Problem with door lock function
Thread Starter
Rennlist Member
Joined: Mar 2015
Posts: 2,673
Likes: 1,325
From: Portland, OR
Problem with door lock function
I am experiencing a problem with my 88 S4 door looks that started after disconnecting and reconnected the battery.
Here are the symptoms:
- Beginning in the unlock position, When I press the button on the dash to lock. I can hear the lock motor cycle. The driver door locks and then makes a clunk sound like there is something binding and then unlocks. The passenger door door does not move.
-Beginning in the LOCKED position, When I press the button on the dash to unlock. I can hear the lock motor cycle. BOTH the driver and passenger door unlock.
The passenger door seems to be working from the Locked to Unlocked state. I am not sure why the driver door locks and unlocks in the same cycle.
Your advice and tips are appreciated!
Here are the symptoms:
- Beginning in the unlock position, When I press the button on the dash to lock. I can hear the lock motor cycle. The driver door locks and then makes a clunk sound like there is something binding and then unlocks. The passenger door door does not move.
-Beginning in the LOCKED position, When I press the button on the dash to unlock. I can hear the lock motor cycle. BOTH the driver and passenger door unlock.
The passenger door seems to be working from the Locked to Unlocked state. I am not sure why the driver door locks and unlocks in the same cycle.
Your advice and tips are appreciated!
Last edited by Michael Benno; Sep 16, 2016 at 03:59 PM.
Nordschleife Master
Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 5,662
Likes: 25
From: North Country
I am experiencing a problem with my 88 S4 door looks that started after disconnecting and reconnected the battery.
Here are the symptoms:
- Beginning in the unlock position, When I press the button on the dash to lock. I can hear the lock motor cycle. The driver door locks and then makes a clunk sound like there is something binding and then unlocks. The passenger door door does not move.
-Beginning in the LOCKED position, When I press the button on the dash to unlock. I can hear the lock motor cycle. BOTH the driver and passenger door unlock.
The passenger door seems to be working from the Locked to Unlocked state. I am not sure why the driver door locks and unlocks in the same cycle.
Your advice and tips are appreciated!
Here are the symptoms:
- Beginning in the unlock position, When I press the button on the dash to lock. I can hear the lock motor cycle. The driver door locks and then makes a clunk sound like there is something binding and then unlocks. The passenger door door does not move.
-Beginning in the LOCKED position, When I press the button on the dash to unlock. I can hear the lock motor cycle. BOTH the driver and passenger door unlock.
The passenger door seems to be working from the Locked to Unlocked state. I am not sure why the driver door locks and unlocks in the same cycle.
Your advice and tips are appreciated!
Sounds like your passenger door's line for the locking pole is amiss. In the harness to each motor there are 4 lines: Brown-Ground, Red/Black- Ignition Power In, Yellow & Black/Green are switched current to each pole of the motor as the motor will rotate in each direction depending on which pole gets energized. Take your DVM and first confirm power to both by getting operational voltage between Brown and Red/Black. Then measure between Brown and the other to determine what is up and down, and then which wire is at fault. Likely culprit is a wire violation at the 'stress point' where the wire bundle enters the door in the black plastic tube. Best Wishes.
Last edited by MainePorsche; Sep 16, 2016 at 06:23 PM.
Nordschleife Master
Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 5,662
Likes: 25
From: North Country
I couldn't manage the attachment initially on this new iPad I have - my old reliable laptop had died. Also, sorry I got some of the wire colors wrong from memory. The attachment will put that right.
Thread Starter
Rennlist Member
Joined: Mar 2015
Posts: 2,673
Likes: 1,325
From: Portland, OR
The locks seemed to have sorted themselves out. Remember when I said the problem started after I reconnected the battery after some stereo work? Well this weekend when I reconnected the battery after some work - the locks work fine again.
The only thing I can think of is that when I reconnect the battery, the locks will cycle to the locked position. I am not sure if this is stock behavior or a behavior of the aftermarket Clifford Alarm (circa 1980s). When the locks cycle with the doors open, they can't lock, they cycle and make binding cluck and then cycle open again. This last time I reconnected, I made sure the doors were closed. The doors locked just fine and then auto locking feature is working normally again.
And then of course the trunk will not pop-open anymore.... more internet research needed.
The only thing I can think of is that when I reconnect the battery, the locks will cycle to the locked position. I am not sure if this is stock behavior or a behavior of the aftermarket Clifford Alarm (circa 1980s). When the locks cycle with the doors open, they can't lock, they cycle and make binding cluck and then cycle open again. This last time I reconnected, I made sure the doors were closed. The doors locked just fine and then auto locking feature is working normally again.
And then of course the trunk will not pop-open anymore.... more internet research needed.