C3 Tech/Performance V8 Technical Info, Internal Engine, External Engine, Basic Tech and Maintenance for the C3 Corvette
Sponsored by:
Sponsored by:

Power Door Locks on 1981

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old Mar 25, 2010 | 10:49 PM
  #1  
ALNDD's Avatar
ALNDD
Thread Starter
Cruising
 
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 12
Likes: 0
From: McKinney Texas
Default Power Door Locks on 1981

Does anybody have a clear diagram of the power door lock setup, mine aren't working and I want to disassemble, but don't know where to go after getting the door panel off.
Reply
Old Mar 25, 2010 | 11:16 PM
  #2  
SIXFOOTER's Avatar
SIXFOOTER
Le Mans Master
Supporting Lifetime Gold
10 Year Member
 
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 9,192
Likes: 27
From: Boca Raton Florida
Default

Here is a good schematic
Reply
Old Mar 25, 2010 | 11:28 PM
  #3  
ALNDD's Avatar
ALNDD
Thread Starter
Cruising
 
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 12
Likes: 0
From: McKinney Texas
Default

WOW, that's great. How about something showing the mechanical side?
Reply
Old Mar 25, 2010 | 11:52 PM
  #4  
SIXFOOTER's Avatar
SIXFOOTER
Le Mans Master
Supporting Lifetime Gold
10 Year Member
 
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 9,192
Likes: 27
From: Boca Raton Florida
Default

Closest thing I have
Reply
Old Mar 27, 2010 | 12:23 AM
  #5  
ALNDD's Avatar
ALNDD
Thread Starter
Cruising
 
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 12
Likes: 0
From: McKinney Texas
Default

Is there an additional panel on the inside of the door that comes off to facilitate getting to the parts, or do you have to work through the holes that are available? This looks pretty tough to work on if something additional did not come off the doors. I have read the other posts about disassembling and lubing things to facilitate parts working better, just seems hard to get to the parts, any suggestions?
Reply
Old Mar 27, 2010 | 09:49 AM
  #6  
jdp6000's Avatar
jdp6000
Melting Slicks
10 Year Member
 
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 2,740
Likes: 3
From: Aurora Ontario
Default

Originally Posted by ALNDD
Is there an additional panel on the inside of the door that comes off to facilitate getting to the parts, or do you have to work through the holes that are available? This looks pretty tough to work on if something additional did not come off the doors. I have read the other posts about disassembling and lubing things to facilitate parts working better, just seems hard to get to the parts, any suggestions?
There is a door at the bottom. Once you have the panel off you will notice everything is accessible one way or the other.

Whats wrong with your locks? Remember the power lock system works in series if one switch is bad neither power lock will work.

Jim
Reply
Old Mar 27, 2010 | 10:36 AM
  #7  
pauldana's Avatar
pauldana
Race Director
Supporting Member
20 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
 
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 10,956
Likes: 409
From: California
Default

its 90% a bad switch.... replace the switches before you get in to deep
Reply
Old Apr 5, 2010 | 05:02 PM
  #8  
SteveKoz's Avatar
SteveKoz
Cruising
 
Joined: Apr 2010
Posts: 13
Likes: 0
Default

Hi. I'm starting down this same path.. My doors will lock but will not unlock from either side. I'm almost sure it's a switch BUT is there a way to jump the locks and ensure they work? I was in there a while ago but with my season starting up I'm back into looking. I think the motor has 2 wires to it. Is one for open and one for close? Would jumping power to wires off the motor directly actuate the locks?

Thanks!
Reply
Corvette Stories

The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts

story-0

8 Most "Only Corvette Owners Understand" Quirks and Problems

 Pouria Savadkouei
story-1

10 Reasons the C6 Z06 is Still A Performance Benchmark After 20 Years

 Joe Kucinski
story-2

How Much Horsepower Every Corvette Engine "LOST" in 1972

 Joe Kucinski
story-3

Top 10 DOs and DON'Ts for Protecting Your Convertible Top!

 Michael S. Palmer
story-4

Top 10 Most Explosive Corvettes Ever Made: Power-to-Weight Ratio Ranked!

 Joe Kucinski
story-5

150 hp to 1,250 hp: Every Corvette Generation Compared by the Specs That Matter

 Joe Kucinski
story-6

8 Coolest Corvette Pace Cars (and Replicas) of All Time

 Verdad Gallardo
story-7

Top 10 Corvette Engines RANKED by Peak Torque (70+ Years of Muscle!)

 Joe Kucinski
story-8

Corvette ZR1X Will Be Pacing the Indy 500, And Could Probably Race, Too!

 Verdad Gallardo
story-9

Top 10 Corvettes Coming to Mecum Indy 2026!

 Brett Foote
Old Apr 5, 2010 | 05:36 PM
  #9  
78pace's Avatar
78pace
Burning Brakes
20 Year Member
Conversation Starter
All Eyes On Me
 
Joined: Aug 2001
Posts: 854
Likes: 7
From: dudley ma
Default

check the pigtails to the switches also. Mine where shot. replaced switches and plugs and life is good
Reply
Old Apr 5, 2010 | 08:40 PM
  #10  
78pace's Avatar
78pace
Burning Brakes
20 Year Member
Conversation Starter
All Eyes On Me
 
Joined: Aug 2001
Posts: 854
Likes: 7
From: dudley ma
Default

As for jumping the actuator yes there is a way to do that.I did, but forget how now. I know I had 2 wires with aligator clips. Check Willcoxs' site thats where I got the info on how to do it.
Reply
Old Apr 6, 2010 | 01:42 PM
  #11  
Ak. Mal's Avatar
Ak. Mal
Race Director
10 Year Member
 
Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 11,891
Likes: 3
From: Kansas City, MO ...I'd like to go fishing and catch a fishstick. That'd be convenient. - Mitch Hedberg
Default

Both switches have to be functional and present for the system to work.
Reply
Old Apr 6, 2010 | 02:34 PM
  #12  
81pilot's Avatar
81pilot
Drifting
 
Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 1,635
Likes: 8
From: Enid Oklahoma
Default

Originally Posted by ALNDD
Does anybody have a clear diagram of the power door lock setup, mine aren't working and I want to disassemble, but don't know where to go after getting the door panel off.
when I got my 81, neither door would lock with the buttons, but I could hear them trying, so I removed the door panels and used some spray lube in various places, including the lock...they have worked like a champ ever since.
Reply
Old Apr 6, 2010 | 03:20 PM
  #13  
thegazman's Avatar
thegazman
Drifting
 
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 1,305
Likes: 2
From: Lewisburg WV
Default thegazman

Also clean all the contacts real well and lube with dialectric grease. This took care of my problems with the door locks.
Reply
Old Apr 6, 2010 | 06:32 PM
  #14  
SIXFOOTER's Avatar
SIXFOOTER
Le Mans Master
Supporting Lifetime Gold
10 Year Member
 
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 9,192
Likes: 27
From: Boca Raton Florida
Default

The switches and the pigtail on them are a POS to start with, but you may be able to clean them up with contact cleaner and get them to work. Jumping the swotches is a little tricky, it takes 2 jumper to get it to do anything from the drivers side, same from the pass side and that requires the other switch to be plugged in and working
Reply
Old Apr 6, 2010 | 08:36 PM
  #15  
82Vette'ster's Avatar
82Vette'ster
Pro
20 Year Member
All Eyes On Me
 
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 511
Likes: 4
From: Phoenix AZ
Default

Originally Posted by ALNDD
Is there an additional panel on the inside of the door that comes off to facilitate getting to the parts, or do you have to work through the holes that are available? This looks pretty tough to work on if something additional did not come off the doors. I have read the other posts about disassembling and lubing things to facilitate parts working better, just seems hard to get to the parts, any suggestions?

I ended up using a hole cutter to make a nice access hole at the linkage connections on my 82. It made getting to the clips much easier. I made a cover for the hole then. I didn’t like fighting to get my hands in there to get to the clips, and nobody can see it.

My problem was the lock motor. But I did check the switches and wiring.
Reply
Old Apr 7, 2010 | 08:07 AM
  #16  
SteveKoz's Avatar
SteveKoz
Cruising
 
Joined: Apr 2010
Posts: 13
Likes: 0
Default

Thanks for the Wilcox tip. I didn't find anything for testing door locks but there is a lot of other info to read about.

Where did you buy your switches? Did you get the ones with "Lock" on them or generic ones?

Thanks again for the help.
Reply
Old Apr 7, 2010 | 08:23 AM
  #17  
Easy Mike's Avatar
Easy Mike
Team Owner
Supporting Lifetime
20 Year Member
 
Joined: Jun 2000
Posts: 38,923
Likes: 1,481
From: Southbound
Cruise-In II Veteran
Default

ALNDD: The assembly instruction manual and chassis service manual would help you a lot. Purchase both.

Reply

Get notified of new replies

To Power Door Locks on 1981

Old Apr 7, 2010 | 10:22 PM
  #18  
ALNDD's Avatar
ALNDD
Thread Starter
Cruising
 
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 12
Likes: 0
From: McKinney Texas
Default

Any ideas where the best place to pick up the manuals?
Reply
Old Apr 8, 2010 | 06:49 AM
  #19  
78pace's Avatar
78pace
Burning Brakes
20 Year Member
Conversation Starter
All Eyes On Me
 
Joined: Aug 2001
Posts: 854
Likes: 7
From: dudley ma
Default

sorry it was covette magazine that has the article/
do a search for corvette door locks it will come up. I bought the ones without lock from ecklers
Reply
Old Apr 10, 2010 | 03:11 PM
  #20  
SteveKoz's Avatar
SteveKoz
Cruising
 
Joined: Apr 2010
Posts: 13
Likes: 0
Default

I had a chance to open up both panels. I had replaced both wire harnesses a few years ago and everything WAS working back then. Now the drivers side LOCK function is the only function that works. UNLOCK doesn't do anything.. Pass side does nothing. I was going to just order a new switch for Pass side BUT still kicking this to understand before doing so.
What's got me confused is that I swapped switches between Drivers side and Pass side. I would have expected is that the pass side LOCK would be the only thing working. What I got was the same.. Driver side LOCK only works. Everything else is nada. Why would it LOCK only on drivers side and NADA on Pass side. Thoughts?
Reply



All times are GMT -4. The time now is 04:12 PM.

story-0
8 Most "Only Corvette Owners Understand" Quirks and Problems

Slideshow: These are the quirks, annoyances, and oddly lovable problems that every Corvette owner eventually learns to live with.

By Pouria Savadkouei | 2026-05-28 09:31:39


VIEW MORE
story-1
10 Reasons the C6 Z06 is Still A Performance Benchmark After 20 Years

Slideshow: 10 reasons why the C6 Z06 is still a performance benchmark after 20 years.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-05-27 17:20:09


VIEW MORE
story-2
How Much Horsepower Every Corvette Engine "LOST" in 1972

Slideshow: How much horsepower every Corvette engine lost in 1972.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-05-27 16:54:53


VIEW MORE
story-3
Top 10 DOs and DON'Ts for Protecting Your Convertible Top!

Slideshow: How to Protect A Convertible Top: 10 DOs & DON'Ts

By Michael S. Palmer | 2026-04-03 00:00:00


VIEW MORE
story-4
Top 10 Most Explosive Corvettes Ever Made: Power-to-Weight Ratio Ranked!

Slideshow: The 10 most explosive Corvettes ever built based on power-to-weight ratio.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-05-20 07:23:03


VIEW MORE
story-5
150 hp to 1,250 hp: Every Corvette Generation Compared by the Specs That Matter

Slideshow: From C1 to C8 we compare every Corvette generation by the numbers.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-05-12 16:54:12


VIEW MORE
story-6
8 Coolest Corvette Pace Cars (and Replicas) of All Time

Slideshow: Some Corvette pace cars became collectible legends, while others perfectly captured the look and attitude of their era.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-05-11 09:50:51


VIEW MORE
story-7
Top 10 Corvette Engines RANKED by Peak Torque (70+ Years of Muscle!)

Slideshow: Ranking the top 10 Corvette engines by torque output.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-05-05 11:58:09


VIEW MORE
story-8
Corvette ZR1X Will Be Pacing the Indy 500, And Could Probably Race, Too!

Slideshow: A Corvette pace car nearly matching IndyCar speeds sounds exaggerated, until you look at the numbers.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-05-04 20:03:36


VIEW MORE
story-9
Top 10 Corvettes Coming to Mecum Indy 2026!

Among a rather large group of them.

By Brett Foote | 2026-05-04 13:56:44


VIEW MORE