Power Lock Question

Cphelps · 06-02-2007, 02:56 PM

Hey all,

It rained all day and all night here in Melbourne FL, due to the storms off the coast and what not. I came to see water marks on my car and yard this morning indicating that my car was flooding pretty high. There was like inch deep water in the back floor boards, and some in the front. Everything seems to work fine (Radio, AC, Windows) and the car runs fine, but the power locks do not work at all from either switch. The car also automatically locks/unlocks when put into Drive and Park, and that doesn't work either. I'm thinking a fuse or something shorted out, but from looking at the two under hood fuse boxes I'm not sure which fuse would handle the power locks? I have a Hayes manual for my car but its at my mom's house in Orlando. I'm hoping its something easy/inexpensive like a fuse, anyone have any ideas?

01sunfire01 · 06-02-2007, 03:20 PM

what kinda car is it the on in your sig? check to make sure everything is dry look under the seats to make sure the wires under the seats are try then look at the fuse and see what happens

likearock00 · 06-02-2007, 03:28 PM

Just wait until it dries out.....then try it.

Cphelps · 06-02-2007, 05:23 PM

Yes its the 1996 Regal in my sig. I am hoping when it dries out it would work, but it has some time and not much has happened. I'll wait a bit longer, its been sitting in the FL sun for a while so hopefully it will get dried out soon. Thanks for the suggestions.

RickMN · 06-02-2007, 08:50 PM

Fuse for the door lock is in the inside fuse box under the instrument panel. It's a 2A fuse located right next to the rear defog fuse.

Cphelps · 06-03-2007, 04:33 PM

Thanks RickMN, I'll check it out. I have been wet/dry vacing the water out for the last few days and letting it sit, pulled the carpet up to get what I could out from under there, but the padding under the carpet is soaked so its slow going. I will try some "DampRid" but I'm not sure it will do any good.

Cphelps · 06-17-2007, 02:58 PM

So I got it dried out and found the 20A power lock fuse. It now will UNLOCK but not LOCK. All the other fuses in that box seem fine. I'm doing some research to see if there are any other relays or fuses that have anything to do with power lock functionality. If anyone has any ideas they'd be appreciated.

One of the fuses controls whether or not the locks automatically lock or unlock depending on when park or drive etc. is selected, that fuse seems fine and taking it out didn't seem to effect the locking (other than the intended park/drive effects).

Cphelps · 07-13-2007, 09:59 PM

Just as an update, after looking at wiring diagrams and since the locks UNLOCK fine from both switches and the computer, it definitely seems like the "lock" relay is bad, but I can't seem to find this relay. Anyone know where the power lock relays are located on a '96 W-body? I have a Haynes manual, but thats basically useless for this. When I bought it I didn't know better, but I've actually never had it provide useful information for the jobs I've tried to do...

Ed753 · 07-13-2007, 10:15 PM

In my opinion, you shouldn't worry only about the power-locks, you need to pull the seats, dry out the carpet and replace the jute under the carpet, otherwise you will have many, many more serious problems down the road. I've traced "opens" in cars before, after finding the break, the amounts of corrosion I have found is obviously from the car interior getting severely wet.

RickMN · 07-14-2007, 01:49 AM

Ditto on Ed's advice about removing the seats and carpeting and cleaning up the inside. You're better off hosing the floorboards down with clean water than leaving rain water in there. But to answer your lock Q...the relay is located at the base of the left side A Pillar.

Cphelps · 07-14-2007, 02:02 AM

oh don't worry, I've gotten the water out. Before I started messing with the electrical stuff, i wet dry vacced what I could out, then pulled up the carpet and vacced more out and sucked even more water out via damp rid. Thanks for the info on where the relays are.

Cphelps · 07-14-2007, 02:07 PM

In that general area I noticed what I believe to be the PCM when I was looking yesterday, is it in that region? I think I read something that said it was above the PCM and I had to take out the PCM and tray. I can't look now b/c FL weather isn't cooperating, but when I get a chance I'll look up under there.

06-02-2007, 02:56 PM	#1 (permalink)
Cphelps 2.8 Liter Turbocharged V6 Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Orlando, FL Drives: 1996 Buick Regal Custom 3800 Posts: 752	Power Lock Question Hey all, It rained all day and all night here in Melbourne FL, due to the storms off the coast and what not. I came to see water marks on my car and yard this morning indicating that my car was flooding pretty high. There was like inch deep water in the back floor boards, and some in the front. Everything seems to work fine (Radio, AC, Windows) and the car runs fine, but the power locks do not work at all from either switch. The car also automatically locks/unlocks when put into Drive and Park, and that doesn't work either. I'm thinking a fuse or something shorted out, but from looking at the two under hood fuse boxes I'm not sure which fuse would handle the power locks? I have a Hayes manual for my car but its at my mom's house in Orlando. I'm hoping its something easy/inexpensive like a fuse, anyone have any ideas? __________________

06-02-2007, 03:20 PM	#2 (permalink)
01sunfire01 2.8 Liter Turbocharged V6 Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: CT Drives: 2007 pontiac G5 GT 5 SPEED 2000 chevy blazer LT Posts: 877	Re: Power Lock Question what kinda car is it the on in your sig? check to make sure everything is dry look under the seats to make sure the wires under the seats are try then look at the fuse and see what happens

06-02-2007, 03:28 PM	#3 (permalink)
likearock00 6.2 Liter LS9 Supercharged V8 Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: NC Drives: 2006 Chevy Silverado Crew Cab Z-71 Posts: 8,437	Re: Power Lock Question Just wait until it dries out.....then try it. __________________ Not even worth putting one up.

06-02-2007, 05:23 PM	#4 (permalink)
Cphelps 2.8 Liter Turbocharged V6 Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Orlando, FL Drives: 1996 Buick Regal Custom 3800 Posts: 752	Re: Power Lock Question Yes its the 1996 Regal in my sig. I am hoping when it dries out it would work, but it has some time and not much has happened. I'll wait a bit longer, its been sitting in the FL sun for a while so hopefully it will get dried out soon. Thanks for the suggestions. __________________

06-02-2007, 08:50 PM	#5 (permalink)
RickMN Walking Join Date: Apr 2007 Posts: 11	Re: Power Lock Question Fuse for the door lock is in the inside fuse box under the instrument panel. It's a 2A fuse located right next to the rear defog fuse. __________________ I'm a retired ASE Master/L-1 Technician. I still keep up with all the current technolgy. Visit my blog at: http://www.ricksfreeautorepairadvice.com/

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06-03-2007, 04:33 PM	#6 (permalink)
Cphelps 2.8 Liter Turbocharged V6 Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Orlando, FL Drives: 1996 Buick Regal Custom 3800 Posts: 752	Re: Power Lock Question Thanks RickMN, I'll check it out. I have been wet/dry vacing the water out for the last few days and letting it sit, pulled the carpet up to get what I could out from under there, but the padding under the carpet is soaked so its slow going. I will try some "DampRid" but I'm not sure it will do any good. __________________

06-17-2007, 02:58 PM	#7 (permalink)
Cphelps 2.8 Liter Turbocharged V6 Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Orlando, FL Drives: 1996 Buick Regal Custom 3800 Posts: 752	Re: Power Lock Question So I got it dried out and found the 20A power lock fuse. It now will UNLOCK but not LOCK. All the other fuses in that box seem fine. I'm doing some research to see if there are any other relays or fuses that have anything to do with power lock functionality. If anyone has any ideas they'd be appreciated. One of the fuses controls whether or not the locks automatically lock or unlock depending on when park or drive etc. is selected, that fuse seems fine and taking it out didn't seem to effect the locking (other than the intended park/drive effects). __________________ Last edited by Cphelps : 06-17-2007 at 03:12 PM.

07-13-2007, 09:59 PM	#8 (permalink)
Cphelps 2.8 Liter Turbocharged V6 Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Orlando, FL Drives: 1996 Buick Regal Custom 3800 Posts: 752	Re: Power Lock Question Just as an update, after looking at wiring diagrams and since the locks UNLOCK fine from both switches and the computer, it definitely seems like the "lock" relay is bad, but I can't seem to find this relay. Anyone know where the power lock relays are located on a '96 W-body? I have a Haynes manual, but thats basically useless for this. When I bought it I didn't know better, but I've actually never had it provide useful information for the jobs I've tried to do... __________________

07-13-2007, 10:15 PM	#9 (permalink)
Ed753 3.0 Liter SIDI V6 Join Date: May 2005 Drives: 2008 GMC Sierra 2007 Buick Rendezvous Posts: 624	Re: Power Lock Question In my opinion, you shouldn't worry only about the power-locks, you need to pull the seats, dry out the carpet and replace the jute under the carpet, otherwise you will have many, many more serious problems down the road. I've traced "opens" in cars before, after finding the break, the amounts of corrosion I have found is obviously from the car interior getting severely wet.

07-14-2007, 01:49 AM	#10 (permalink)
RickMN Walking Join Date: Apr 2007 Posts: 11	Re: Power Lock Question Ditto on Ed's advice about removing the seats and carpeting and cleaning up the inside. You're better off hosing the floorboards down with clean water than leaving rain water in there. But to answer your lock Q...the relay is located at the base of the left side A Pillar. __________________ I'm a retired ASE Master/L-1 Technician. I still keep up with all the current technolgy. Visit my blog at: http://www.ricksfreeautorepairadvice.com/

07-14-2007, 02:02 AM	#11 (permalink)
Cphelps 2.8 Liter Turbocharged V6 Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Orlando, FL Drives: 1996 Buick Regal Custom 3800 Posts: 752	Re: Power Lock Question oh don't worry, I've gotten the water out. Before I started messing with the electrical stuff, i wet dry vacced what I could out, then pulled up the carpet and vacced more out and sucked even more water out via damp rid. Thanks for the info on where the relays are. __________________

07-14-2007, 02:07 PM	#12 (permalink)
Cphelps 2.8 Liter Turbocharged V6 Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Orlando, FL Drives: 1996 Buick Regal Custom 3800 Posts: 752	Re: Power Lock Question In that general area I noticed what I believe to be the PCM when I was looking yesterday, is it in that region? I think I read something that said it was above the PCM and I had to take out the PCM and tray. I can't look now b/c FL weather isn't cooperating, but when I get a chance I'll look up under there. __________________

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