Driver Door Lock Problem

[Eugeosyncline]

About a month ago I started to notice that my driver's side door lock was intermittently not engaging the power lock mechanism when I physically used the key to open the doors on my 2001 ES. Now it doesn't work at all. That is, I insert the key into the driver's side door lock, turn it to unlock the door and keep it in the turned position to try and unlock the rest of the doors, and nothing happens. Only the driver's door is manually unlocked. No sound of power engagement at all, like I used to get when it was working properly.

The internal power lock/unlock switch still works on all doors, as does the key fob. But, as said, manually using the key to unlock the doors from the driver's side doesn't.

Anyone else seen this problem and have any ideas as to what to check for?

I've become very angry with the quality problems in this car, despite immaculate, painstaking care. (bang)

I really appreciate your help (couldn't find any direct references to this problem in a thread search)...

[spoonman]

Somethings similar happened to my 99 pro LX except it was on the passenger side. Whenever I unlocked the door it made an odd sound and didnt unlock. Turned out some of the mechanics were broken. I picked up the $80 door piece to fix it. We narrowed it down to what actual part broke and it was a little plastic piece smaller than a dime. Sucks that you have to buy the whole door internals just for that.

[Shane5425]

very common problem.. the locking motor gets fried.. my 2000 lx rear and front passenger door did that... warrenty fixed mine though so i dont know how much it would have cost to fix it..

[charles]

Actually I'd be willing to bet you it's the relay. On a lot of the older Proteges (90-94) the doors will lock but not unlock. This is due to relay failure. I don't know why it would happen to a 2001, and I'm sorry you're having so many problems. I still love my Protege :)

[Cathoryn]

Whenever I unlocked the door it made an odd sound and didnt unlock. ... I picked up the $80 door piece to fix it. We narrowed it down to what actual part broke and it was a little plastic piece smaller than a dime.

Could you post the part number that you bought & maybe a picture of the part itself?

My car is having the same problem as yours - I don't want to pay $112 just for a mechanic to open up the doors and then another $80 +$112 to buy the part & have the mechanic install it.

[ZapWizard]

If the powerlock button on the drivers side, and the key-lock on the passanger side still unlock the driver's door, then you only have a problem with the electronic key-switch inside the key-lock in the drivers side door.

It may just be a loose wire, or need cleaning.
There are two wires running to the switch: GND and Signal

You can test the switch with a Multimeter.
The signal pin should be grounded, when you turn the key to UNLOCK
and it should have 1000ohms of resistance when you turn the key to LOCK

If the switch is ok, then you can test the cable.
You can get a 1000ohm resistor at radioshack.
Put the resistor to the SIGNAL wire, and touch it to ground, the doors should lock.
Put the signal wire straight to ground, and the doors should unlock.

Eugosyncline, you don't have PM or E-mail enabled, so e-mail me at:
zapwizard (at) zapwizard.com
And I can send you a link to some technical info that can help you.