INT: Repair non-functioning Door Sensors.
Hello Cb7Tuner, I decided to write up a "how to" on how to fix the door sensors on our Cb7's. . Ever since I bought my 91 Accord EX, 3 out of the 4 door sensors did not work. The one that did was the rear right passenger door. One possible reason your door sensors may not be working could be due to corrosion on the metal contacts. 20 Years of moisture will slip in between the contacts needed to tell the car a door is open, causing the car to believe the driver and passengers are actually ghosts who never open doors and slide through solid objects. *
*(I hope you enjoyed said joke. I never was strong in comedy)
*(I hope you enjoyed said joke. I never was strong in comedy)
(Not totally)
Required tools
Required tools
1) Contact cleaner spray
I have had this can of CRC Precision plug contact cleaner for years. Rarely had to use it, but it came in handy for this purpose. With that in mind though, I wouldn't know where you can buy this particular brand or how much it costs. Any contact cleaner should do well however. You may not need contact cleaner, but is highly recommended considering 1) it is not conductive, 2) meant specifically for the use of applying to metal used in electrical connections, 3) really makes it easier to remove tough corrosion.
2) Screw driver with size 1 Philips head
Really, you can substitute this with whatever fits to get the screw out, be it a knife or nail clippers. This size fit perfectly with little chance of striping the screw head (which we all want to avoid)
3) Abrasive material
Something like a brillo pad, tooth brush, or wire brush to really scrub any corrosion off the metal contacts. You may not need it, but it didn't make cleaning any worse.
4) Napkin, paper towel
Simply used to dry the contacts, but if you used the contact cleaner spray it should dry itself pretty quickly (3 - 10 seconds)
Cleaning door sensors
Just a side note: I cleaned all three of my door sensors before I made this guide, so you're not going to see any rust or corrosion in the pictures.
Small note 2) The pictures for the step you are looking at are above the step directions itself.
Image 1A
Image 1B
Step 1:
You have to remove the offending door sensor from the door jam. To do so simply unscrew the screw holding the door sensor against the door jam (Image 1A). Please note in image 2 there is a small wedge that holds on the door jams (Image 1B). Instead of pulling upwards out of the hole, pull the sensor (slowly) away from the door jam in the direction opposite of the car.
Image 2A
Image 2B
Image 2C
Image 2B
Image 2C
Step 2: (Image 2A) Here is a picture for reference of the door jam, looking from the top view. There is a cover that needs to be slid off in order to get access to the contacts. Thankfully there are no special tools required to achieve this. (Image 2B) The cover needs to be slid outwards towards the hole that held the screw in place.
Warning: (Image 2C) You will need to remove the cover carefully and slowly. Nothing will break, but the spring may fly out and get lost. If that happens, the lever/switch will not be able to maintain contact with the contacts when your door is open.
Image 3A
Image 3B
(Reference pictures, Step 3 will follow)
(Image 3A) lever/ switch will easily come out as it isn't secured down by anything. Remove the spring first and put it some where safe.
(Image 3C)
(Image 3D)
(Image 3E)
Step 3 ( Cleaning)
Now the contacts will be exposed (Image 3C). Your contacts may have green or brown corrosion on it. The directions of your contact cleaner spray my differ; Spray the contact cleaner on to the corrosion and follow up with the abrasive cleaner of your choice. I had a wire brush and decided to use that. The underside of the lever (Image 3D) may also need to be cleaned, repeat the cleaning process for this area too. (Image 3E) The screw is apart of the door sensor, but not just for holding it in place. When the screw is in contact with the door jam, it completes the circuit needed by the door sensor to operate (possibly as the ground.) With that in mind, it is good practice to clean the screw as well. iDry up the contacts with your drying tool of choice.
Image 4A
Step 4 (Putting it back together)
Place the switch/lever back onto the contacts, and carefully place one end of the spring on to the little plastic piece protruding from the switch/lever, and the other end into the small "pocket" which will compress the spring. Make sure the cover is aligned with the sensor and slowly slide the cover back on to the door sensor.
Step 5
Slide the door sensor back into the door jam and screw it in. If the cleaning worked, the light on the door should be lit up. It may not happen until you screw in the screw all the way.
Enjoy
Hopefully the door sensor is operating normally. Once I cleaned the door sensor for the driver side, many things started working. The door illumination light, the door indicator light, the ignition light, the key chime, and the headlight chime.
Hopefully I have helped someone else understand, and pray that I keep receiving knowledge and understanding. Hope this has helped you!
. I honestly do not know how to remove the sensor from the wire though, so replacing it wasn't my first choice.
!
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