Greetings all and thanks for all of your thoughts on this matter.
The problem with the keyless entry system on my 2006 Monterey has been solved...and it was actually a fairly minor and relatively easy repair. When I removed the black latch cover and then the larger panel to which the latch cover is attached, the complete locking mechanism was exposed from the actuator on the left to the black plastic door latch in the middle to the locking latch rod on the right...the attached digital image shows this mechanism. Once this mechanism was exposed, I closed the door and operated the keyless entry system from inside the coach to see exactly what was, and was not, operating properly. The silver rod connected to the actuator on the left is connected to the backside of the black latch in the middle of the image...the other silver rod is also connected to the backside of the black latch and then connects on the other end (right side) to the actual locking mechanism of the door. The actuator is designed to pull both rods through the black lever to the left to lock the door and to push both rods through the black lever to the right to open the door. When I actuated the keyless entry, it locked the door fine...it pulled everything to the left. But when I tried to unlock the door, the actuator pushed the rod connected to it approximately 1 1/2" to the right but only moved the black latch and the rod going out the other side to the locking mechanism less than 1/2"...clearly not far enough to open the door lock. It was obvious that there was a problem with the connecting points on the backside of the black latch which was not allowing the same amount of lateral movement in both rods and the black latch required to open the door.
I contacted the folks at Trimark, the folks who designed and manufactured this system, and explained the malfunction...I also emailed them the attached image. Though they couldn't precisely identify the root cause of the problem I was having, we all agreed that the black plastic latch was the likely culprit. So I had them send me a new black plastic latch (they had one in stock and it was only $10.00!!!) so that I would hopefully have the new part required to make a proper repair before I took the door apart any further. When the new latch arrived, I disconnected the silver rod from the actuator on the left and the silver rod on the other end from the door latch on the right at which time the black plastic latch easily slid out from behind the gold colored bracket holding it in place. When I looked at the back of the latch, it was obvious what was causing the malfunction. Both of the silver rods have 90 degree bends in them which are designed to fit into pockets on the backside of the latch...the inner wall of the pocket which accepts the end of the rod connected to the actuator had reached and exceeded its design life and failed and was allowing this rod to move to the right, the direction required to unlock the door, without causing any movement of either the latch or of the other rod connected to the door locking mechanism. I have attached a digital image of the backside of the failed black latch with a yellow circle around the failed pocket wall.
Once the new plastic latch was properly installed, everything worked fine. Understanding what actually caused this problem, I immediately called Trimark and ordered another latch...I figured that I better get another when they are still available. Hopefully, the life of the new latch will be longer than the original.
Sorry for the length of this response but it might save somebody a bunch of hassle and money and frustration sometime down the road if they experience this same problem.
Jim
