In article ,
Bert Coules wrote:
One of the door locks on my Nissan Note has started producing a sort of
mechanical whirring sound when I lock it with the key-remote; the actual
locking (and unlocking) still works perfectly. Presumably something
about the solenoid has changed, but is it likely to be a serious fault
which might escalate, or can I safely leave it to be looked at when the
car next needs a general service?

They are generally motors, not solenoids. With a mechanical gearbox which
produces the push pull. One polarity push, reverse it, pull. Controlled by
a central timer - the motors merely stall at the end of their travel until
the timer cuts the feed. I'd guess a motor rather than solenoid is more
efficient and smaller. Maybe even cheaper to make.

They are usually pretty cheap and nasty units with plastic gears which can
strip etc. Normally just replaced if faulty.

If the maker's part is stupidly expensive as they often are, it may be
possible to fit a generic one.

The system on my old Rover is notoriously unreliable as they get older. My
guess being the motors loose power with age. And NOS are no better. I
found a similar new generic on Ebay for 12 quid which can be persuaded to
fit with minor mods - and it has over 3 times the 'pull' of the standard
unit. Works a treat. ;-)

--
*You're just jealous because the voices only talk to me *

Dave Plowman London SW
To e-mail, change noise into sound.