81 door locks
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Mar 2013
Posts: 108
Likes: 1
From: Georgia
81 door locks
Car switch will lock but neither switch unlock the doors and neither lock will unlock. Is there something preventing it from unlocking, like the car must be in PARK or something along that line?
Switches were locking and unlock fine, then both of them stopped working.
Help please
Switches were locking and unlock fine, then both of them stopped working.
Help please
Race Director
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 19,294
Likes: 2,754
From: Charlotte NC
Common problem. Either it is a switch or switches is/are bad...poor, dirty connections on the switch...or wires that are in the connector are about to break off due to so many strands of the copper wire are broken....also the connectors that are inside your car that are right on the inside of your hinge post...can be dirty/corroded due to moisture and age.
I would not be as concerned about the power door lock working with the switch...as much as making sure that when you go to manually unlock the door from the outside with the key...you do not feel that you are going to break the key off in the lock cylinder. This is an instant "give-away" that even though the power door lock solenoids may work...they are binding and creating such a drag on the unlocking portion of the system with the key....they need to be replaced. BECAUSE if you spin your door lock cylinder in the door trying to unlock your door...you have no idea how much FUN it is to get that area correct again. TRUST ME...the money your may spend now...is NOTHING to the money you will spend if you spin a lock cylinder in the door.
If you change the door lock solenoids...you HAVE TO make sure that the shafts on the solenoids can move with basically no effort manually by hand. I have gotten some new A/C Delco ones that were as bad as the old originals. I have found that getting the ones from DORMAN work really well.
You latch mechanism may also need to be removed, thoroughly cleans and re-lubricated will also aid GREATLY. I do several a year...and when I am done...the effort to turn the door key is GREATLY improved...because I do not want to have to fix a spun lock cylinder...that is for sure.
DUB
I would not be as concerned about the power door lock working with the switch...as much as making sure that when you go to manually unlock the door from the outside with the key...you do not feel that you are going to break the key off in the lock cylinder. This is an instant "give-away" that even though the power door lock solenoids may work...they are binding and creating such a drag on the unlocking portion of the system with the key....they need to be replaced. BECAUSE if you spin your door lock cylinder in the door trying to unlock your door...you have no idea how much FUN it is to get that area correct again. TRUST ME...the money your may spend now...is NOTHING to the money you will spend if you spin a lock cylinder in the door.
If you change the door lock solenoids...you HAVE TO make sure that the shafts on the solenoids can move with basically no effort manually by hand. I have gotten some new A/C Delco ones that were as bad as the old originals. I have found that getting the ones from DORMAN work really well.
You latch mechanism may also need to be removed, thoroughly cleans and re-lubricated will also aid GREATLY. I do several a year...and when I am done...the effort to turn the door key is GREATLY improved...because I do not want to have to fix a spun lock cylinder...that is for sure.
DUB
