Electrical Gremlins

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Jul 9, 2015 | 12:40 PM

D.Yaros

Thread Starter

Tuned

Joined: May 2015

Posts: 314

Likes: 9

From: SE WI

Electrical Gremlins

2002 F-250 Super Duty XLT

The power door lock button does not lock/unlock the passenger side door.
The power mirror switch does not work to adjust the passenger side mirror.

I find it a bit coincidental that the problems I describe pertain to the passenger side only. Is that a clue? Any ideas where/what I should be looking at/for to correct these problems?

Should this post be in the Misc-Electrical Systems/Wiring section?

Thanks -

Jul 9, 2015 | 04:01 PM

asdrew

Tuned

Joined: Apr 2010

Posts: 262

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From: Clermont, Florida

Quote:

Originally Posted by D.Yaros

I find it a bit coincidental that the problems I describe pertain to the passenger side only. Is that a clue?

Absolutely. Does anything else in that door work? (either from the door itself or the driver side)

Jul 10, 2015 | 11:14 AM

D.Yaros

Thread Starter

Tuned

Joined: May 2015

Posts: 314

Likes: 9

From: SE WI

The power window on the passenger side works from both switches. The red safety light at the bottom of passenger door also works.

As for both the mirror and the door lock they do seem to have power. The mirror acts as though the motor is not connected to the mirror itself.

The door lock acts as though it binds.

Jul 10, 2015 | 11:40 AM

droldsmorland

Fleet Mechanic

Joined: Nov 2011

Posts: 1,825

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From: Land of Taxes

Trouble shooting rule #1 do you have power and ground to those devices???? Have you checked fuses yet. Thats step one. If you do not have power and the fuses are good (verified with a volt/Ohm meter not by viusual inspection) then look at the main door harness. Ill bet some of the wires in the harness between the firewall and door have fatigued and are "open." Take the harness out/apart and Ohm out the wires. Also look for loose and or corroded connections on the non working devices. Grounds are your friend here as well. Check all grounds... clean and tighten.
Now all that said, the driver side door has controls that operate some of the things in the passenger door. It gets used a hell of a lot more than the passenger side as a rule. So fatigue on the driver side harness is more common. Check the drivers side door passenger circuit feeds in the harness for opens as well.

Jul 10, 2015 | 12:47 PM

asdrew

Tuned

Joined: Apr 2010

Posts: 262

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From: Clermont, Florida

Quote:

Originally Posted by D.Yaros

As for both the mirror and the door lock they do seem to have power. The mirror acts as though the motor is not connected to the mirror itself. The door lock acts as though it binds.

Then it sounds like it's not an electrical problem and electricity is getting to the 2 different devices. If that is the case, it is still possible that there is a poor electrical connection somewhere that can't handle the load, but before you spend too much time chasing that you might check each thing separately.

Door Lock:
1. does it physically lock/unlock freely, and does it unlock when the inside handle pulls? (ruling out a mechanical/linkage problem)
2. does it try to lock/unlock from both the driver and passenger door switches the same? (narrowing it down to not an issue with one door switch or the other) Also compare the operation with the key fob.
3. You might want to pop the door panel off and observe what happens when the unlock button is pressed.

Mirror:
1. So you hear the motor working inside the mirror?
2. If so, it may be a mechanical failure between the motor and mirror glass. I believe it just pops in and out, you can search for instructions on how to pop it out and back into place - and while it is popped out, observe what the motor does directly.