1998 Saturn SL2 power door locks with keyless entry

1998 SATURN SL2
115,000 MILES • 4 CYL • 2WD • AUTOMATIC
Avatar
HAYDENWSE
  • MEMBER
  • 4 POSTS
When I try using the power locks with any door switch or the keyless entry, all of the solenoids buzz but do not move the locks. The battery also went dead after a couple of days without driving. I removed the ground and recharged the battery. When I reconnected the battery, all locks opened so I figured that the door lock problem was causing the drain on the battery. The door lock relay in the fuse block was very warm so I pulled the fuse. According to the wiring diagram this should cut power to the locks and cigarette lighter but I still have power to them. A check of the amperage across the fuse holder shows 5.5 amps. I removed the hot relay to break the circuit but the unlock button on the keyless entry would still operate the solenoids. A single click would lock the front doors and unlock the back. A double click would unlock the front and lock the back. Very bizarre.

I replaced the relay but that had no affect.
Oct 27, 2010 at 10:07 PM
Advertisement
Avatar
SATURNTECH9
  • CERTIFIED EXPERT
  • 30,869 POSTS
So when you put the door lock fuse and relay's in do the door lock's stay on?
Oct 27, 2010 at 11:37 PM
Avatar
HAYDENWSE
  • MEMBER
  • 4 POSTS
Removing the fuse has no affect. I tried removing each fuse in the fuse block on the center consol and none of them cut power to the door locks. I am thinking about doing the same thing with the fuses in the engine compartment in the morning.

I removed the open relay because it was very warm and left the close relay in place. The weird thing is that pressing the unlock button on the keyless entry unlocks some doors while at the same time locking others.

It seems that I must be getting a short to another live wire somewhere after the relay. My wiring schematic in the Haynes manual doesn't show anything on the wiring for the keyless entry but it should still use the same fuse.

All of the other electric systems work fine.
Oct 28, 2010 at 1:25 AM
Advertisement
Avatar
SATURNTECH9
  • CERTIFIED EXPERT
  • 30,869 POSTS
Let's try this with all the fuse's and relay's in and the door lock's staying on starting with the front door lock switch on the the drivers door unplug the door lock switch see if the lock's stop.If they don't unplug the door lock switch on the passenger front door and see if the lock's stop.Most likely you have a bad door lock switch on the drivers front door keeping the door lock's on.Really common for those car's for the switch to wear out and the switch to stick in lock or unlock position keeping the lock's on.Let me know what you find.
Oct 28, 2010 at 10:06 AM
Avatar
HAYDENWSE
  • MEMBER
  • 4 POSTS
Thanks I will give that a try.

The part that has me confused is that there is still power to the locks with the fuse removed. If the problem was a faulty switch, wouldn’t the system be depowered if the fuse was removed? So far I have not been able to find any way to get the 12 volts out of the system.
Oct 28, 2010 at 10:37 AM
Avatar
SATURNTECH9
  • CERTIFIED EXPERT
  • 30,869 POSTS
I understand what your saying but before you go tearing the whole inside of the car apart for nothing.Please try the lock switch idea i asked you to try that is the most common thing i have seen that keeps the locks running.It will take less then 5 mins to try what i asked.
Oct 28, 2010 at 11:37 AM
Avatar
HAYDENWSE
  • MEMBER
  • 4 POSTS
Sorry I didn’t get this checked sooner. I did not have access to the car this morning. I removed the driver’s door and the system works as it should so I will get a new switch. Thank you for the help. This is my daughter's first car and the door locks were very frustrating to her. :>)
I am still confused by the fuse. If I remove the fuse the door switches do no operate which is what I expect but the keyless entry will still energize the locks. It doesn’t unlock them but will unlock them. Are there two different power sources to the door lock system?
Oct 28, 2010 at 1:35 PM
Avatar
SATURNTECH9
  • CERTIFIED EXPERT
  • 30,869 POSTS
There's power going thru the body fuse i know what your talking about when the fuse blow's the lock's will only operate one way.But get yourself a new switch and your problem's are solved.I like to start with the most common reason first like a worn out switch keeping the door lock's on.Let me know if you run into any other problem's.
Oct 28, 2010 at 2:05 PM