Question about power locks
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Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 88
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From: Wyoming
Question about power locks
I've been having some trouble with my 1980 vette's power locks. I can hit either button on the drivers door or the passender door and nothing happens. It's like they don't even click or anything. Something you would see if they were just put there for decoration. I pulled the door panels off on both sides and can find nothing wrong. The wire harness was plugged in to each door still. But they are most likely the original harnesses. Would I be wise to replace these or could it be something else? Thanks in advance.
ElSeano
ElSeano
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Joined: Feb 2001
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From: All in!
Cruise-In IV Veteran
St. Jude Donor '03-'10
Re: Question about power locks (ElSeano80)
No sound? Not even an attempt at movement?
Could be that the door lock soleniods are frozen.
Mine were rusty, but they at least tried to move. I cleaned them up and lubricated them and they've worked every since.
Could be that the door lock soleniods are frozen.
Mine were rusty, but they at least tried to move. I cleaned them up and lubricated them and they've worked every since.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jun 2001
Posts: 1,166
Likes: 0
From: Beautiful Grand Rapids MI
Re: Question about power locks (ElSeano80)
I ended up replacing the passenger side actuator. Funny thing about these is that either both work or neither work. I changed the actuator, and I think one of the switches, and voila.......they both worked fine!!!
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jul 1999
Posts: 3,030
Likes: 17
From: White Pine / Dandridge TN
Re: Question about power locks (ElSeano80)
I believe that if one switch does not work then both switches will not work. I think the passenger side switch is connected to the driver side switch. In my case, the actuators are actually missing. No wonder they don't work. Check your switches and actuators(make sure they are there!) as well as the fuse. Also could just be loose wiring connection.
Regards,
Jim
Regards,
Jim
Thread Starter
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Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 88
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From: Wyoming
Re: Question about power locks (ElSeano80)
Thanks everyone. I'll check those things out and let you know what I find. I'm pretty sure the solenoids aren't frozen since it's been in my garage since summer, and they actually didn't work back then either. Sounds like it's the actuators. Thanks again everyone.
ElSeano
ElSeano
Drifting
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 1,804
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From: Gettin crazy with the Cheez Whiz! OK
Re: Question about power locks (ElSeano80)
Does someone have a pic or diagram of the power door lock set-up. I am going to install power door locks in my 78 and would like to see how the rods and actuators are arranged in the door.
Thanks,
Jason
Thanks,
Jason
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Brett Foote
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Joined: Feb 2001
Posts: 49,198
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From: All in!
Cruise-In IV Veteran
St. Jude Donor '03-'10
Re: Question about power locks (The_Dude)
Mine make noise, but don't work. How hard is it to get at the actuators once the door panel is removed?
Once you get the door panel off it's pretty easy to see the actuator with a flashlight and trace all the rods and such. I used carb cleaner to clean it up and some WD-40 type lubricant on all the joints and down into the actuator and then some silicone spray to cover it all up.
Did both doors last April and it's been working every since.
Mine was so frozen up I almost broke a key off from the outside trying to unlock it to get in. I didn't lock the car after that until I had everything else fixed.
One way to tell if it just needs to be cleaned is to give it a bit of help. If you've got the doors unlocked, get someone to help you. Push down on each lock (not the switch, but the actual lock). Not hard enough to actually lock it, but just to help. Then hit the power lock. If it moves while being helped, it probably just needs to be cleaned.
Racer
Joined: Apr 2000
Posts: 499
Likes: 0
From: Kristiansand
Re: Question about power locks (ElSeano80)
Jim is correct, the two switches works together. Current to the actuators pass through both of them and the grounding is at the passenger switch.
I has the same problem in my car and it was bad contact in the switches.
All 1980 drawings are at my site. The additional_schems.zip file contains a simplified drawing of the power lock.
I has the same problem in my car and it was bad contact in the switches.
All 1980 drawings are at my site. The additional_schems.zip file contains a simplified drawing of the power lock.