Automatic locks not working

So I left for my drill weekend few weeks ago and when I got home my dad told me my passenger lock wouldn't unlock. So I tried anyways and of course it didn't work. Although a few days later it decided to for a little, but now I have to use my key and pull the lock tab in the door up since it stopped again !

Would this be the actuator ?

 

clean the switch contacts on the arm rest.

 

Mine does the same thing on driver side. I haven't messed with it yet.

 

Door lock actuators tend to crap out on these vehicles.

The lock still works mechanically with the key, correct? If so, you probably have a bad lock actuator.

FWIW my passenger side hasn't worked electronically for 8 years now.

 

I pulled the switch from the driver side and cleaned the contacts. They were all corroded and green. Locks, mirrors and windows only worked intermittently, now they all work great. Electrical contact cleaner is like $5 a can, worth a try IMO.

 

Had a stubborn pass side lock that was hard to key unlock outside and hard to pull the post from the inside. Replaced door speakers last weekend and while I was there peeled back the factory door panel plastic and gave the linkage pivot points and backside of the lock assembly a shot of Dri-slide. Super smooth now,,like new,, rebuild in a can. Had never done that,,and it should have been done a long time ago when the first set of speakers went in. Keep fresh keys and when able to access inside that door, lube that stuff up. Applies for manual and elec.

The inside pull post was a bit difficult, because that rod is in a protective sleeve, so its very difficult to see that pivot point contact on the actual door release. Managed to dribble some lube down the rod to the pivot.

Had a 3rd owner 85 IROC that ate pass door lock switches for brakefast, launch and Diner. Had absolutely worn out linkages in BOTH doors. Once I dug those out and replaced them,,no more switches (imagine that).

 

I know mine passenger side is the lock actuator because if both doors are locked and I'm outside the truck... I insert the key into the driver's side lock and turn once, the driver's side door unlocks, turn it the second time the passenger side is supposed to unlock, but it doesn't. The first time I try it, the lock will "jump" a little but not really do anything. If I try it again, the lock won't move at all.

The solenoid makes a noise on the driver's side while I'm trying it... it's just that the passenger side lock doesn't do anything.

That could be a good test for you to try.

 

try this:

from the passenger side lock the door with the key. you should "hear" the actuator along with locking (like when you use the key fob to lock). If you don't hear it then it's probably bad.

even when I use my key on either side I hear the lock actuators activate on lock/unlock

and like said before if the key works fine then the lock itself is good

 

Interesting. My driver side actuator must be bad then. I can use the key in the driver side lock to unlock the passenger side, but nothing happens on driver side. Thanks for the tip.

 

if you "double-unlock" the driver's side the passenger will open but only one turn will unlock driver's side. at least it's this way on my '04 (I think 02+ had all with key-less entry module installed?). turn to lock will lock both, passenger side unlock/lock does both doors for me.

 

Hey guys just wanted to say thanks now that I have a lot of things to try, When I hit the button to unlock the passenger side moves but doesnt fully go up so idk hopefully get it figured out !

 

Sounds like a bad actuator.

 

So, it was working before you left for drill, then it stopped working for your dad, You got home again and it wasn't working,,then it worked for a little bit, then quit working again.

Like others posted, clean and or replace your switches, then go after the actuator if it's still acting up. That would be my game plan. Intermittent connection somewhere in the system. You might just find a wadded/pinched wire somewhere as well,,and it MIGHT be that easy.

 

I just pulled apart my locking mechanism on my front driver side door cleaned the actuator and it works now BUT , now my doors wont lock at all, the switch moves into position like it locks but i can still pull the door open from the outside............