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Interesting Power Door Lock Slider Switch Question

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Old Jan 15, 2024 | 10:31 PM
  #1  
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Interesting Power Door Lock Slider Switch Question

I have what I believe to be a fairly unusual situation. The power locks on both sides work fine. I don’t notice any hesitation, the switches actually lock and unlock the doors, and both switches slide forward and backward the same distance.

The “interesting” part is that the switches seem to be positioned too far forward. When the doors are unlocked, I’m seeing nearly all of the orange section of the switch. When the doors are locked, about half of the orange section is still visible, giving the appearance that the doors are still unlocked.

Is there an adjustment for this?


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Old Jan 16, 2024 | 05:58 AM
  #2  
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From: central Texas
Car: 91 TA Vert WS6-94 TA Vert
Engine: 5.0/5.7 LT1
Transmission: 700R4
Axle/Gears: 2.73-3.42
Re: Interesting Power Door Lock Slider Switch Question

It could be several things.....and not an odd problem at all...

The power door lock actuator I'd not pulling the "slider switch" as you call it, closed all the way, either because the actuator is bad/weak, the rods/mechanism is binding/stiff and needs to be aligned and lubricated, or something in the door panel/decorative plastic needs to be aligned/lubricated.

My money is on weak actuators.
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Old Jan 16, 2024 | 06:28 PM
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From: Houston, TX
Car: '89 Trans Am
Engine: 305 TPI
Transmission: 700 R4
Axle/Gears: 3.42
Re: Interesting Power Door Lock Slider Switch Question

I’d be totally on board with that, but both actuators? Extending and retracting in sync to the same positions? It doesn’t seem like they lag. The windows are another story. I could solve a crime in the amount of time it takes them to raise and lower (mostly raise), but they still work, so I’m going to leave well enough alone there.

But there has to be something else going on with those door lock switches.
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Old Jan 16, 2024 | 07:05 PM
  #4  
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From: central Texas
Car: 91 TA Vert WS6-94 TA Vert
Engine: 5.0/5.7 LT1
Transmission: 700R4
Axle/Gears: 2.73-3.42
Re: Interesting Power Door Lock Slider Switch Question

Originally Posted by mav75
I’d be totally on board with that, but both actuators? Extending and retracting in sync to the same positions? It doesn’t seem like they lag. The windows are another story. I could solve a crime in the amount of time it takes them to raise and lower (mostly raise), but they still work, so I’m going to leave well enough alone there.

But there has to be something else going on with those door lock switches.
My door lock actuators behave identical to yours. I have records from day 1 on this car, and I cannot see where they've been changed, so I'm going to change them and lube everything up when I install my flush door handles.

On other subjects there's a mod out there somewhere that takes direct alternator power and wires it thru the switches to the window motors so there's no power loss, and the windows are much faster.
I'm not really interested in it, because my windows are not that slow, but I'll try to find it.

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Old Jan 16, 2024 | 07:23 PM
  #5  
Roorancher's Avatar
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From: central Texas
Car: 91 TA Vert WS6-94 TA Vert
Engine: 5.0/5.7 LT1
Transmission: 700R4
Axle/Gears: 2.73-3.42
Re: Interesting Power Door Lock Slider Switch Question

Originally Posted by mav75
I’d be totally on board with that, but both actuators? Extending and retracting in sync to the same positions? It doesn’t seem like they lag. The windows are another story. I could solve a crime in the amount of time it takes them to raise and lower (mostly raise), but they still work, so I’m going to leave well enough alone there.

But there has to be something else going on with those door lock switches.
My door lock actuators behave identical to yours. I have records from day 1 on this car, and I cannot see where they've been changed, so I'm going to change them and lube everything up when I install my flush door handles.

On other subjects there's a mod out there somewhere that takes direct alternator power and wires it thru the switches to the window motors so there's no power loss, and the windows are much faster.
I'm not really interested in it, because my windows are not that slow, but I'll try to find it.

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Old Jan 16, 2024 | 07:30 PM
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Car: 1989 RU7 1LE / 1997 RS
Engine: 305 TPI / 3800 Series III
Transmission: T5 / T5
Axle/Gears: 3.45 / 3.23
Re: Interesting Power Door Lock Slider Switch Question

OP, mine worked like yours, until I took the door panel off, cleaned and lubed everything. Now they work like they are supposed to. I replaced the outer door handle with NOS at the same time due to wear.
Looks like you are in the same boat. Clean and lube everything when you replace your handles.
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Old Jan 21, 2024 | 06:16 PM
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Engine: Erod
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Axle/Gears: BW, 3.27
Re: Interesting Power Door Lock Slider Switch Question

As mentioned above, this is somewhat common on our cars. Clean and lube as mentioned, ive also sprayed brake cleaner into the actuators/solenoids
Also check the rods for straightness/binding. There's a small felt piece on the bezel that helps the plastic slider move for/aft. sometimes its missing.
There is a black plastic clip on the door that holds the rods in place. I sanded the rods smooth w/ fine grit sandpaper in the portion that slides thru that clip and that helped alot.

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Old Jan 22, 2024 | 11:36 AM
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Re: Interesting Power Door Lock Slider Switch Question

I'm GUESSING the rod is not inserted properly into the plastic trim shown in your pic.

There is a hole in the center of the raised 'finger wedge' that the locking rod should be inserted into. It's not always easy to get the rod positioned properly so it snaps into it's proper mounted position; the rod has a way of pushing back behind the door bezel when attempting to mount the plastic trim cover.

I'd double check to be SURE the plastic trim is properly mounted before searching deeper for the cause.



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Old Feb 21, 2024 | 06:59 PM
  #9  
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Car: 91 TA Vert WS6-94 TA Vert
Engine: 5.0/5.7 LT1
Transmission: 700R4
Axle/Gears: 2.73-3.42
Re: Interesting Power Door Lock Slider Switch Question

Found this on another forum the other day....It might help!

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Old Feb 21, 2024 | 08:37 PM
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Re: Interesting Power Door Lock Slider Switch Question

Seems like a band aid fix though. Id much rather keep the OE solenoids and improve their function. I dont trust those plastic solenoids anymore than those other chinese made "OE" solenoids.
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Old Feb 21, 2024 | 09:15 PM
  #11  
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Re: Interesting Power Door Lock Slider Switch Question

I wonder if there's room in that location to just move the factory actuator to the same spot?
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Old Feb 21, 2024 | 09:18 PM
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Re: Interesting Power Door Lock Slider Switch Question

Its a bit bulkier than the aftermarket piece.
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Old Feb 23, 2024 | 12:42 PM
  #13  
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Car: 91 TA Vert WS6-94 TA Vert
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Transmission: 700R4
Axle/Gears: 2.73-3.42
Re: Interesting Power Door Lock Slider Switch Question

Originally Posted by 84 1LE
Its a bit bulkier than the aftermarket piece.
It looks like it's more than "a bit bulkier" than the aftermarket actuator; however, I wonder if you could make them both work and wire them in parallel?
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Old Feb 23, 2024 | 07:15 PM
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Re: Interesting Power Door Lock Slider Switch Question

Yeah, its a bit bulky! I dont know about wiring them together though.
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