Weird door lock switch issue - 96 Camry

[denisesballs]

Hello all. I have a weird issue with my driver side door lock switch. All switches work on the master switch, all windows up and down. The door lock switch however will ONLY unlock all the doors, not lock. The passenger side switch works both unlocking and locking. The driver side key lock does in fact lock and unlock all the doors. The only thing not working is the driver side lock switch, but only for locking. I took the door panel off and even too the switch apart. I was down to metal contact and touching all worked except again for the door locking. The switch is nice and clean, nothing looks broken. I read around and saw to look for some cracked or broken wires but I don't see anything. I cleaned the connectors and everything. A mechanic I know thought maybe it was a safely feature to not allow the keys to be locked in the car, but when the car is started and running and driving the switch STILL won't lock the doors. ANy ideas?

[#2!]

Check out page 93 of Body Electrical System
http://www.camrystuff.com/index.php?page=Gen3_Manuals
The instructions on testing continuity for that switch from the switch harness.

Page 15 is the instructions on the safety(key in ignition) switch. Testing the continuity from the ignition switch harness. But I'm almost sure that would also disable the passenger side switch if it was stuck on.

[camry6]

Originally Posted by denisesballs

Hello all. I have a weird issue with my driver side door lock switch. All switches work on the master switch, all windows up and down. The door lock switch however will ONLY unlock all the doors, not lock. The passenger side switch works both unlocking and locking. The driver side key lock does in fact lock and unlock all the doors. The only thing not working is the driver side lock switch, but only for locking. I took the door panel off and even too the switch apart. I was down to metal contact and touching all worked except again for the door locking. The switch is nice and clean, nothing looks broken. I read around and saw to look for some cracked or broken wires but I don't see anything. I cleaned the connectors and everything. A mechanic I know thought maybe it was a safely feature to not allow the keys to be locked in the car, but when the car is started and running and driving the switch STILL won't lock the doors. ANy ideas?

Your problem is most likely inside the rubber boot that goes from the door to the body. Try holding the lock button down and slowly swing the door all the way open and closed a few times. Also try pushing and pulling at the rubber boot while holding the lock button down. If the locks "kick-in" at some point, then it is a broken wire from the door to the body. Even if the locks don't kick-in while trying this, you should still take a look inside. pull the boot out of the body and slide it toward the door to expose the wires. Also check behind the drivers side kick panel. pop the cover off and you will see a plastic box with 3 or 4 large multi-wire connectors inside. Release and pull each connector apart and check the connecting pins. They sometimes get corroded. Good luck!

[LynchburgCSI]

^ exactly as the last 2 guys said. electrical diagrams can also be found at http://www.**********s.com/camry/

[camry6]

Hey, any luck with your locking problem?

[LynchburgCSI]

I talked him through a LOT of stuff. He should be doing okay. No news is good news, right?

[denisesballs]

Originally Posted by camry6

Hey, any luck with your locking problem?

Yes actually! LynchburgCSI was so helpful, talked me through some troubleshooting ideas. I wound up testing out the switch with the wiring diagrams and testing for continuity. After I determined the switch was good, I started testing the light green wire which is the wire for locking. With LynchburgCSI's suggestion I tried connecting a straight ground from the battery and got nothing. I then connected it to the proper terminal on the harness under the kickplate and voila, locks worked. This told me the wire was cut between the switch and the harness under the kick plate.

Then the fun started. It was pretty much impossible to get inside that rubber boot between the door and the inside, so i tugged on the broken wire and it pulled right through to the inside. I wound up actually removing the door to loosen up the inside of the boot and ran a new wire which i spliced to both broken ends of the green wire. Kind of a big job, but I just had to fix it!

But I found another problem! Neither of the door switches actually affect the driver's side front lock. I started looking at the door lock actuator, but it looked a lot more complicated that just a simple wire. There were a bunch of wires going everywhere and a mini clip in between. I wound up just putting the door back together. Any ideas on how to troubleshoot that?

[LynchburgCSI]

The never ending mantra of electrical problems. It's gonna be trickier do diagnose for sure. Try looking through the shop manuals again. My guess is gonna be that you'll have to replace the regulator. I'll wait for someone else to toss in there opinion too though.

[denisesballs]

Originally Posted by LynchburgCSI

The never ending mantra of electrical problems. It's gonna be trickier do diagnose for sure. Try looking through the shop manuals again. My guess is gonna be that you'll have to replace the regulator. I'll wait for someone else to toss in there opinion too though.

Just to update, I wound up figuring the rest out. There wound up being a total of 5 cut wires in the boot, including the two that go back from the harness to the driver's side lock motor. After fixing them all, locking, unlocking everything works again, including the driver's side lock. Yay!

No idea how 5 wires got cut inside the rubber boot. They were so cleanly cut it looked like scissors or a wirecutter did it. Especially on this car, which is in almost perfect shape. Oh well, glad that's over!

[LynchburgCSI]

Glad you got it figured out!

[camry6]

Originally Posted by denisesballs

Just to update, I wound up figuring the rest out. There wound up being a total of 5 cut wires in the boot, including the two that go back from the harness to the driver's side lock motor. After fixing them all, locking, unlocking everything works again, including the driver's side lock. Yay!

No idea how 5 wires got cut inside the rubber boot. They were so cleanly cut it looked like scissors or a wirecutter did it. Especially on this car, which is in almost perfect shape. Oh well, glad that's over!

Yea, those wires fatigue right where they bend most. I found one or two broken on mine a few years ago, same thing, one was broken completely through.

[tonyhawk]

Originally Posted by denisesballs

Hello all. I have a weird issue with my driver side door lock switch. All switches work on the master switch, all windows up and down. The door lock switch however will ONLY unlock all the doors, not lock. The passenger side switch works both unlocking and locking. The driver side key lock does in fact lock and unlock all the doors. The only thing not working is the driver side lock switch, but only for locking. I took the door panel off and even too the switch apart. I was down to metal contact and touching all worked except again for the door locking. The switch is nice and clean, nothing looks broken. I read around and saw to look for some cracked or broken wires but I don't see anything. I cleaned the connectors and everything. A mechanic I know thought maybe it was a safely feature to not allow the keys to be locked in the car, but when the car is started and running and driving the switch STILL won't lock the doors. ANy ideas?

Your door lock problem is more than likely due to door switch that is either out of adjustment or is faulty.