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Power Lock Question

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Old Apr 13, 2008 | 01:54 PM
  #1  
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Default Power Lock Question

Well I'm stumped.

I put new power lock switch pigtails on my 81 because the originals were destroyed. New one on driver and passenger side. For about a week, everything worked great, but after that, the only thing I can do is lock both doors with the driver's side switch. The unlock function on driver's side does not work, and the entire passenger side is useless.

I just checked and rechecked all of my connections, and everything looks good. The ground on the passenger side is on the bare metal of the door. I don't know where else to go.

Anybody with some ideas?
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Old Apr 13, 2008 | 07:30 PM
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are you sure the actuators are good? switches?
maybe try some contact cleaner in the switch to
see if it will clean them.
if it works the switches are relatively cheap.
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Old Apr 14, 2008 | 04:45 AM
  #3  
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Originally Posted by 1Z87L8
are you sure the actuators are good? switches? maybe try some contact cleaner in the switch to
see if it will clean them. if it works the switches are relatively cheap.
Great suggestion...or the actuator rod freezes up due to the elements. If the boot if cracked or torn, water will penetrate the rod mechanism and freeze up.
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Old Apr 14, 2008 | 06:22 AM
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Thanks guys for all your help. I found the problem, though. The contacts on the actual switches were a bit corroded, so I took some relatively smooth sandpaper and cleaned them up a bit, and now everything works.
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Old Apr 14, 2008 | 09:10 AM
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The contacts on those 'new' switches were already corroded? If so, you need to get some dialectric grease and put a dab on all of those contacts. That will smooth out the operation of the switches and also keep air/humidity from corroding them as fast.
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Old Apr 14, 2008 | 05:51 PM
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Originally Posted by 7T1vette
The contacts on those 'new' switches were already corroded? If so, you need to get some dialectric grease and put a dab on all of those contacts. That will smooth out the operation of the switches and also keep air/humidity from corroding them as fast.
I didn't get the new switches that you actually move. I got the harness that the switch plugs into. The switches are original and were corroded.
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Old Apr 14, 2008 | 07:54 PM
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Got it. Still, the next time you get in the console, put some of that dialectric grease on those contacts. It will save you from doing the contact cleaning as often.
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Old Apr 14, 2008 | 09:37 PM
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000 Steel wool works great for cleaning up electric contacts. It will also conduct electricity and start smoldering if you complete a circuit.
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