when I first started driving my TC back in 2004 I can remember the doors locking when I went from reverse to 1st. was this an option or did I have something crossed? the car hasnt done this for a long time so I dont know if it was supposed to be doing it or not and if it was I'd like to get it figured out so it works again.
most newer cars lock the doors when you shift through reverse to help keep the doors closed in case of an accident. its also safer because it helps prevent car theft like in places where people will try to steal your car while you parked at a red light(i dont know if this was intended by the manufacturer or not).
i dont know if they did this as early as our cars or not, i have an alarm system that wasnt wired up right my the previous owner and my locks will lock at random.
The auto lock feature is part of the keyless entry system. Sometimes when you disconnect the battery the keyless entry system will lose the ability to remember the auto lock function. That happened to me a few times with my old '88 Sport.
Grutinator is correct...when the car is running, there is an object in the driver's seat (preferably an ass LOL) and the shifter is put through Reverse, the doors should automatically lock. Conversely, after driving when you put the car through Reverse into Park, they should unlock.
If your car has lost the ability to do this, enter your code into the keypad, and within 5 seconds, press the 7/8 key and HOLD it, then press 3/4 (while still holding the 7/8 key), and then release both. That *should* activate it. The same sequence also deactivates it.
There is a wiring harness that goes to your driver's seat that, if disconnected, will make the auto lock feature not work. It's a 2-wire harness; I want to say the wiring colors are black and white/black. You can check that connector and wiring if you still can't get it to work.
so how do you know without actually running through the gears if the function is reactivated?
Why not just run it through the gears?
I'll try it on my way to work this morning, was wondering if it would lock the doors or flash the interior lights or give some kind of indication that it was reactivated.
No flashing lights, sorry. It either works or it doesn't. I remember having to input that sequence a few times...there is no feedback. As soon as you start the car and put it in gear, you'll know. ;)
yeh my 87 sport coupe has this. usually when i put it in reverse, back it out etc and then put it in od/d its automatically locks. on the other side of the coin though, i have to unlock my doors instead of them unlocking automatically. really all i believe you have to do to see if it works is put it in reverse and then put it into gear (d/od/1 for AOD transmissions) but for a TC with the 5spd im not 100% how to check. i'd imagine you could check by putting it in reverse, backing up a few feet and then go into first and head out on your way it should lock.
I used this same procedure to turn on my Auto lock in my Mountaineer.. But it honks when it turns on and off :hick:
Never had the TC together long enough to actually play with this feature.
i did not know that there was such a feature but i tried it and it did not work at first but then i connected the cables and tried it out and it worked thanks for the info
Mine lock, but they have
NEVER unlocked when I put it in park. I never even knew it was supposed to do that!
I don't think I've ever seen a Ford unlock the doors. Every Ford vehicle I've been in unlocks the door when you open it via the inside door handle. The vehicle locks the doors but does not unlock them. Now GM unlocks the door, but thats because the door handle does not unlock the door with a simple tug.
good, i was gonna go hit some buttons:D
Yeah, well...that's according to Ford's instructions anyhow. Maybe it was a feature that they planned on adding but it seems they never did. My Mountaineer doesn't unlock (but it does auto lock), and it's 10 years newer than these cars.
Tom, do you think maybe there's part of the keyless entry module that would support the auto unlock feature? Maybe something's there, just disabled. That might be a good project for you guys with keyless entry...
There would be no need for an auto unlock because of the function of the interior door handles. Even the brand new Mercury's on the lot here don't unlock. But you can pop the trunk from the key pad :hick:
I tried the code with no luck but I havent gone any further as to look under the seat for that plug. I do know there is a harness under there that I think goes to the seatbelt? that has the wires pulled out of it but I dont think this has anything to do with the auto lock feature. does anyone have a wiring diagram for this?
It's under the seat near the power seat harness. It connects to a sensor under the seat cushin (looks like a long aluminium strip with a plug). BTW it's a PITA to plug and unplug because the power seat track is heavy. Ask me how I know :hick:
Good question... Maybe I'll kook into that one of these days...
Wasn't the auto lock feature's activation/deactavtion default reversed from '87-'88??? Seems I remember the feature defaulted to
on if the system lost battery power and to
off in the '88s??? Maybe I'm dreaming????
I know the '95 didn't loose the secondary code when I had the battery out for approx 20min awhile back...
No, you are right. When the shifter is in transit passing "through" the reverse detent, there is wiring in place that operates the "Lock" function of the doors. It is like pushing the lock button since you are in reverse for a fraction of a second if you go directly to D. Now if you select reverse, the same happens but I would suspect that the door "LOCK" solenoid is being powered /grounded for the entire time you are in reverse. The engineers probably decided that no one would be in reversee for any extened period that would exceed the heat disipation of the solenoid shell/windings.
BTW,, tke keyless entry does have pins dedicated to the "UNLOCK" funtion.
so here is the senerio.......
doors unlocked
car off
insert key
start car
close door
go to D (passing through R)
doors lock.
What i plan to do tomorrow.
with car on
door locked
car in P
I will go to N
I will unlock doors by the button
I will put the car in D
The doors should remain unlocked.
I will accelerate and verify that the car speed sensor does not also lock the doors
IF the door locks remain unlocked , this would tell us all a lot. First off we could not just duplicate this circuit type within the "N" becaue you would unlock your car as you pass from D to N but upon landing in R on the way to P, your doors would lock again.
I would propose duplicating this "unlock" function two wire circuit in the ignition switch.
here is the theory......
You pass through "R" while the car is running and you drive along.
doors just locked
You stop your car and turn your ign switch back to the lock position (where you normally would take the keys out)
You should have power waiting for you there on the ignition switch from "OFF FUSE 1" that could be applied to "UNLOCK" funtions of the keyless entry pins 1 and 3. I think that when you land on the "OFF, you will get enough power to the unlock pins 1 and 3 but then it goes away when the car finaly shuts off which is a good thing.
Now all we need is a logical ground.
another question before I pull my seat, was auto unlock an option or was it standart equipment in all of our cars? I found a harness unhooked and sticking through the carpet but I didnt find the one coming from the seat its a two wire harness with a solid white wire and a solid black wire no stripes on either wire. or is it possible that I tucked the seat harness up in the seat track when i put the seats together? maybe I should just pull the seat anyways
that question was already covered.
what I meant to ask was, is there any difference in the seats electrical part between the keyless equiped and the non equiped car?
I am moving the auto unlock info to a new thread.
its rude to be carrying on about something not on your topic.
so uh, why would our cars want to know whether there's someone in the seat before doing the auto-lock?
I don't think so....
So the doors will re-lock automatically if someone gets out of the car... Can be a pain in the ass if they want to get back in in just a few seconds...
On mine if I shift into park (with the car running) after the doors have auto locked and then open the door with the handle (with out hitting unlock) the door unlocks and stays unlocked even if I shut the door. The door won't relock untill I sit in the seat and shut the door. That's what the weight sensor in the seat is for.
the reason I asked is because the car I got my seats from did not have keyless entry and I cannot find the wiring for the weight sensor. when I get a chance I'll look at my old seats and see if it might be something I can add on to my new seats.
Your old driver's seat should have the sensor below the bottom cushin. Have fun getting it out and into the new seat (you have to take the lower seat cover and cushin off:hick: ).
I finally got around to pulling the seat switch and it wasnt hard at all was right on the bottom of the seat tucked up under the wires that hold the seat cusion now comes the fun of installing it in my current seats.
Thread from the dead I know.. But I recently came across this information, and Tom you are correct.
:D :D :D :D :D :D :D
I thought I was wrong
once, but I was wrong...
Well in my 88 if I disconect the battery the auto lock still works without having to re-enter the code in the keyless entry panel when the battery is re-conected. However my 88 was built in September of 87 so they might have changed it for later models.
Just to weigh in on this. My 88 Sport locks when I turn the KEY to on even without starting the engine, and unlocks when I turn the key to off. Regardless of the trans position. Always has been that way even after losses of power due to dead battery (too many times to count) and failed Alternator (twice in 6 1/2 years).
I am at 229,800 miles and counting on the original drivetrain. Still gets me 21-23 mpg. Which considering the "new" cars they want $25000 for are only getting 24-27, I'll keep my Bird.
Gonna drive it as long as I can find parts and keep it running.
With my 01 Grand Marquis you can't lock the drivers door with the key in the ignition and no one on the seat. Car doesn't have to be running. Keeps you from locking the key in the car.
My '07 GM is same, but you can lock it from the outside keypad when the key is in the ign... Guess they figure if you know how to lock it with the pad, you're smart enough to be able to open it...
leblumax my 88 sport did that to it had a remote starter installed with door lock controls it did the same thing