The power door lock on the driver's side has stoppped locking. It unlocks the door fine. You can hear the door mechanism going through the motions to lock the door with no lock movement. Passenger door works fine. Before I pull the panel, what do I need to be looking for?
take the pannle off, the actuator is in the bottom rearmost corner of the door. if you look on the outside of the door skin, facing the inside of the car, you can see where it's rivited to the door. its black covered in a rubber boot and about 4-5" tall and round. their should be a clip holding the metal hook into the lock linkage so it dosnt rattle or shake out. that may have popped out, or something got stuck.
Thanks! Now I won't be blind going in.
that part with the hook is shaped like a spiral. Add some grease to that part by hand and move the solenoid actuator in and out by hand to lubricate it.
yea, the same thing happened to my passenger side, good thing i looked at it with the panel off before i bought a new actuator. and what nate said was how i fixed mine too, its alot cheaper then an actuator.
I want to try to get in it tonight - are there any tricks to getting the door panel off so I won't damage anything?
Do not forget the screws under the map pocket!
Even if it is the actuator get one out of a slavage yard. I know the ones out of a 79 t-bird will work if you change the little arm that comes out. To remove the arm just gently pry the clip off where it goes into the actuator motor. Then there is a metal ring that you pull up. Becarefull there are very small ball bearings that will fall out. Next pull the arm all the way out. Do the same to the other motor. Then put it back together with your arm. I recomend lots of greese in the ball so they stay put while you put it back together.
just dawned on me,,,,
try bypassing the the "LOCK" switch with a jumper just to verify it is the switch or the actuator. also unplug the connector in the door panel and inspect the spade lugs for corrosion or darkness on the contacts. you may just have a simple contact issue in the button as well (ie- rain falling with windows down and your button gets wet)
The actuator was fine. The actuator mount was broken off of the door rivet mount. I drilled the rivet mount out with 1/4" bit and replaced the mount with a bolt, nylock and a fender washer. Works great now!