Yesterday my wife mentioned that the doors were acting up in her Suburban. Sure enough three were siezed and even using the key wouldn't open them. Only the drivers door worked with power, the other 4 doors were fried. Finally I was able to get the rear driver's side open by forcing the inside latch. It took 65 Camino and I about 2 hours to get the passenger door open today and that actuator is siezed so solid it can't even be freed up with a vice. Rear barn doors didn't take that long to get open once the panel trim was popped off.
Any ideas why all of the doors would go at once, the switch on the passenger door has a lot of green corrosion on it so that will need to be cleaned up before it goes back in the car. Possibly this shorted out them all ? I now need 4 solenoid actuators. It's a real pain manually locking doors, its a big truck and there are 5 doors to lock.
Well I got one actuator so now I have both front doors back on power. I'll have to source the rest of the parts next week now. If anyone would like to know the proceedure for replacing these things on a late model GMC/Chevy truck just ask. It takes about 20 to 30 minutes a door. Lots of switches lights and speakers in these doors to disconnect first before doing anything. You need a pop riveter to replicate the factory installation and a drill to remove the original two rivets. If you get a Delco part they toss in 4 rivets in the box. You should also get some door pannel fasteners too in case you break some taking off the panel. Be prepared to get some scrapes on your wrists as you fish the solenoids through the access openings in the door and put in place or get a little person to help.
-- Edited by 73SC on Saturday 11th of April 2009 02:30:50 PM
Tackled the reamaning three doors today. It rained all morning so I started about3:30. I was finished about 5:45. My wrists are a little worse for wear, especially my left one. The rear barn doors were a real PITA. I didn't pay attention to the wiring when I pulled off the siezed one, so I wired it in the same as the doors. I guess the lock is working differently because it has vertical rods not horizontal like the doors. Long story short, when the doors locked the barn door unlocked, when the doors unlocked the barn door locked. Had to take that one out and redo it so it was really like I did 4 instals so my 30 minute per door estimate is pretty good.
I took apart my key fobs too and used some contact cleaner to clean them up and life is good again, all five doors locking and unlocking fine. I had the parts shipped in from California from an ebay deal, I bought 4 solenoids for $9.99 US plus $14.99 shipping with a lifetime warranty. I see these for $69.95 in the LMC catalogue and they go for about $120 at the dealer. The guy offered me 175 solenoids for $150 + $150 shipping. I was tempted.
I now need 4 solenoid actuators. It's a real pain manually locking doors, its a big truck and there are 5 doors to lock.
