Drivers door locks but not unlocks with button

[dersch6221992]

hey guys. so i feel that i have posted a lot lately... which means my truck is dying faster and faster! OH NO!

But this has been a problem for probably a month or 2 now. But on my drivers door panel if i hit unlock it will not unlock any door at all. but if i hit lock it locks all the doors. If i use the key fob, it locks/ unlocks all doors. if i use passanger door it locks/ unlocks all doors. so basically just the drivers side door will not unlock any part of the vehicle. it doesnt even make noise. so is this telling me that it is a door switch ($45 on rockauto) or is it telling me a wire is bad? or what? people said to trace the wires back but it leads me to believe that if it was a bad wire none of the doors or key fob would unlock anything.

any suggestions?

 

[Chikar]

I'd say you have a bad driver's door switch.

The wiring must be OK if the passenger door switch will unlock all doors, the key fobs will as well, etc.

9 times out of 10 it's the mechanical parts (like the switch) that are bad rather than wiring or electronics.

 

[budwich]

but there is wiring coming from that door too ... but you will never know til look into it.

 

[bobflood]

hey guys. so i feel that i have posted a lot lately... which means my truck is dying faster and faster! OH NO!

But this has been a problem for probably a month or 2 now. But on my drivers door panel if i hit unlock it will not unlock any door at all. but if i hit lock it locks all the doors. If i use the key fob, it locks/ unlocks all doors. if i use passanger door it locks/ unlocks all doors. so basically just the drivers side door will not unlock any part of the vehicle. it doesnt even make noise. so is this telling me that it is a door switch ($45 on rockauto) or is it telling me a wire is bad? or what? people said to trace the wires back but it leads me to believe that if it was a bad wire none of the doors or key fob would unlock anything.

any suggestions?

I have had this exact same problem. While it could be the driver's door switch, in my case it was a broken wire in the wiring bundle between the driver's door and the body. This is a very common problem on these vehicles.

You can fix this yourself, though it is a bit of a PITA. Open the driver's door as far as it will go. There is a large black cannister with a rubber boot coming out the bottom and a 10mm captured bolt in the top. Turning that bolt will separate the cannister into two parts. Once separated, cut the nylon cable tie around the top of the rubber boot and peel it back. I believe that you will find a broken wire(s) in there. You will have to splice/solder a couple of inches of new wire in to join the two pieces together; use shrink wrap to cover the new joints. Pull the rubber boot back into place and use a new cable tie to secure it. Put the bottom part of the cannister back in place and use the bolt to pull it back together. Your switch should now work. Good luck.

 

[dersch6221992]

I have had this exact same problem. While it could be the driver's door switch, in my case it was a broken wire in the wiring bundle between the driver's door and the body. This is a very common problem on these vehicles.

You can fix this yourself, though it is a bit of a PITA. Open the driver's door as far as it will go. There is a large black cannister with a rubber boot coming out the bottom and a 10mm captured bolt in the top. Turning that bolt will separate the cannister into two parts. Once separated, cut the nylon cable tie around the top of the rubber boot and peel it back. I believe that you will find a broken wire(s) in there. You will have to splice/solder a couple of inches of new wire in to join the two pieces together; use shrink wrap to cover the new joints. Pull the rubber boot back into place and use a new cable tie to secure it. Put the bottom part of the cannister back in place and use the bolt to pull it back together. Your switch should now work. Good luck.

really that seems pretty easy! hopefully i can get that fixed this weekend. i already bought the new switch... so i will try this before i install that. Thanks for the tip!

 

[bobflood]

really that seems pretty easy! hopefully i can get that fixed this weekend. i already bought the new switch... so i will try this before i install that. Thanks for the tip!

Unfortunately, it "describes" easier than it "does" if you have big hands like mine. Couple more tips:
- Make sure you solder/shrinkwrap or you will be doing it again! Ask me how I know!!
- Use something to hold the boot back out of the way once you peel it back. I used a set of vice grips I have with arched jaws that clamped around the wire bundle and did an OK job of holding the boot back.
- Don't lean too hard on the plastic frame along the driver's seat - It will break!! Again, ask me how I know!!
Good luck!!

 

[dersch6221992]

Unfortunately, it "describes" easier than it "does" if you have big hands like mine. Couple more tips:
- Make sure you solder/shrinkwrap or you will be doing it again! Ask me how I know!!
- Use something to hold the boot back out of the way once you peel it back. I used a set of vice grips I have with arched jaws that clamped around the wire bundle and did an OK job of holding the boot back.
- Don't lean too hard on the plastic frame along the driver's seat - It will break!! Again, ask me how I know!!
Good luck!!

haha yea i know how that goes! but i will see what i can do! its on the agenda of stuff to do this weekend.