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Door Locks Not Locking

cybomancybomanMember
When I turn either door lock with the key in my '86 5-S, both locks unlock or lock. This is a fearture of the later model Panteras. Well, that's what used to happen. Neither key will even turn in the lock now. I took a door panel of to discover that the door lock solenoids are jammed and won't budge. Since this happened to both of them at the same time, I'm guessing a relay has possibly gone bad. I can't find a relay related to this system anywhere in this car.

Does anyone have any idea about this or where I can look? The solenoids should go up and down independently anyway, even if it would require more force, but neither is budging the slightest bit. Could this have just been a simultaneous and catastrophic failure of both solenoids? Is the end near? I thought about threatening them that I would throw them away, but that would just be ultimately spiting myself.

Any help would be greatly appreciated, Thanks!

Michael
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George PGeorge PAdmin.
Michael, I am assuming both solenoids are energized, as this would explain them being "stuck". A solenoid locks into one position when energized, the plunger will usually move freely when de-energized.

How I envision this system being wired would lead me to guess a micro switch has failed, become stuck, gotten wet or jammed, etc. There should be a switch somewhere in the doors that is activated when the key is turned, turn one way it energizes the solenoids to unlock the doors, turn the other way it energizes the solenoids to lock the doors. Possibly 2 micros per door, so one of the possibly 4 micros is stuck in the closed position, or has gotten wet, etc. Just a guess Confused

your friend on the PIBB, George
cybomancybomanMember
George,

It looks to me like there is simply an additional short linkage arm going down to the solenoid. It seems that when you turn the key, the linkage moves the arm in the solenoid, which sends an electrical signal to the other solenoid, activating it's corresponding motion.

I'm going to take my door panels off again by the end of the weekend. I didn't see any micro switches, but I'll look deeper into it. In the mean time, If you think of anything else, let me know. Thanks.

Michael
cybomancybomanMember
Husker,

I took the pass side solenoid out of the car, it's sitting on my kitchen counter. It will not budge up or down, not even a hair.

I guess it's better that they got stuck unlocked rather than locked! It would've been a real problem getting into the car.

I'm going to better check out the wiring this week, I'll post my findings when I do.

Michael
L lastpushbutton (Guest)
It could be possible that the solinoid had low voltage applied to it, causing it to overheat and melt some of the winding encapsulation causing it to seize. You should be able to read some resistance through it with an OHM meter. If it is OPEN then you can figure it is shot.
cybomancybomanMember
At the moment I have both solenoids disconnected so I can operate the door locks.

Both solenoids froze up at the same time, which to me indicates something caused their untimely demise. The driver's side solenoid has four wires going to it, and the pass side has two. One wire on both sides has constant power to it. I'm not sure if this is the way it should be, or if something is stuck open.

I'm waiting for a wiring diagram from Coz for my later model Pantera. Hopefully, this will help me track down a relay, or the power source.

Michael
huskerhuskerMember
Cyboman, Can you disassemble them? It sounds odd that they would freeze at the same time. I suppose you've tried hooking them up to a battery and performed a bench top test. This would narrow the search somewhat. I'd have to disagree with LPB about the low voltage damaging the windings. With a given resistance the low voltage will cause less heat. Now if there were a short circuit somewhere, but coils rarely short, that would cause excessive heat, but then again I would think that they would be fused and the fuse would blow. Sounds like an "interesting" problem, wish I could be there to help troubleshoot.
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