Thanks again,
BF

 

You need to have the SKIM module checked for any fault codes before you
start replacing switches. The key cylinders (mechanical) lock and unlock the
with key. On the outside of the key cylinders you will see a small switch
that just clips on to the outside of the key cylinders. This is used to arm
and disarm the vehicle theft alarm and also used for the central
locking/unlocking feature, Meaning if you were to insert the key in the
drivers door and unlock it twice by turning the key to the unlock position
twice it will unlock the passenger door and liftgate door as well.Yes the
cylinder does the actual locking and unlocking BUT will also unlock the
other doors via the switches sending signal to the RKE module. I hope this
helps

 

snip

Thanks again Glenn, I love learning stuff. Didn't even know about unlocking
twice. So far, it was a one time occurance, so I'm not in a hurry to rip
open door panels and maybe won't have to.

BF