1st Post: Door Unlock Wire Problem

[alpha]

Hello Everyone,
I stumbled upon this forum after Googling for hours. To start I am the proud owner of a 1997 Mercury Mountaineer with 250K on it. A lot of miles but previous owner commuted and all are freeway miles. I took apart my driver side door panel for a window problem that was fixed, but before I put the panel back together, my unlock button stopped working. For a few months before taking off the door panel it was sporadic working some but not other times. Finally it no longer works. I can unlock it from: the key outside, the keypad, Lock/Unlock FOB, and the passenger unlock button. I tested the panel and all four windows work, the window lock works, and the lock button works but not the unlock. I opened the switch and checked it out and everything works in the switch. The three main wires are Black-Ground, Pink/Yellow-Lock, and Pink/Lt Green-Unlock. Bridging ground and lock makes the doors lock, but bridging ground unlock has no effect. I checked for obvious signs of damage but couldn't find any, I traced it into the driver kick panel where It enters a large harness all black taped and from there I'm clueless.

I am wondering from the switch, where does the Pink/green unlock wire immediately go so i can check it at that location for continuity and so on.

I checked all fuses relating to door locks and they are fine, but from some searching here a culprit could be a relay in the dash or engine area or all the way in the driver rear where the FOB unlock thing is (not sure what the name is?) But I'm far from certain what it is.

If someone could point me to where this wire first leads to, the help would be appreciated, This is the first of many 'projects' on this truck and it would be great to get it to work and the driver panel closed up as it is bare metal and wires.

Thank you for a great forum!
-A

 

[m4dc0w]

I had the exact same problem in my 97X, its the green/pink wire streached in the black drum at the door hinge. Open it up, and I bet you'll find a broken wire.

Ken

 

[fixxxer]

Hi and welcome to the forum. From pin 3, (PK/LG) of the master door lock switch it goes to the door unlock relay term 65, (the relay is in the #4 Aux relay box, dr side, above wheel well) through a splice to a connector inside the dr side rear door jamb.

 

[alpha]

Thank you everyone for the warm welcome!
I have not yet checked in the tire iron location above the wheel well yet, ill do that tonight. Can these relays and wires be accessed through that door or do I have to remove the whole plastic "lining" if you will?

Thanks for the fast response too guys! Truly life savers with how much it would cost to bring this in!

-A

 

[budwich]

your problem ISN"T in the cargo panel area. As indicated, your problem is in the door post of the drivers side. Very common... check there first. IF it isn't broken there then, the next likely break is a "splice area" in the rear passenger "raceway" on the driver's side.

 

[alpha]

Yep just got to it tonight, there was 2 wires broken upon opening the "cylinder" at the door hinge. I put a zip tie through it to hold the rubber away from the wires, i soldered them together and shrink tubed it and perfect! the door unlocked first try! Thanks everyone for your input, this does sound like a common scenario. The wires i repaired were Pink/Lt Green, which is the unlock wire, but the other i fixed was a black or blue with green stripe? it was dark out and i dont remember it really haha, maybe it was purple/green, that sounds more like it. I didnt notice anything not working but i put it together anyway, can anyone shed some light on what function this wire does? Thanks again everyone.