2002 Windsor Keyless Entry relay location needed.

[JellyBean]

Help needed to find the location of the 5 relays for the Keyless Essex system. My key fob works fine for both the door and the compartments but....

The keypad seems to function but the signal stops or doesn't reach the relays. Essex thought the problem might be bad relays and I have ordered them. I think the controller is under the dash but I don't remember seeing a pack of relays.

Where are the relays (1) located? Did Monaco ever have a "electrical component" location map?

Thanks in advance!

Glenn

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[jacwjames]

I went out to my coach and tried the remote to see if I could hear where the controller might be, it sounds like there is a faint response coming from under the dash on the passenger side but there is not access to that location that I can see.

A while back I was working on another problem and took the switch plate off at the front door and couldn't see anything back there. Also removed the small Care Free of Colorado key & switch, could see nothing there either.



Not sure how to gain access this area, never had to get in there.

[JellyBean]

Thanks Jim!


I listened there but no sound. I see what you mean; doesn't look like any access to the passenger under dash. I already looked inside the passenger armrest and front electrical panel fuse area.

They must be under the dash. If I can find time I will look further in that area. It would make sense for them to be inside for security reasons. But Monaco wasn't thinking about "us" for some of the access areas.

I am jealous of those who have removable pad panels above the dash. Only brave people like you venture to pull the fragile gauge panel forward for access to the headlight switch. Just getting my monitor free was nerve racking!

I have back surgery Tuesday morning so the door keyless pad will have to wait. Thanks again for taking the time to help!

Glenn

[jacwjames]

I understand, my dash has seen it's better days for sure.

I've had the center console out where the radio is mounted, there are some modules in there, one of which is the VIP smart wheel board. No good access through there unless it is mounted right behind the radio.



Have you found the reset button to reprogram the codes in your keyless entry?

[JellyBean]

Yep! Tight in there. Even with the monitor out there isn't much room.
Yes, I knew where the reset button is. Actually that is why my quest to make it all function started. The keypad started to flash every 30 seconds or so after I first pushed the button. Never before that. I think the relays failed sometime after the last time it worked correctly. (former owner perhaps)

The keypad seems to work correctly. Push the button and the multiple beeps. Enter 1119 then 3 beeps. Enter new code pause then 2 beeps. Test. I don't offhand remember the light flashes but it certainly seems to accept the new code; lock or open. Just no reaction from the coach. No clicking or light (interior) flashes.

Maybe after my back heals I will re-visit this quest. The new relays should arrive this week. My new "Motor Carrier 2022" arrived Saturday so at least I can dream of future travels.

Thanks again!

Glenn

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[wamcneil]

The relays aren't in the front electrical bay? That's where mine are.
The essex keypad has no "controller" BTW. The receiver under the dash is for the wireless keyfob and is not connected to the essex unit. The essex unit is self contained and energizes the same relays that the wireless keyfob unit activates.
The relay coils are connected to 12v and the two keyless entry systems each (separately) provide a path to ground to fire the relays.
Cheers,
Walter

[jacwjames]

I don't remember seeing anything related to the keyless entry in my front drivers side run bay. They could be there but nothing labeled as such and I had dug through mine last month trying to solve another issue.



Do you have a picture of what they look like, just for my future reference?


When you press a button on the remote can you hear anything?

[wamcneil]

Mine are lined up on the rear wall of the front electric bay. Yes, I can hear them clicking in response to the keyfob.
If your keyfob works fine, but the essex keypad is not, I would suspect the essex keypad or maybe the ground connected to it.
The way it works is the keypad provides continuity between the black ground wire, and one of the lock or unlock wires. The wireless keyfob receiver does the same thing.
If you've got a sketchy ground wire at the keypad it could explain your issue.
Grounding one of the lock or unlock wires at the keypad does the same thing as telling the essex to lock or unlock. So you can test the functions by grounding one of those wires at the keypad.
If you put a volt meter on any one of the lock/unlock wires, you'll find 12v. That's because the relay's coil is connected to 12v. The keypad provides a path to ground for the coils, which activates a relay.
Cheers,
Walter

[jacwjames]

Thanks, All good information.


BTW, nice that all your stuff looks like it was labeled. In my front compartment only a couple were. The wires though were labeled and by referencing the electrical schematic I could decipher what each one was.

[jacwjames]

One thing I didn't think about was possibly using a remote camera to try and see if you can see any of these relays under/behind the dash in front of the passenger seat.
I bought a remote camera to inspect my AC ducts, it actually worked pretty well. With the couple of holes that are in the dash you might get lucky and and at least see where they are to narrow your search.



I do remember a Monaco owner who had to replace the AC blower fan, it was the same situation, no way to get into the dash. he improvised a way to take the front lower portion of dash loose, not an easy task.



Found it>>>> There is a document on the Monacoers.org site that shows how the lower portion of the dash is removed.

[wamcneil]

"My key fob works fine for both the door and the compartments but...."
Personally, I'd try shorting the signal wires at the essex before taking things apart to find the relays. I think your issue is probably the essex or a ground in the vicinity of the essex.
The wireless and keyless systems are connected in parallel and actuate the same set of relays. So if the relays are working just fine for the wireless receiver, they should work just as well for the essex system.
If you open the entry door and hit lock/unlock on your keyfob it may help to hear the relays. If the entry door is open, the lock actuator won't make any noise.
Cheers,
Walter

[vito.a]

Usually these problems are caused by the Essex keypad. The early keypads do not hold up to the environment well.
I replaced our Essex keypad with a new KE-1701BHC from A1 Electric in Torrance CA. The BHC suffix part number has a direct plug to Monaco coaches.
Our relays are also in the front electrical bay.

[JellyBean]

Well, Fresh out of surgery. A little sore but alive....

The more I think about it the more I believe it is a combo of both the relays and the keypad.

Essex said (before my post) that I could have 1 or 2 bad relays but after reading the replies and studying the circuit map both could be bad.

Testing the lock / unlock wires with the keypad un-plugged I get continuity from ground to the lock wire but not the un-lock wire on the coach wiring side of the connector plug. (12v test light lights on one not the other)

Straight grounding them results in nothing. Maybe a bad connector on the other end? Maybe....

I will start there once I heal. With the door ajar and using the remote fob I now hear the relays clicking to the right of the center dash; behind the radio. Thanks Jim!

Thanks Walter and Vito.a For the suggestions and links! You're making my foggy post surgery brain have to think....

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[wamcneil]

I hope your recovery goes well!
Not sure a test light is conclusive. 12v goes through the relay’s coil first, so there’s a lot of resistance.
If grounding the lock/unlock wires doesn’t do anything, I’d suspect a problem between that plug and the relays.
Cheers Walter