1985 Vette locked me inside!
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Apr 2022
Posts: 181
Likes: 118
From: Oregon
1985 Vette locked me inside!
When I got home from a drive yesterday, i found that my doors had locked themselves. Pushing the button to unlock did not work. When i manually unlocked the drivers door, it relocked itself within a few seconds! Had to be quick with the handle after manually unlocking to get out of the car.
Now that I have escaped, I am trying to figure out what is going on. The locks seem to default to the locked position. Any time I unlock it manually, it will relock after a few seconds. Pushing the buttons gives a faint click from the dash area, which I assume is the door lock relay. I have done a search, as well as gone through my FSM, and can’t seem to find anything on this. Have any of you had this problem and successfully fixed it?
Thanks!
Now that I have escaped, I am trying to figure out what is going on. The locks seem to default to the locked position. Any time I unlock it manually, it will relock after a few seconds. Pushing the buttons gives a faint click from the dash area, which I assume is the door lock relay. I have done a search, as well as gone through my FSM, and can’t seem to find anything on this. Have any of you had this problem and successfully fixed it?
Thanks!
Drifting
Joined: Nov 2021
Posts: 1,737
Likes: 386
From: People's Republic of Nueva York
I don't know that this is anything more than commiserating, but my '84 is constantly trying to lock itself.
I thought it was the aftermarket alarm system, but it's still trying to do it with the alarm module on my desk. I suspect a door switch or a short as well. But it's not a huge priority right now, so I just pulled the circuit breaker for the locks. Obviously, that leaves me with manual locking only.
The wiring diagram on mine shows the power lock relay is in the center instrument panel under the air vents, so I plan to go probing there to check if I'm getting voltage from one of the switches. If I get to it before you have an answer, I'll let you know what I find.
I thought it was the aftermarket alarm system, but it's still trying to do it with the alarm module on my desk. I suspect a door switch or a short as well. But it's not a huge priority right now, so I just pulled the circuit breaker for the locks. Obviously, that leaves me with manual locking only.
The wiring diagram on mine shows the power lock relay is in the center instrument panel under the air vents, so I plan to go probing there to check if I'm getting voltage from one of the switches. If I get to it before you have an answer, I'll let you know what I find.
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Apr 2022
Posts: 181
Likes: 118
From: Oregon
The switches appear to be ok. The drivers door switches were replaced with new a couple months ago. I will check them again today. My car does not have any aftermarket alarm or remotes for the keys. Just the factory parts.
Race Director
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 12,221
Likes: 446
From: Overland Park Kansas
2020 Corvette of the Year Finalist (appearance mods)
C4 of Year Winner (appearance mods) 2019
That's what you get for naming your car "Christine"!! LOL
Seriously, I have ANOTHER car's lock diagram in my download folder. Recently repaired my daughter's locking circuitry. If ours is like hers, moving the switches GROUNDS the appropriate loop. 12V is running to the lock actuators (in the doors). Grounding one side pulls the lock closed...Grounding the other pops it open. IF ANYWHERE ALONG THE SWITCH PATH IS TOUCHING FRAME/GROUND, THAT WILL CAUSE THE DOOR TO LOCK.
That's my theory w/o pulling up the schematic for your particular car. IOW, the wire going to your lock switch could have been breached -- and it might be touching metal. Or...as mentioned, the switch itself isn't working properly -- meaning it's sticking internally. I'm fairly sure I took one of mine apart to clean/fix it 10-15 years ago. Most everything (electrical) on our cars is fairly primitive and can be fixed.
Seriously, I have ANOTHER car's lock diagram in my download folder. Recently repaired my daughter's locking circuitry. If ours is like hers, moving the switches GROUNDS the appropriate loop. 12V is running to the lock actuators (in the doors). Grounding one side pulls the lock closed...Grounding the other pops it open. IF ANYWHERE ALONG THE SWITCH PATH IS TOUCHING FRAME/GROUND, THAT WILL CAUSE THE DOOR TO LOCK.
That's my theory w/o pulling up the schematic for your particular car. IOW, the wire going to your lock switch could have been breached -- and it might be touching metal. Or...as mentioned, the switch itself isn't working properly -- meaning it's sticking internally. I'm fairly sure I took one of mine apart to clean/fix it 10-15 years ago. Most everything (electrical) on our cars is fairly primitive and can be fixed.
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Apr 2022
Posts: 181
Likes: 118
From: Oregon
Fixed! The brand new switch in the drivers door was sticking in the locked position. Appears to have gotten stuck on the trim. Removed and reinstalled carefully, and it is working again!
