Daewoo Kalos anti-theft malfunction?
Variant: 1.4 16V
Model Year: 2004
Categories:
Electrics, ECU, Warnings & Lights
Background:
Years ago i had an issue with airbag warning light constantly lit. Took car for maintenance and all the told me is to fix it they rerouted it.
Current issue:
After that rerouting my car has been wonky and weird.
DOOR UNLOCK and ANTI-THEFT MODE DEACTIVATION
1. Press and release the door unlock button on the transmitter.
• The LED on the transmitter will flash once. WORKS!
• All the doors unlock. WORKS!
• Hazard warning lamps flash twice. WORKS!
• Anti-theft mode is deactivated. UNKNOWN!
DOOR LOCK and ANTI-THEFT MODE ACTIVATION
1. Close all windows.
2. Turn the ignition key to LOCK and remove the key.
3. Have all passengers exit the vehicle.
4. Close all doors, hood and trunk.
5. Press and release the door lock button on the transmitter.
The LED on the transmitter will flash once. WORKS!
• All doors lock. WORKS!
• Hazard warning lamps flash once. DOESN'T WORK!
• Anti-theft mode is activated. DOESN'T WORK!
If hazard lamps flash once and anti-theft led (red) starts blinking in dashboard. After 10-15min hazard lamps WILL start flashing for several seconds, again and again and again until battery is flat.
Changed battery in FOB, tried the following:
Manually unlock doors.Sit in car with doors closed, turn ignition key to [ON], hold remote [LOCK] button for 2 seconds to sync. Didn't work, locks didn't cycle at all, or other indicators.
Manually unlock doors.Sit in car with doors closed, turn ignition key to [ON], hold remote [LOCK]+[UNLOCK] button for 15 seconds to sync. Didn't work, locks didn't cycle at all, or other indicators.
Even tried to do [ON]->[OFF]->[ON], in increasing times but nothing.
Issue still persist. My conclusion is that either one or several central locking systems sensors might be malfunctioning or anti-theft system is not working properly after that rerouting shit. Thing is there have been several times that the engine in mid drive hick-ups and every time one or both engine check/abs light lit up. Which sometimes go away after sometime or take car for maintenance to reset error codes.
Oh right, two times this issue has drain my car battery totally flat, so badly it had to be replaced. While in maintenance last time when checking for any active battery drainage sources, they used only key to open and close doors. They didn't find any sources that would drain car battery flat.
Without driving battery could go flat in 2-3 weeks. Conclusion, issue has to be FOB related because every time battery went flat i had tried to use only FOB to unlock and lock car.
Years ago i had an issue with airbag warning light constantly lit. Took car for maintenance and all the told me is to fix it they rerouted it.
Current issue:
After that rerouting my car has been wonky and weird.
DOOR UNLOCK and ANTI-THEFT MODE DEACTIVATION
1. Press and release the door unlock button on the transmitter.
• The LED on the transmitter will flash once. WORKS!
• All the doors unlock. WORKS!
• Hazard warning lamps flash twice. WORKS!
• Anti-theft mode is deactivated. UNKNOWN!
DOOR LOCK and ANTI-THEFT MODE ACTIVATION
1. Close all windows.
2. Turn the ignition key to LOCK and remove the key.
3. Have all passengers exit the vehicle.
4. Close all doors, hood and trunk.
5. Press and release the door lock button on the transmitter.
The LED on the transmitter will flash once. WORKS!
• All doors lock. WORKS!
• Hazard warning lamps flash once. DOESN'T WORK!
• Anti-theft mode is activated. DOESN'T WORK!
If hazard lamps flash once and anti-theft led (red) starts blinking in dashboard. After 10-15min hazard lamps WILL start flashing for several seconds, again and again and again until battery is flat.
Changed battery in FOB, tried the following:
Manually unlock doors.Sit in car with doors closed, turn ignition key to [ON], hold remote [LOCK] button for 2 seconds to sync. Didn't work, locks didn't cycle at all, or other indicators.
Manually unlock doors.Sit in car with doors closed, turn ignition key to [ON], hold remote [LOCK]+[UNLOCK] button for 15 seconds to sync. Didn't work, locks didn't cycle at all, or other indicators.
Even tried to do [ON]->[OFF]->[ON], in increasing times but nothing.
Issue still persist. My conclusion is that either one or several central locking systems sensors might be malfunctioning or anti-theft system is not working properly after that rerouting shit. Thing is there have been several times that the engine in mid drive hick-ups and every time one or both engine check/abs light lit up. Which sometimes go away after sometime or take car for maintenance to reset error codes.
Oh right, two times this issue has drain my car battery totally flat, so badly it had to be replaced. While in maintenance last time when checking for any active battery drainage sources, they used only key to open and close doors. They didn't find any sources that would drain car battery flat.
Without driving battery could go flat in 2-3 weeks. Conclusion, issue has to be FOB related because every time battery went flat i had tried to use only FOB to unlock and lock car.
Posted: Jan 26, 2026 (1 month ago)
Check for a parasitic drain , check battery voltage . scan for fault codes
Posted Jan 27, 2026 (1 month ago)
TL:DR During yearly maintenance, Battery ok, No drainage, fault codes reset.
Took car to yearly maintenance, asked to check battery condition and search for any drainage (battery ok, no drainage found [their words] thought they used key to open/lock). I would love to do it myself but it's -10 to -20 celsius and my hands can't take the cold, even the time to smoke a cigarette outside causes fingers to go white and skin to rip.
Airbag fault code reset (again), also written that they suspect clock spring maybe bad or going bad?
Also since it's so cold i did notice that central locking is a bit stiff or frozen, have open/close several times until all doors work. Though summer is the same, yet slightly better.
Also, i should mention that when driving to do weekly mandatory locations, engine hick upped several times, yellow engine check led lit up, again! Engine was warmed for the recommended time for that weather, before driving. There were several speed bumps but i usually slow down a little going over them.
Took car to yearly maintenance, asked to check battery condition and search for any drainage (battery ok, no drainage found [their words] thought they used key to open/lock). I would love to do it myself but it's -10 to -20 celsius and my hands can't take the cold, even the time to smoke a cigarette outside causes fingers to go white and skin to rip.
Airbag fault code reset (again), also written that they suspect clock spring maybe bad or going bad?
Also since it's so cold i did notice that central locking is a bit stiff or frozen, have open/close several times until all doors work. Though summer is the same, yet slightly better.
Also, i should mention that when driving to do weekly mandatory locations, engine hick upped several times, yellow engine check led lit up, again! Engine was warmed for the recommended time for that weather, before driving. There were several speed bumps but i usually slow down a little going over them.
Posted Feb 1, 2026 (1 month ago)
Post a reply
Join the community
Got a question? Can you answer other questions here? If so please...
More problems with the 2004 model year Daewoo Kalos
We have 3 problems and solutions in our database for this model year of the car.
View all Daewoo Kalos Problems
Parts mentioned