So drivers door is giving me trouble opening when using the inside door button, and it only happens half the time but is getting worse. No trouble using the outside switch I just took them apart a few months ago and cleaned them. The emergency cable on the floorboard works to open the door as well. I can hear the relay working when I use the inside button but the door isnt opening. It cant be the button because I removed the button from the passenger door and moved it to the drivers side and got the same results. Where do I start? Do I go in behind the door panel? or is it the wiring that goes to the latch?

Any diagrams on taking off the door panel? Or is that a dead end?

Thanks for any advice or links gang.

 

some things to try..

question 1 - does the window index down when you press the inside door open button? (i suspect yes)

question 2 - when you press the door open button, will door open if you are pressing out on the door (at exact same time as the button press)? (to assist it opening)

question 3 - (from the outside) try opening door, closing door, repeat like oh say 10 times.... does door open fine all 10 times? also try same from inside

question 4 - open door. listen carefully in a quiet place or ear near latch on frame by gas door. press inside door open button. press open once every 2 seconds for 10 times. what sound do you hear from the door frame latch?

note on 1 - my understanding is that even if solenoid is failing , it should still index down, which means if its not indexing down, more than a solenoid problem
note on 2 - there isnt a door kicker, ya gonna assist it some. i think the unlatch motor only runs for like .5 seconds, so you may have to assist a open at unlatch time.
note on 3 - the motor in the latch itself must be overheating if it works when cooled down and gets worse the more you ask it to function
note on 4 - you should hear a sound every press. sound may very very faint or may be louder easily heard riiiiick sound. (should be same sound from passenger). no sound, button/wiring failure. it will be faint sometimes, but a good riiiiiick sound is the unlatch motor gears

iv'e never taken a door apart, just some mental notes i remember from others threads on this topic

 

Thank you ChevyDave, very much.


question 1 yes

question 2 window indexes yes, and until I roll up the window to check for indexing? The inside button works fine. Once I roll up the window? the inside switch no longer opens the door.

question 3 Now when I intiially walk up to open the door from the inside, no it does not open. Now once I open the door from the outside and then close the door, it opens from the inside 10 out of 10 times. Door will not open with assistance.

question 4 I hear a click from the relay panel on the passenger side but I hear nothing from the drivers door latch.

 

#1 - good then your switch itself is ok, you pretty much already knew that.

#2a - not sure what your saying.. what i want to know is.. if your inside the car with door shut. you press the open button WHILE pushing out on the door, does it open?
#2b - are you saying that with the door closed , the inside button opens the door only when the window is down? but not when up?
#3a - try again. door closed. open door/close/repeat 10 times from outside (not using the button) but using the outside door grip. opens fine all 10 times?
#3b - get in close door. press button/open door/close door/repeat 10 times. if door wont open then problem, what i want to see is if the opening gets worse and worse because latch motor gets hot and starts to fail.
#4a - the latch that unlatches the door is on the body (at least on my car) not the door. so, sound should come from the body/latch driver side door , next to the fuel door, where the latch motor is. (same place on passenger side) with door open, pressing inside door open button, you should hear either... very very light sound of click or a louder riiiiiick sound of latch motor gears. you say you hear it on passenger but not on driver?
#4b - if true that sound of 4a only on passenger and not driver side. if door always opens fine from outside using the outside door open grip.... then you dont have electrical all the way to the motor latch from the inside button. (which may already seem obvious) which also means a loose connection or cut wire (you'll have to remove panel and trace where the wire goes from button to connectioners) before removing door panel, see the rubber boot (with door open) between door and body at the hing area... i think (on most cars) you can get in side it and see connections, check them first!

 

OK, I approach the car, I open the drivers door using the outside switch and the door opens every time. I sit in the car, I close the door and I open it multiple times using the inside button and the door opens multiple times with no problem. I roll up the window to check for the windows indexing and the inside door switch stops working.

No noise coming from the drivers side latch when I try to use the inside switch. A loud click coming from the drivers side door latch when I push the outside door button.

Never a problem when using the outside button and inside button works fine AFTER I use the outside button and dont touch anything else electrical on the car.

 

sounds like the seloniod is good , sound like latch motor is good , sound like inside door button is good.

really just sounds like a connection between button and wire that exits door. expecially if window down its ok and window up not, like its moving a wire that is bare/almost broken or a connector

door panel might be in order next

oh i was going to add this... http://www.theredlion.us/DSV%20Drive...%20Install.pdf

fyi.. yea the emerg handle works cause its a direct solid metal cable that directly attaches right onto the door latch

 

this is a time I wish it was just a switch...lol. damn electrical gremlins.

Thanks for the help Dave.

Man, I love the red door handle. a nice accent.

 

Something that you can do is unplug the connectors for the door and door module and carefully examine the FEMALE PINS. Make sure that they are not spread apart / overheated or corroded.

I use a spare male pin to test the female pins. If there isn’t resistance inserting or removing the male pin, the female pin is damaged. You can bend the female pin back in shape if you find it damaged.

This is a very common issue in the C5 world and I’m sure we will see more and more of it happening as the C6 ages. Heat and vibration are one culprit and repeated connecting and disconnecting the connectors are another thing that can cause pin issues.

Do not use dielectric grease in the connectors.

Bill

 

Ive read that the module is in the door, where in the door? Does this also control the windows and maybe indexing the windows would help?

 

i'll post this pic. item #10 is called the regulator and in its description module. i dont know, will post here for others to assist by item number. this is the description of item #10..
REGULATOR. Door Lock Remote Control. Front Door Window Regulator.
REGULATOR,FRT S/D WDO(INCLS MOTOR, DR WINDOW/MIRROR/LOCK CONTROL MODULE)(10.783)(ACDelco #20823061) - LH. Required: 01
REGULATOR,FRT S/D WDO(INCLS MOTOR, DR WINDOW/MIRROR/LOCK CONTROL MODULE)(ACDelco #20823061) - LH. Required: 01
LHD. For: Y (2005-2009) (2005 - 2009).
LHD. For: Y (EXC OUTSIDE REAR VIEW MIRROR FIELD OF VIEW MOD FOR EUROPE(BTS) (2010-2011) (2010 - 2011).

 

awesome, that thing looks and sounds like its expensive! lol.

 

Bill in post #8 mentioned module, i tried to find it, only yhing i saw with the name is the part i mentioned in the pic. Naw dont replace it, Bill said to check connections and if necessary the pins in it

 

So a door fix update. No money to mess around with checking out or replacing the module so on a whim I decided to open the outside door switch and clean it like I did just a few months ago. I was surprised to find it dirtier than I would have expected it. SO, I put it back together and my problem with opening the door using the inside door switch is resolved

 

whew!!!!!!!!!!!!!! awesome

 

Thanks for your help Dave, much appreciated sir.