Wiring, Stereo & Electronics Audio Components | Radars | Alarms - and things that spark when they shouldn't

Odd issue

Old Jan 24, 2023 | 08:34 AM
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Default Odd issue

After replacing door lock actuator on driver side and having the BCM solder fixed thinking that would fix my issue, it didn't. When i lock my car using the interior switch, the security light on the dash doesn't turn on. I also cannot using my switch to unlock the doors from inside. Passenger works fine. I replaced the door lock actuator because my locks weren't working at all on the driver side. Could this be faulty? The key fob works as intended and locks the car and initiates the alarm. If i open the passenger side door, the system works correctly as should.
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Old Jan 25, 2023 | 09:18 PM
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Moving to Electronics.

If the passenger side switch will lock both doors, then the mechanicals in the door and the actuator are fine.

I would start by unplugging the switch panels from both sides of the car. Then plug the passenger side switch into the driver's door and try it. If it works, then you just have a bad switch in your driver's side panel. (This happens from time to time and I've had to replace several window switches over the years.)

If you have a bad switch, be careful!!! The panel gets brittle as it gets old and if you stretch it to far prying the old switch out, it could crack.
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Old Jan 26, 2023 | 01:01 PM
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I tried this. Issue is still there.
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Old Jan 26, 2023 | 01:23 PM
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To clarify, When I use the key fob to lock the doors, the alarm is initiated, and everything works correctly. If I use the door lock switch (driver side) to lock the door it does not initiate the alarm system. When I open the driver side door the dash security light doesn't turn on and blink. These behaviors are different than the passenger side which seems to be working correctly.
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Old Jan 27, 2023 | 11:27 AM
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If your physical switch isn't the problem, then it sounds like there is a wiring issue, either before or at the BCM.

Do the lights come on/go off properly when the door opens? That should tell you if the wiring to the door switch is working.

For the locking issue, I think you are down to tracing the wires from the lock switch in the door to the BCM to find out where the issue is. If you log on to Autozone.com and go to the repair section, they have all the official GM schematics.
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Old Jan 27, 2023 | 11:44 AM
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Yeah I didn't have this problem before. The actuator just went bad so i replaced it. I'm going to tear it back up and look around. The security light doesn't turn on when I use the driver side switch or open the door. It will only do it with the key fob.
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Old Jan 27, 2023 | 01:47 PM
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Could the door latch assembly be bad? The piece the actuator connects to? Does this ground it out and send signal to BCM?
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Old Jan 28, 2023 | 11:42 AM
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Originally Posted by blackbirdls1
Could the door latch assembly be bad? The piece the actuator connects to? Does this ground it out and send signal to BCM?
If the mechanism in the door was bad, the fob shouldn't work. Since the issue only arises between the button and the BCM, I expect that the wiring or the BCM itself has an issue.

... One thing to look at might be doing the BCM solder fix again and targeting specific connections. Sometimes it takes two passes and/or additional solder needs to be added.


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