Power door locks!

[87 town]

My power switch for the door locks will open all 3 doors except driver door and will not lock any of them. Any ideas of what is happenning and how to fix? Been like this for some time now and I just sort of got used to it, but would like to get it right now.

[v8_dave]

You mean just the drivers side lock switch right? Will the pass side switch unlock the drivers side door and unlock any of them?

[87 town]

You mean just the drivers side lock switch right? Will the pass side switch unlock the drivers side door and unlock any of them?
Pass door switch does same as driver door. Will only unlock three doors (not driver door) and not lock any of them.

[Tman70]

You will need a volt/ohm meter to be sure. The door lock circuit uses the same wires for locking and unlocking. The power and ground are switched on each wire to accomplish this. I keep a couple of junkyard switch assemblies on hand to just switch (no pun intended) them out and speed the diagnosis. A basic rule of thumb, here...

If it works in one direction, it will work in the other,because the wires are intact.

I think you're looking at a bad switch here.

[87 town]

You will need a volt/ohm meter to be sure. The door lock circuit uses the same wires for locking and unlocking. The power and ground are switched on each wire to accomplish this. I keep a couple of junkyard switch assemblies on hand to just switch (no pun intended) them out and speed the diagnosis. A basic rule of thumb, here...

If it works in one direction, it will work in the other,because the wires are intact.

I think you're looking at a bad switch here.

Maybe bad switch...Okay, Where is the switch I'm looking for? Is it inside the door panel under the metal tab "switch" for lock/unlock I use on the armrest? I wonder also why the driver door wont unlock either and the others will? You would think it would at least unlock, unless contacts for that door are dirty/bad specifically for that door?

[Tman70]

I am on vacation, so I don't have all my resources with me. Maybe Dereck can jump in for further help...

[Dereck]

Hi 87 Town

Sounds like you have two problems, one a bad drivers door lock motor and two a bad lock relay.

The lock relay is located behind the right kick panel.

regards

Dereck

[87 town]

Hi 87 Town

Sounds like you have two problems, one a bad drivers door lock motor and two a bad lock relay.

The lock relay is located behind the right kick panel.

regards

Dereck

Ahhh... lock relay behind the pass side kick panel. Funny thing here.
A couple years ago when the switch stopped working right I was hearing a "clicking" sound coming from the right kick panel area when I was using/trying to use the switch to lock doors.
So, can I just pop off the right kick panel (I have never removed before), and locate the switch? Is there only one under there or what does it look like? Also, do you know if I can just call Ford/Lincoln and get a new one?

Drivers door lock motor is another issue I guess. I'm assuming this is under the switch itself in the door panel?
Thanks

[Dereck]

Hi 87 Town

The lock/unlock relays are on a bracket they are the same and have a funny pin layout so are probably a Ford only part :( Long time since I pulled a kick panel on a box but from memory there is two screws securing them.

Door lock motor is inside the door under the catch mechanism, check out this tech tip (http://www.lincolnsonline.com/tech/00123.html)

Regards

Dereck

[87 town]

Hi 87 Town

The lock/unlock relays are on a bracket they are the same and have a funny pin layout so are probably a Ford only part :( Long time since I pulled a kick panel on a box but from memory there is two screws securing them.

Door lock motor is inside the door under the catch mechanism, check out this tech tip (http://www.lincolnsonline.com/tech/00123.html)

Regards

Dereck

Great tech site! I think I will do relays first under the kick panel and see what effect I have and then go for the motor next. I clearly remember the faint clicking sound under the kick panel for a while right after I lost my locking ability.
thanks again!

[87 town]

Hi 87 Town

The lock/unlock relays are on a bracket they are the same and have a funny pin layout so are probably a Ford only part :( Long time since I pulled a kick panel on a box but from memory there is two screws securing them.

Door lock motor is inside the door under the catch mechanism, check out this tech tip (http://www.lincolnsonline.com/tech/00123.html)

Regards

Dereck

Hi Dereck,
I bought from Ford/Lincon dealer the lock/unlock relay. But, the part they gave me only had to do with "unlocking" the doors, which already works. I put the relay in anyhow, just as a test ,and I didn't need this relay at all. I will return it back to Ford, but was wondering, to your knowledge, if there is another relay specific to "locking" the doors? When I hit the lock switch, I hear a little click in the area, but just can't locate the relay/part that it is coming from.
I will also call Ford and see if they know of another relay specific for locking.
Getting to the area removing the kick plate on the pass side was easy, 2 screws, just as you had said.
Thanks for any info.

[Mr Wiggl3s]

Man i completely missed this thread

All of your doors lock/unlock expect yours right? Which it only locks
Which switches are you useing?

[87 town]

Man i completely missed this thread

All of your doors lock/unlock expect yours right? Which it only locks
Which switches are you useing?

I can unlock all but drive door with switch on either door. I cannot lock any of them with any switch though.
The relay I have is for unlocking, which already works fine. Need relay to lock back up. My drive door, not doing anything is another issue within that door specifically. Either contacts or most likely, according to Dereck, is the solenoid in the door. I can deal with that later on.

[Mr Wiggl3s]

Thats what i would go with, seeing as how none of them are locking, but seeing as how it doesnt work on either side it can be that. Im kinda lost. Is there.. like a master locking relay or something? Ill look in the hayness and see what it says for you

[87 town]

Thats what i would go with, seeing as how none of them are locking, but seeing as how it doesnt work on either side it can be that. Im kinda lost. Is there.. like a master locking relay or something? Ill look in the hayness and see what it says for you

Thanks, Haynes may have some suggestions. I just talked to the Ford parts manager at the dealership and they don't know what part....told me that they need the part number off the old part. I don't understand how they can sell parts but not know what part you may need to solve a problem. Even if they bothered to ask one of the mechanics 20 feet away from them....bad service

[Mr Wiggl3s]

I'd be nice if that was the way the plants work, but ford just hires them to check whats wrong off a list, and make suggestions from there

As for hayness, it says check the passanger compartment fuse block, then check the bi-directional solenoids for anything you can see, like cracks, corrosion ect.

[Dereck]

Hi 87 Town

........and two a bad lock relay.

The lock relay is located behind the right kick panel.

regards

Dereck



The lock/unlock relays are on a bracket they are the same and have a funny pin layout so are probably a Ford only part


Hi 87Town




http://lincoln.superstitiongold.com/pictures2/88TCPowerLocks.gif

http://lincoln.superstitiongold.com/pictures2/88TCPowerLockRelay.gif

Regards

Dereck

[87 town]

I'd be nice if that was the way the plants work, but ford just hires them to check whats wrong off a list, and make suggestions from there

As for hayness, it says check the passanger compartment fuse block, then check the bi-directional solenoids for anything you can see, like cracks, corrosion ect.

Thanks. Interesting. I will print this out including what Dereck sent me and spend a little more time with this problem. At work now and sort of busy.

[87 town]

Hi 87Town




http://lincoln.superstitiongold.com/pictures2/88TCPowerLocks.gif

http://lincoln.superstitiongold.com/pictures2/88TCPowerLockRelay.gif

Regards

Dereck

Thanks Dereck for all your effort here. I'm printing this out to study later on. It may even help the Ford dealer parts guyto understand better.

[87 town]

Hi 87Town




http://lincoln.superstitiongold.com/pictures2/88TCPowerLocks.gif

http://lincoln.superstitiongold.com/pictures2/88TCPowerLockRelay.gif

Regards

Dereck

OKAY..I just took a break from work to re look at this and "I think" I know where I went wrong. First of all, sorry Dereck for you repeating what you already said in the past. I got the part you said that there were two relays all right but I only found one last night. The "wrong one"... The first relay I saw was on a bracket alone, (this one sort of jumped out at me), which was the "window safety relay", which happens to be the same relay as the lock relays. It fit perfectly....but didn't solve my problem.....
I need to get a brighter flashlight and look up a little higher or deeper for the "other" relays shown in the diagram which are on the "same" bracket and now I even know which one to change. the one on top!
Thanks for getting back to me before I went and returned the relay and got my $24. back, which I still need. It makes sense now that this was the only one available from the dealer since the lock and unlock are "the same". I feel more confident now as to what to do.
The diagram really made the difference!

[Mr Wiggl3s]

You got/need door panel fastners? Theres a mom and pop store by me that has em, its the only place i could find that did

[87 town]

You got/need door panel fastners? Theres a mom and pop store by me that has em, its the only place i could find that did

So far I'm okay with those! Thanks though.

[gadget73]

I really wish the 80s service manuals were avaliable on CD. It would be so nice to just grab an image of the page to post when needed. I have my service and EVTM but without a scanner, its less than helpful for anyone but me.

[87 town]

I really wish the 80s service manuals were avaliable on CD. It would be so nice to just grab an image of the page to post when needed. I have my service and EVTM but without a scanner, its less than helpful for anyone but me.

Great Idea there! Put one together before Haynes and you will probably hit a "gold mine"!

[joedogg]

Hi 87Town




http://lincoln.superstitiongold.com/pictures2/88TCPowerLocks.gif

http://lincoln.superstitiongold.com/pictures2/88TCPowerLockRelay.gif

Regards

Dereck
NICE MAN! I saved this image for sure. Where'd you get it EVTM scan, or is there somewhere that these can be downloaded?

[chevdually]

Great info & diagrams...just what I needed. Thanks everyone. One other thing... the TC did not come with a remote key fob...does anyone know if I get one, it will work on this? Robb

[Dereck]

One other thing... the TC did not come with a remote key fob...does anyone know if I get one, it will work on this? Robb

Hi Chevdually

No factory remote keyfob for the Town Car until 1993 any with one before that year are aftermaret and that includes Ford ones fitted by the dealer.

Regards

Dereck