Door Lock Problems - Actuator or Relay?
Thread Starter
5th Gear
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 5
Likes: 0
From: Raleigh North Carolina
Door Lock Problems - Actuator or Relay?
I have a 1998 Corvette. The passenger side door lock locks properly, but does not unlock when using the fob or pressing the door button. I am guessing that I need to replace the door lock actuator, but reading the forum it seems that relays are a common problem. I do not hear the faint clicking noise that others are describing with relay problems, so I still think it might be the actuator. The door locks every time, but it does not unlock. What do you guys think? Is it a bad actuator or bad relay? Thanks for your help. I have to remove the door panel to fix a floppy mirror problem, so now is the time to fix the door lock.
Tech Contributor
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 19,384
Likes: 87
From: Horncastle Lincolnshire, England
2023 C5 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
The relay is most common. A dealer would just replace the whole module but Bakersfield's thread is the best How To out there.
Team Owner
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 73,568
Likes: 33
From: Somewhere in Mo
St. Jude Donor '09-'10, '14
I have to ask.
Are you presssing the unlock button twice? Also insert your key into the drivers door and unlock it, then turn the key again to unlock the pass door. If it won't unlock in either of these two ways it's something with your door switch. IMO
Someone else may have your answer on that.
Edit I see now it doesn't unlock when pressing the unlock button inside either. Sorry for wasting your time!
Are you presssing the unlock button twice? Also insert your key into the drivers door and unlock it, then turn the key again to unlock the pass door. If it won't unlock in either of these two ways it's something with your door switch. IMO
Someone else may have your answer on that.
Edit I see now it doesn't unlock when pressing the unlock button inside either. Sorry for wasting your time!
Thread Starter
5th Gear
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 5
Likes: 0
From: Raleigh North Carolina
Going to try to replace middle relay
DeeGee,
I think I will try to replace the relay myself. I am guessing the the middle relay that unlocks is bad. The lock does unlock sometimes (maybe once every 30 times the button is pushed). Do you happen to have a copy of Bakerfield's post?
02KoolC5,
Trying to use the driver's door module to test the passenger side door module is a great idea. However, I don't want to remove the driver's door panel unless I have to.
Does anyone know a good place to buy door lock relays? Are the quality of some relays better than others?
I think I will try to replace the relay myself. I am guessing the the middle relay that unlocks is bad. The lock does unlock sometimes (maybe once every 30 times the button is pushed). Do you happen to have a copy of Bakerfield's post?
02KoolC5,
Trying to use the driver's door module to test the passenger side door module is a great idea. However, I don't want to remove the driver's door panel unless I have to.
Does anyone know a good place to buy door lock relays? Are the quality of some relays better than others?
Tech Contributor
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 19,384
Likes: 87
From: Horncastle Lincolnshire, England
2023 C5 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
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Racer
Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 427
Likes: 2
From: Redding Ca
yea I didn't do the swap myself for that reason but thought I'd throw it out there here is the how to I used and the vetteessentials.com for panel removeal good luck
http://www.ronjpics.com/Corvettestuff.htm
I think quality is about the same I also got mine from digikey
http://www.ronjpics.com/Corvettestuff.htm
I think quality is about the same I also got mine from digikey
Tech Contributor
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 19,384
Likes: 87
From: Horncastle Lincolnshire, England
2023 C5 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
Thanks for the reference # Chris. My door lock module is starting to go bad again. I checked and I found a supplier for that relay here in England. Looks like I have a job to do.
Thread Starter
5th Gear
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 5
Likes: 0
From: Raleigh North Carolina
Update - Problem Fixed!
I was able to remove the old relay and solder a new one onto the circuit board. The unlock relay is the middle one, and I had a heck of a time getting it out. I was using a 15 watt soldering iron, but bought a 40 watt one to get more heat. I have very little soldering/desoldering experience, so I watched I few youtube videos on the subject. I finally got the relay removed, and soldering the new one on was a little easier. I still had trouble getting the solder out of the holes of the circuit board so that I could install the new one. I tried using the copper ribbon and a vacuum tool, but that solder was still hard to remove. I ended up heating each area and pushing the relay to get it installed. Once in position, I soldered each of the five pins.
I plugged the repaired door module back in, and the unlock button now works! It was a bad relay after all. Thanks for all the advice I got on the forum! This saved me a lot of money. I would rather pay $1.67 for a relay than buy an entire door module or replace a perfectly good door lock actuator. If I can do this repair, anyone could!
I plugged the repaired door module back in, and the unlock button now works! It was a bad relay after all. Thanks for all the advice I got on the forum! This saved me a lot of money. I would rather pay $1.67 for a relay than buy an entire door module or replace a perfectly good door lock actuator. If I can do this repair, anyone could!
Just curious..how did that relay replacement work out for u dee gee? I have the same problem now..thks 
Racer
Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 269
Likes: 9
From: Greensboro NC
I was able to remove the old relay and solder a new one onto the circuit board. The unlock relay is the middle one, and I had a heck of a time getting it out. I was using a 15 watt soldering iron, but bought a 40 watt one to get more heat. I have very little soldering/desoldering experience, so I watched I few youtube videos on the subject. I finally got the relay removed, and soldering the new one on was a little easier. I still had trouble getting the solder out of the holes of the circuit board so that I could install the new one. I tried using the copper ribbon and a vacuum tool, but that solder was still hard to remove. I ended up heating each area and pushing the relay to get it installed. Once in position, I soldered each of the five pins.
I plugged the repaired door module back in, and the unlock button now works! It was a bad relay after all. Thanks for all the advice I got on the forum! This saved me a lot of money. I would rather pay $1.67 for a relay than buy an entire door module or replace a perfectly good door lock actuator. If I can do this repair, anyone could!
I plugged the repaired door module back in, and the unlock button now works! It was a bad relay after all. Thanks for all the advice I got on the forum! This saved me a lot of money. I would rather pay $1.67 for a relay than buy an entire door module or replace a perfectly good door lock actuator. If I can do this repair, anyone could!
I am going to try it..mine just went bad the other day..
Tech Contributor
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 19,384
Likes: 87
From: Horncastle Lincolnshire, England
2023 C5 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
It hasn't reached the top of the Honeydoo List yet
A friend here in UK also has the problem so he's going to help out when we get round to it. I have another friend who's an electronics guru so I may invite him along too and make it a door module party.
Racer
Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 269
Likes: 9
From: Greensboro NC
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 1,067
Likes: 46
From: Springfield IL.
Oldtimer
I just had one of the electronic techs at work replace the relays in one of mine. There were 4 relays with 3 different part numbers. I bought them from digi-key last year. You have to open up the module to get the part numbers unless somebody on here has those numbers.
8th Gear
Joined: Nov 2013
Posts: 8
Likes: 0
Actuator or Relay
My driver side door panel lock/unlock buttons will open the door locks, however, to lock the doors (pushing the buttons to lock), nothing.....this been going on for a month...I do not have a FOB, so upon exit I usually hit the "lock" button, hear the actuator, and it use to work....not anymore....
I bought a LCDM off E Bay, $45, rather than spend $80 for all the soldering stuff needed, just installed it, and it did not fix the problem....
Now, if an actuator goes bad, can it still work to open the lock and not function to close or lock the door?....The passenger sides door control work for both (locks and unlocks) so that tells me my actuator is ok, correct?....Now, could there be a wire going bad?...Could I have two bad relays, my box and the new/used box too?...Damn
I bought a LCDM off E Bay, $45, rather than spend $80 for all the soldering stuff needed, just installed it, and it did not fix the problem....
Now, if an actuator goes bad, can it still work to open the lock and not function to close or lock the door?....The passenger sides door control work for both (locks and unlocks) so that tells me my actuator is ok, correct?....Now, could there be a wire going bad?...Could I have two bad relays, my box and the new/used box too?...Damn