Power Locks not working?
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New User
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 14
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From: Lynnwood, WA
Power Locks not working?
Power locks on our '89 XL have not worked at all since we got it.
Today i took the panels off both front doors and looked around for any problems or disconnected wires, and found nothing...
Except that the passenger power window hasn't been working 'cuz the motor died.
I hooked up a multimeter to various areas and pushed the switches, and i get no read outs at all~so im getting no power to the switches apparently.
any ideas?
Today i took the panels off both front doors and looked around for any problems or disconnected wires, and found nothing...
Except that the passenger power window hasn't been working 'cuz the motor died.
I hooked up a multimeter to various areas and pushed the switches, and i get no read outs at all~so im getting no power to the switches apparently.
any ideas?
Post Fiend
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 5,720
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From: Washington state
Posting Guru
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 1,017
Likes: 3
From: Longwood, Fl
door locks
I suppose you have checked all the fuses---not trying to insult you 
These door lock motors are not push-pull solenoids even though they sound like solenoids. They are actually small DC can motors with commutators and brushes, like on toy cars! You may as well get used to working with them. My experience is that due to poor placement (shaft pointing upwards), water coming in around the window felt will track down the shaft and directly into the motor (the protective shield cracks with age). That will eventually cause the motor to freeze up. Unfortunately, the motor is a crimped case design, so getting into them is very difficult. It is kinda a "birch" getting the motor out of the holder, without drilling out the big rivet for the holder.
See if you can reach the motor and manually move the arm that connects to the motor shaft. I betcha its frozen up-----unfortunately
These door lock motors are not push-pull solenoids even though they sound like solenoids. They are actually small DC can motors with commutators and brushes, like on toy cars! You may as well get used to working with them. My experience is that due to poor placement (shaft pointing upwards), water coming in around the window felt will track down the shaft and directly into the motor (the protective shield cracks with age). That will eventually cause the motor to freeze up. Unfortunately, the motor is a crimped case design, so getting into them is very difficult. It is kinda a "birch" getting the motor out of the holder, without drilling out the big rivet for the holder.
See if you can reach the motor and manually move the arm that connects to the motor shaft. I betcha its frozen up-----unfortunately
Lead Driver
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 7,016
Likes: 208
From: SoCal
I pulled out one of the motors to fix it due to the electricals rusting out inside, due to water seeping down the shaft exactly as described by Benshere. I drilled out the rivet, and replaced it with a short 1/4-20 bolt. This required pulling its bracket off the body of the motor.
If you're not getting any voltage at the switches, the problem could be the common one; a break in one of the wires going through that tube between the door and the body.
If you're not getting any voltage at the switches, the problem could be the common one; a break in one of the wires going through that tube between the door and the body.
Posting Guru
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 1,017
Likes: 3
From: Longwood, Fl
motor shield
There has to be a better material to make the shield for the shaft of that motor. The OEM rubber boot cracks with age. The GM (and some aftermarket kits) use motors that are mounted horizontally which should greatly help this problem.
One thing for sure, a Ford owner should either get very familiar with door lock motors and the window motor gear assy's or have DEEP pockets. Glad to hear you fixed your problem
One thing for sure, a Ford owner should either get very familiar with door lock motors and the window motor gear assy's or have DEEP pockets
. Glad to hear you fixed your problem
Lead Driver
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 7,016
Likes: 208
From: SoCal
I cleaned out the shaft and packed it with as much grease as I could, but I think eventually, water will get back in there and I'll have to do it again. I thought about possibly mounting the motor upside-down to help protect the shaft, and fashioning some kind of linkage to actuate the lock that way, but there wasn't room.
One of the contributing causes to my motor's failure is a worn out weather strip. There is a piece along the outside of the window opening that rubs against the glass which had completely disintegrated, so it was letting all water hitting the window to get into the door. I found another in better condition at the salvage yard, and replaced my worn out one. A quick test with the garden hose showed that it was keeping most of the water out, and no longer raining down onto the lock motor.
One of the contributing causes to my motor's failure is a worn out weather strip. There is a piece along the outside of the window opening that rubs against the glass which had completely disintegrated, so it was letting all water hitting the window to get into the door. I found another in better condition at the salvage yard, and replaced my worn out one. A quick test with the garden hose showed that it was keeping most of the water out, and no longer raining down onto the lock motor.
