Hello All,

Quick question about my power locks. One day the Lock just stopped working. The power unlock still works fine. Just won't unlock. Any ideas or suggestions on what that is? Do I need to replace the motors. I find it funny that both motors would go out the at same time and only the lock side of it.

Now on to the power mirrors. They just don't work.( Both) I have seen posts about the control switch and also about the silver metal fuse. Any ideas? I just don't want to start tearing things apart an replacing things that don't need to be replaced.

Any and all suggestions are greatly appreciated

 

Check the ACC fuse ( for accessories) and are your dome light and lighter working?
Also, the switches for those functions have pins in the back that could have become oxidized to some degree causing these issues. Remove bezels and CAREFULLY unplug the switches to check those connections and clean up as needed. That's probably the easiest and most likely solution or at least worth doing. And do the locks not work on the passenger door switch as well as the driver one, that might provide clues... Also insure good continuity in the wiring and grounds
Henry

 

Thank you for the reply
I checked the fuses and they were all good. As for the dome light and lighter. I don’t know I’ll check. My dome light doesn’t have a bulb and never tried the lighter. I’ll be pulling the mirror switch the weekend.

as for the locks they both unlock from either side. But will not lock. Kind of weird.

 

If the unlocking part works, then the solenoid/s is/are good. One solenoid does both lock/unlock. So are both switches not locking?

Power mirrors have a habit of freezing up from lack of usage. That happens on mine quite often. Usually i just keep working the switch until the motors warm up and start working again. The switch as mentioned above can also be the issue.

 

Yes both lock buttons do not work. Both unlock buttons do work. That’s what so strange.

 

Sounds like some break in continuity to the unlock part of the system from wiring or connection issues on the buttons. Check the backs of the switches when you separate them and the wire connections there for anything not solid. If nothing odd there then you will likely need to remove the door panels and check the connections in there. Happy hunting

 

Also something to add. When I hit the lock button it makes a sound as if its trying to lock.

 

Then the system is working. Sounds like a mechanical/linkage issue. Time to remove the door panel and inspect.

 

@84 1LE is right, If there is an audible click, the power actuators are trying to do their job.

Are the linkages tight to turn manually? Over time the actuators get weaker while dirt and grime build up in the lock and latches, making them hard to pull. Take some time and get the locks and latches cleaned and lubed well...

 

Its not that uncommon for the linkage to stick or bind sometimes. As mentioned, if the lock is hard to unlock manually. That could be an indicator.

 

I had a hell of a time figuring out my intermittent power lock problem. Half the time it worked flawlessly, then the other half of the time it did absolutely nothing when trying to lock, and the relay would just click when trying to unlock. Tried cleaning and lubing the latches and rods, tried swapping the relay, and was about to tear the whole console out to check the ground.

Turned out the orange wire (always hot) on the back of the driver's side switch connector was crossing signals with the blue wire (only hot when hitting the lock switch), so the car was constantly trying to lock itself when the problem occurred.

 

One thing I've always noticed (and kinda ticks me off) is how much better the linkage moves with the door panel removed. Both in my 84 and 89. So just the panel being in place creates friction with the linkage.
The solenoid frees up quite a bit with brake cleaner/spray lube, but only for so long. Then it's back to square one.