97 explorer unlocking itself - help!
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97 explorer unlocking itself - help!
i own a 97 explorer XLT, V8 and lately i haven't been able to keep it locked. it will unlock itself and continue to try to unlock itself all day. i've just had to disconnect the battery. i'm sure it's got to be in the wiring of the remote entry receiver or something, but i don't even know where that is. anyone got any ideas? and please, i'm kinda mechanically challenged, so use small words. 
thanks a bunch.
lisa
thanks a bunch.lisa
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From: UT
I almost hate to say something, because a '97 is so far removed from my '87, but my '87 did the same thing once. Got a wiring diagram and traced the power lock circuit until I found a wet connector under the hood which was causing a permanent short to ground in the power lock circuit. After a couple of days, the connector dried out and all was right with the world again.
If nobody has any short cuts for you, the only solution might be the painful, tedious process of tracing wires until you find the short.
Since you suspect the remote entry, is there any way to disconnect the remote entry stuff without paralyzing the whole truck? Maybe a fuse specific to the remote entry? For that matter, isn't there a fuse specific to the power locks?
If nobody has any short cuts for you, the only solution might be the painful, tedious process of tracing wires until you find the short.
Since you suspect the remote entry, is there any way to disconnect the remote entry stuff without paralyzing the whole truck? Maybe a fuse specific to the remote entry? For that matter, isn't there a fuse specific to the power locks?
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Hi everybody. My mom is having the same problem with her 96 Windstar. I "fixed" it by holding down on the power lock button on the driver's door. As soon as i would let it go, it would do it. So I held it down for a long time and it hasn't done it since. HA! I know its probably temporary. This is the first thread I've ever found with the same problem. She also has problems with it dinging (int. lights on) while driving under 25 mph or so. My father cleaned the contacts on all the doors and it doesn't do it all the time. It will also ding with no keys in it sometimes when you park it. We call it Christine. It definately has a personality. Any ideas? I promised her I'd ask someone on here. Thanks in advance. Jamie
Last edited by jamielynn; May 24, 2004 at 06:47 AM.
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door locks
I had the same problem with my '96 AWD and it turned out to be the switches that are part of the key lock system. They are mounted on the back of the key cylinders in the front doors and rear hatch and will get corroded contacts from moisture finding it's way in through the keyway. Sometimes you can get them to behave by blasting some sort of contact cleaner into the lock cylinder and working the key aggresively. The real fix is to disconnect the switches by opening up the door panels and just unplugging them. They are only there to allow you to unlock all the doors with a key by turning the cylinder twice, a minimal feature at best. The door panels are a little tricky to get off without breaking the mounting tabs; try it on a warm day.
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AC75
Explorer, Sport Trac, Mountaineer & Aviator
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Dec 6, 2019 10:15 PM
