T5 Body Control Module faulty? Doors locking. Interior lights not on.

[aSimpleLife]

Thanks very much for that. What is your opinion on buying VW parts from ebay?
I do it fair bit for computer type parts - and provided you use well rated suppliers - for not to complex parts - it usually works out well.
I did that recently for the T5 drivers side electric window and was happy with the result - however - I was then wondering if that part might have contributed to this new problem? - no one yet seems to think so - but that switch is also connected to the central locking.

[Syncrotek]

well fwiw, I would say do research on what you want to buy, and the usual checks on the seller, but the VW parts I have bought from
ebay have been ok, and saved me approx 50%, around $400.00. The door-lock replacements for mine came from a low kms van at
a wreckers in Sydney (not ebay), looked new.

[aSimpleLife]

That is good feedback thanks. I am very keen to explore keeping the running costs down for my T5. Especially for the future if I keep it as a private vehicle after it's business life.

I have to say that at only 112,000km I have been rocked by what I feel is the poor reliability and then the high cost of parts (not sure if I also end up having to pay overs on the labour. I guess I was spoiled with my preceeding 3 cyl Daihatsu Charade that gave my 300,000km with no repairs. I had assumed that VW transporters would be as reliable. But they are not. I would replace it with another van tomorrow if I could be sure I could get something more reliable...but such a choice doesn't seem to exist. I love everything else about it and after fitting it out it is perfect for what I need it for.

[Sunny43.5]

Sad isn't it you pay a premium price for supposed superior engineering only to get hit in the hip pocket when it comes time to do repairs that you don't expect . Like you I had a cheap Holden Barina [not the Suzuki knock off but the Opel one ] did over 120000 kays in under 4 years and $65 in repairs I was stoked . VW transporter T5 less than 120000 kays and approx. $18000 in repairs hmmm not happy Jan ! plus the Barina was $12500 VW was $48000 .

[Transporter]

...on contrary here. My T5 4motion is 11 years old and during 150,000km it's been very reliable, needed only the water pump. Also our other 6 VAG cars in family are rock solid. Better than Forester we had for 10 years which needed 2 sets of rear wheel bearings, the ignition coil and also suffered the oil leak from the timing belt area at 60,000km.

[stevan]

I have had exactly the same problem going on for the last couple of months in MY10 2L with 111,000km.Yesterday 500km from home I went in to pay for diesel at a roadside station and came back out to find my van all nicely locked up with the keys in the ignition! Luckily I had left the passenger window down for my dog.I had to climb in through there.Please let me know how you get on.I will investigate under drivers seat.

[aSimpleLife]

Sorry for the delay in answering. I have been living with the problem for the moment. I am also following up some other advice I received here about getting a mechanic that actually likes VW's...but it's a bit like having a family breakdown
For me I feel it is likely to be the drivers door lock actuator - why I say that - is I half following the advice - had a can of the contact cleaner - and with an extension sprayed it into ever crevice that I could find - a day or so after that the door stopped locking itself and the interior lights started coming on - but it took a little while - after a few weeks it seems to be returning to how it was.
Here's the links mentioned on the previous page;
Replacement door lock actuator; £25 vs £230?? - The Brick-yard
How to remove Door Card/Trim - Pics - The Brick-yard
How to remove Door Lock and Assembly Carrier - The Brick-yard
I'm off so see a VW mechanic for a general chat this week and I will be asking for his input also.

[stevan]

Hi, just wondering if you found the source of the problem?

[aSimpleLife]

For me I believe it was dirty sensors in the door activator.
They weren't working at all.
Then I emptied half a can of that sensor spray into every crack I could find (I wasn't feeling up to taking the assembly apart)
At first it seemed to make no difference.
Then the lights started coming on after a delay - then the delay got less - and now it is back to normal - for the time being.
So I am assuming that some of the spray eventually worked it's way into where it needed to get.
And with the lights coming on the doors are also not relocking

[aSimpleLife]

3 years down the track and the problem hasn't returned. It seems that sensor spray really did the job.