• Mustang Forums
  • 1979 - 1995 (Fox, SN95.0, & 2.3L) -General/Talk-

Strange power lock issue

  • Thread starter Thread starter WhiskeyFoxTrot
  • Start date Start date Mar 26, 2023
W

WhiskeyFoxTrot

New Member
Aug 30, 2022
15
0
1
Long Island Ny
Mar 26, 2023
#1
  • Mar 26, 2023
  • #1
Power locks were working fine in my 91 lx…… now all of a sudden the drivers door switch is not working at all, and the passenger side switch will only unlock both doors, but won’t lock, it clicks like it wants to but won’t lock…… any ideas where to start? Thanx
 

Noobz347

Stangnet Facilities Maint Tech... Er... Janitor
Admin Dude
Jan 4, 1985
42,929
21,103
234
Box behind Walmart
Mar 26, 2023
#2
  • Mar 26, 2023
  • #2
Pull the door switches [carefully] clean the contacts and reinstall.

If it's still not working:

Pull the door panels, locate the door lock actuators, clean, lubricate, and reinstall.
 
Reactions: AeroCoupe

General karthief

wonder how much it would cost to ship you a pair
5 Year Member
Aug 25, 2016
27,844
10,520
203
polk county florida
Mar 26, 2023
#3
  • Mar 26, 2023
  • #3
Can you manually lock/unlock the doors?
 

ChaseRoads

do I need to lube this area?
Oct 29, 2020
220
73
38
midwestern america
Mar 27, 2023
#4
  • Mar 27, 2023
  • #4
Get out your meter and start checking for a short between wires. I bet some wires in the door elbow finally wore out
 
W

WhiskeyFoxTrot

New Member
Aug 30, 2022
15
0
1
Long Island Ny
Mar 29, 2023
#5
  • Mar 29, 2023
  • #5
Ok, so there’s power at the switch, I. Leaned all the connection points, they seem fine, I pulled the door panel and probed actuator wires, I have power to one wire when hitting lock
 
W

WhiskeyFoxTrot

New Member
Aug 30, 2022
15
0
1
Long Island Ny
Mar 29, 2023
#6
  • Mar 29, 2023
  • #6
Actuator bad? If I manually lock both doors and hit unlock on passenger side both doors will unlock
 

ChaseRoads

do I need to lube this area?
Oct 29, 2020
220
73
38
midwestern america
Mar 29, 2023
#7
  • Mar 29, 2023
  • #7
Give this a read.

Electrical - Power door lock troubleshooting Foxbody

Ok. Edit with details on what does what and how to check it. It starts on the drivers side. A black with white stripe power wire. Constant ground from the circuit breaker (metal box) on the starter relay. If it does not have 12v check the cb and wires for a short. 2 black ground wires that...
stangnet.com
 
Reactions: General karthief
W

WhiskeyFoxTrot

New Member
Aug 30, 2022
15
0
1
Long Island Ny
Apr 3, 2023
#8
  • Apr 3, 2023
  • #8
Ok, so I looked through that thread, if I jump pink/green on driver side to pink/green on pass side and same with pink/yellow, the door locks work as should……. Should I just run new wire from switch to switch and splice in?
 
W

WhiskeyFoxTrot

New Member
Aug 30, 2022
15
0
1
Long Island Ny
Apr 3, 2023
#9
  • Apr 3, 2023
  • #9
Or would you try to locate the short? Wires are so tucked and taped, what’s the lesser of the evils?
 

Noobz347

Stangnet Facilities Maint Tech... Er... Janitor
Admin Dude
Jan 4, 1985
42,929
21,103
234
Box behind Walmart
Apr 3, 2023
#10
  • Apr 3, 2023
  • #10
I would shoot the wires with a meter. I am not convinced that it's a broken wire. More often than not, it's corroded switch contacts.

The good part is that you know your actuators are good

Can you get all the locks to cooperate when you jump the posts on the back of the switch? If so...
 
W

WhiskeyFoxTrot

New Member
Aug 30, 2022
15
0
1
Long Island Ny
Apr 4, 2023
#11
  • Apr 4, 2023
  • #11
I replaced both side with new switches, there’s an old alarm, plus a dealer installed keyless entry, the keyless entry coincidently stopped working about a month ago, i might just take it to a auto alarm installer to have them rip the old stuff and see …. Way above my skill level
 

AeroCoupe

lube between the nut and the face. I know my lubes
Founding Member
Oct 28, 2001
5,796
3,928
183
Claremore, OK
Apr 4, 2023
#12
  • Apr 4, 2023
  • #12
So there is an aftermarket alarm and an aftermarket keyless entry? If so just remove them both yourself. I was in the home and car audio business years ago and installing these could be a bit tedious due to needing to know what wires to tap for the function intended but uninstalling one is just follow the wires and remove them at the point they tap any factory wires. Take your time and be sure to tape or heat shrink any locations where the jacketing on the wiring harness is compromised i.e. scotchloc connectors or removed jacketing for soldering. If they cut the wiring harness then just repair it as needed. My bet is removing them will solve your problem(s).
 

ChaseRoads

do I need to lube this area?
Oct 29, 2020
220
73
38
midwestern america
Apr 5, 2023
#13
  • Apr 5, 2023
  • #13
Before I run completely new wires I would find where the door harness plugs into kick panel harness. One at a time I would check each wire for a short to ground , and maybe even use a jumper wire and jump out the connection at the switch to the kick panel harness. One or two of those wires are shorted inside the door . Once you find what wire let’s it work when jumped, you know what wire to replace.
 

AeroCoupe

lube between the nut and the face. I know my lubes
Founding Member
Oct 28, 2001
5,796
3,928
183
Claremore, OK
Apr 6, 2023
#14
  • Apr 6, 2023
  • #14
Pull the alarm and keyless entry and repair any wiring damaged from them. With them installed there are just too many variables and removing them cleans things up to trouble shoot. By no means am I saying not to install an alarm as my Coupe has had the same one for over 20 years and it still functions as intended and all I have had to do is replace a remote battery here and there.

Once they have been removed and if the locks still do not function then you can trouble shoot using the traditional methods.
 
Reactions: General karthief
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

N
Power door lock motor Question
  • NYFox
  • Mar 15, 2026
  • 1979 - 1995 (Fox, SN95.0, & 2.3L) -General/Talk-
Replies
3
Views
198
1979 - 1995 (Fox, SN95.0, & 2.3L) -General/Talk- Mar 17, 2026
NYFox
N
1
1989 gt both doors wont lock or unlock help.
  • 1989 mustang gt
  • Nov 29, 2025
  • 1979 - 1995 (Fox, SN95.0, & 2.3L) -General/Talk-
Replies
11
Views
501
1979 - 1995 (Fox, SN95.0, & 2.3L) -General/Talk- Dec 22, 2025
manicmechanic007
S
01 GT DRIVERS SIDE DOOR LOCK CYLINDER LINKAGE
  • Scwhitten
  • May 13, 2026
  • SN95 4.6L Mustang Tech
Replies
2
Views
79
SN95 4.6L Mustang Tech May 21, 2026
n0v8or
N
8
Electrical 5.0 88 Foxbody Door Locks
  • 88VertFox
  • Aug 29, 2025
  • Fox 5.0 Mustang Tech
Replies
3
Views
215
Fox 5.0 Mustang Tech Sep 2, 2025
Mustang5L5
P
93 Electrical Gremlins
  • Parmgeddon93
  • Jun 6, 2025
  • 1979 - 1995 (Fox, SN95.0, & 2.3L) -General/Talk-
Replies
3
Views
200
1979 - 1995 (Fox, SN95.0, & 2.3L) -General/Talk- Jun 7, 2025
Bullitt347
Share:
Bluesky Email Share Link
  • Mustang Forums
  • 1979 - 1995 (Fox, SN95.0, & 2.3L) -General/Talk-
Menu
Log in

Register

  • Forums
  • What's new
  • Media
  • Resources
  • Contact
  • Sponsor
X

Privacy & Transparency

We use cookies and similar technologies for the following purposes:

  • Personalized ads and content
  • Content measurement and audience insights

Do you accept cookies and these technologies?

X

Privacy & Transparency

We use cookies and similar technologies for the following purposes:

  • Personalized ads and content
  • Content measurement and audience insights

Do you accept cookies and these technologies?