The dreaded Power Door Lock issue

[Chapster]

Hello everyone! I've been searching and reading about this topic for several days now in these forums. Couldn't find any with the exact symptoms.

2002 XLS 4L. Last year my power door locks started acting weird. Example, while pressing the UNLOCK button from the driver door, all doors unlocked except the passenger side. Then a week later, the passenger side would work but not the driver side. Then vice versa again. After awhile, they all stoped working! No more power locks. I only use the key to open drivers door, then hit the UNLOCK button to unlock all other doors. I've read BigRondo's posts (and many others)about checking the wires in the boot at the drivers side door. I did take a look at it yesterday but didn't see any broken wires. Also, that boot is really in the way! How do you check properly with the boot there? There IS power getting to the switch. And I do hear a 'clicking' sound from behind the cargo wall panel (passenger side) when ANY of the LOCK/UNLOCK buttons are pressed (incl the one in the carge area). From what I've read, this is where the relay is located. If it 'clicks', does that mean it's still good? To get behind there, there's a lot of panels to remove.

I'm open to all suggestions

 

[Chapster]

Well today I removed the side wall panels in cargo area where I hear the clicking when I press the lock/unlock button(s). The clicking is from the CSM (Central Security Module). Guess thats not the door locks relay. I also was able to slide the boot down into the driver door to inspect wires. The only thing I noticed was a big white w/yellow stripe wire had the sheathing cut a bit. However the copper wire inside looked intact. All other wires seem fine.

Here's another thing. My THEFT light flashes every 2 to 3 secs as soon as I stop the engine. As mentioned in my previous post, I don't use the remote. Only the key. So I don't use the alarm. I know it's part of the PATS system, but is that normal? Do they all flash even if you don't arm the alarm?

I'd really like to fix this problem. The biggest pain in the a$$ is the cargo door! Have to reach from the back seat with a snow broom to flick the unlock lever.

Anyone?

 

[waskly]

the light is no an alarm its the anti theft passive system, that id's the key in the ignition.

take the drivers side door panel off, look for a black wire through the boot, its broken in 1/2

http://www.explorerforum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=270081&highlight=broken+wire

 

[Chapster]

I did look in the boot. No broken wires. I didn't ungerstand your reply. I know the flashing THEFT indicator is part of the Passive Anti Theft System (PATS). Does yours flash even when you don't arm the alarm?

 

[waskly]

I did look in the boot. No broken wires. I didn't ungerstand your reply. I know the flashing THEFT indicator is part of the Passive Anti Theft System (PATS). Does yours flash even when you don't arm the alarm?

again it has nothing to do with the alarm............

nothing.

its a pats indicator, right key it stays off, no key it flashes, wrong key flashes fast.

 

[Chapster]

Ok. Thanks for clearing that up. Guess it's back to the drawing board...or back to the wires in the boot!