Corsa's Electrical Gremlins: Locking & Light Issues

I had a similar issue with my 2016 Vauxhall Ampera-e last month. The symptoms were exactly like yours, unreliable central locking and dimming lights. Turned out to be a faulty cable connection to the door handle's electronic unit. The wire harness had some wear and tear, causing intermittent connectivity issues. Got it checked at the Vauxhall certified service center, they found the cable was partially damaged where it flexes between the door and body. This is actually a known issue in some models. In my case, they had to replace the entire door handle wiring harness. Not a super serious problem, but definitely something that needs proper attention as it affects the security system. The repair was straightforward once they identified the issue, took about 3-4 hours. I'd suggest going to a certified Vauxhall dealer since they're familiar with the electrical systems in these EVs. Make sure they check the ground connections too, sometimes that's part of the problem.

Hey, thanks for sharing your experience! Really helpful to know it was the door handle wiring in your case. I'm seeing similar symptoms, so it might be the same issue. Just wondering, do you remember roughly how much you ended up paying for the repair? And has everything been working properly since they fixed it, or have you noticed any other quirks?

Hey! Yeah, absolutely happy to help update you on my Ampera-e situation. After getting it fixed at the Vauxhall center, everything's been working like a charm, no more locking issues or funky light behavior. The keyless entry is working perfectly now, just like when the car was new. The total bill came to 170€, which covered the cable replacement and labor. Honestly, it was worth every penny since I was getting really annoyed with the unreliable locking system! The techs found that the cable connection to the outside door handle electronics was shot, just like I suspected. If you're seeing the same symptoms, it's probably worth getting it checked out sooner rather than later. These electrical gremlins can be a real pain if left unchecked! And at least now you have a rough idea of what you might be looking at cost-wise. Hope this helps!

Thanks so much for all the details! I actually took your advice and went to the Vauxhall certified center yesterday. You were spot on, it was indeed a wiring issue, though in my case it was the main door wiring loom that needed replacing. Cost me a bit more, around 220€, but they did a thorough job. The mechanic was really helpful and showed me exactly what was wrong. The wires were pretty worn where they flex between the door and the body, just like you mentioned. They got it sorted in about 4 hours, and I'm happy to report that everything's working perfectly now, no more dodgy central locking or dimming lights! Actually feel a bit silly for putting it off for so long. Should've just gone to the certified center in the first place instead of worrying about my previous bad experience with that other mechanic. Really appreciate your help in pointing me in the right direction. Cheers!