Skip to main content
Gerry | Vanagon
Checking account...
← vanagon.com home · Continue the discussion in the forum
VanagonEuroVan
Subject:Power Door Lock Problems Persist
From:Kelly Bauman
Date:Mon, 22 Mar 1999 13:38:55 -0800

In late January I reported my PDLs were not working.  They would go down
and then pop back up.  They won't stay locked.  I posted this to the list
and got some great suggestions on how to fix it, most of which suggested
that cleaning the contacts would remedy the problem.

Yesterday I took the inner panels off all the doors and the back hatch.  I
disconnected each PDL actuator, one at a time.  No elimination of the
down-then-up problem except when the passenger door PDL actuator is
disconnected.  In this case the drivers door lock works fine.  The problem
in trouble shooting is that with the passenger side actuator disconnected
the sliding door and rear hatch PDLs don't work at all (should it work this
way?).

So, it would seem that the passenger door actuator is causing the problem.
I dismantled the actuator and cleaned and lubed all the contacts.
Everything seemed to slide very nicely.  Still, the problem persists.

I called a local dealer to inquire about the price of a new actuator.  They
don't make them anymore.  Instead, they sell you an EV actuator which
requires a different wiring harness.

I call upon the wisdom of the list.  Any other suggestions on what to check?

thanks,

Kelly Bauman
Delta, BC
'91 Westy

Have something to add on this topic today? Revive this thread in the forum »