Doors locks clicking random and rapidly

[Sarge502]

It's beginning to get super annoying. For the last few months, at random but more commonly than not, generally when I open a door, or even possibly when all doors are closed and I'm just simply standing very close to the proximity locks (although I haven't fully narrowed that down) what sounds like to be the door locks start clicking crazy. Sometimes even pretty fast and violently. As of recently, when it occurs, I've tried to pay attention to the lock buttons on the inside of the doors to see if they maybe shake or flutter, as if it's trying to lock or unlock, but they don't appear to move even the slightest. Yet it sounds like I'm rapidly clicking the unlock button on the key FOB over and over. Although I haven't touched a single button or it accidently get pressed. I've even sat the key down on the floor board so it isn't even in my pocket. Of course, as they would under normal conditions when unlocking, the tails and head lights will also go on and off with each click. So from the outside it looks like I'm a maniac doing some kind of light show.

I haven't fully tested all scenarios (doors closed vs one open, etc). But generally, in my case, I hit unlock from the key FOB upon approach, and in most cases, I open the rear door only while putting my toddler in the car seat with the key on my person of course. In the short time, I'm buckling him in, the lights, and what sounds like the door locks are just clicking and going crazy. Sometimes the clicking is really so fast it's concerning. Other times, it may only do it 5-6 times slowly during that duration. No rhyme or reason.

I can't really find much on this, therefore wanted to see if anyone has heard of this or has a fix or can pin-point a place to start. Not sure if it matters, but as mentioned I do have proximity entry sensors, and I do take the doors off when weather allows although it's been out of season now for a while. I haven't disconnected the door connections in a while if that would even matter or make a difference. Also note that I initially thought it was key FOB related. But it does it with both sets with new batteries.

I can maybe try to get and upload a video to show what I'm referring to. I'm sure it could be heard in a video.

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[Sarge502]

Video

 

[Thunderspud]

Whats up with the flashing LEDs in the footwell?

Have you installed anything aftermarket that interfaces with the OBD port, the security gateway, or the CANbus connections behind the glove compartment?

 

[Sarge502]

Those are recently added Floor lighting kit by dirt road cred. However those plug into the stock floor board lighting ports.
However this issue has been going on for 3 months or so and I just installed those lights last week.

I do have a taser programmer which I've had for a few years now way before the issue arises. I've even done a full reboot on that numerous times.

 

[Thunderspud]

Odd. Just a thought......when you unlock the doors using proximity does the fob light normally flash in the same way it does when you press the unlock button? All my doors are currently off, otherwise I would test it.

 

[Sarge502]

Prior to this issue I'm Not totally sure, since I never look at the FOB when doing either. I will say that the little red light on the FOB never blinked rapidly like it's doing as shown in the second video.

Odd. Just a thought......when you unlock the doors using proximity does the fob light normally flash in the same way it does when you press the unlock button? All my doors are currently off, otherwise I would test it.

 

[Thunderspud]

Prior to this issue I'm Not totally sure, since I never look at the FOB when doing either. I will say that the little red light on the FOB never blinked rapidly like it's doing as shown in the second video.

That flashing red light is what caught my eye. Figured maybe if that fob light doesn't activate when using proximity, but does when using the unlock button itself, it might indicate that something was being sent from the fob instead of being initiated by something inside the Jeep. But, I am out of guesses, lol.

 

[Sarge502]

That flashing red light is what caught my eye. Figured maybe if that fob light doesn't activate when using proximity, but does when using the unlock button itself, it might indicate that something was being sent from the fob instead of being initiated by something inside the Jeep. But, I am out of guesses, lol.

Same here. To my understanding that red light goes off like that, regardless of using the proximity directly or just hitting the button, but it continues to blink as if I'm continuously hitting the button which, of course I'm not.

im so at a loss. Frustrating

 

[kroo]

We had a similar thing happening with our Cherokee and it ended up being the battery in one of the fobs going bad.

 

[Rockabillyroy]

Did someone try to break into your truck? Check the keyhole. Samething like that happened to my wife's van. They broke the lock and the clicking was it trying and failing to engage. And the whole time, it was draining the battery.

 

[Sarge502]

Did someone try to break into your truck? Check the keyhole. Samething like that happened to my wife's van. They broke the lock and the clicking was it trying and failing to engage. And the whole time, it was draining the battery.

Appreciate the thought but I doubt that on many levels...

1. I rarely drive it. It's not my daily.
2. Its garage kept always.
3. I have cover/caps on my my actual locks on the doors, just to get rid of the silver key hole ring. and none have been removed, damaged, etc.

 

[mtbjeeper]

Similar problem. The exterior handle sensor for the proximity locks had failed causing the locking system to go berserk. Dealer put in a new handle and problem solved.

 

[Sarge502]

Similar problem. The exterior handle sensor for the proximity locks had failed causing the locking system to go berserk. Dealer put in a new handle and problem solved.

Hmm. Interesting. Was that the driver's side handle only they replaced in your case or both?

Reason I ask, is sadly enough I've truly never known the exact and proper way they SHOULD work for the JT. For example, even way before this issue, I've never had the proximity sensor work on the passenger side. Not sure if that's normal or just my JT. But I've lived with it considering 99% of the time I obviously open the driver's side door first by simply grabbing the handle with the FOB in my pocket. Can you clarify that as well? Hard for me to have a baseline to go off of.

 

[69charged]

My JL did the exact same thing right after I changed both FOB batteries. I did take t to the dealer and they couldn’t figure it out. Unfortunately it ended up just stopping doing that on its own so I was never able to figure out what was causing it.
Maybe it’s something to do with the door handle, as when I’m at the car wash and spray around the door handle area it tries to unlock constantly. Just weird in my situation it started after changing fob batteries.

 

[mtbjeeper]

Good question. I don’t know if they replaced both. I assume not. I know that at the time of the problem the proximity button on the passenger side still functioned.

I actually had no idea that the drivers side button wasn’t working, because I never use them. If I’m being honest I didn’t even know I had them. When I read about the handles being the possible culprit in my crazy door locking saga I tested them both. The drivers side was unresponsive while the passenger side worked fine. After that test I went to the dealer.

Assuming that only the drivers side had failed, I’m banking on them only replacing that side. I couldn’t imagine a scenario where they would go above and beyond and replace both.

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