I have an 04, dutch door with liftgate and all was working well with the locks until the actuator slowly died. Installed a new one and now the push button indeed moves both rods, however, my door does not lock, not with the fob or the key. When I hit anything on the key fob I can hear the front and the side and nothing to the back. I read about fuse 13 (cigarette lighter) and it is fine. Where do I begin to troubleshoot this as I definitely need to be able to lock everything up? Much appreciated.
Lock not working on rear liftgate
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i'm pretty sure the liftgate doesn't "lock" or need "unlocking" because it's purely electrical with no mechanical safeguard.
at least that's the case with my '95. i may have it all wrong with your '04 and remote control. can your fob release the liftgate?
at least that's the case with my '95. i may have it all wrong with your '04 and remote control. can your fob release the liftgate?
Well, I am not entirely sure what you mean by "lock" - but it definitely locks and unlocks. How I am not sure, hence posting the question. Currently, the only way the actuator engages is by pushing the keyhole push button.
to me, "lock" means the mechanism that prevents opening the door with a handle.
when you refer to the 'gate itself, do you actually mean opened or closed and not locked or unlocked?
The front and side doors have mechanical locks, which "engage" when you use power locking. the liftgate only has the electrical actuator. the rear keyed push-button is an electrical switch (NOT mechanical) which activates the actuator & releases the latches. you won't hear anything happen at the back when you use the power-lock, because nothing happens at the back. it doesn't HAVE a "lock."
disclaimer: i think i have this right because some time ago i asked about later models out of curiosity, but would welcome any corrections. my '95 has no push-button on the back but only a keyed switch which i turn to pop the 'gate. i think the keyed pushbutton on later models can itself be locked or unlocked with the key, but the push-button action is still an electrical switch.
when you refer to the 'gate itself, do you actually mean opened or closed and not locked or unlocked?
The front and side doors have mechanical locks, which "engage" when you use power locking. the liftgate only has the electrical actuator. the rear keyed push-button is an electrical switch (NOT mechanical) which activates the actuator & releases the latches. you won't hear anything happen at the back when you use the power-lock, because nothing happens at the back. it doesn't HAVE a "lock."
by "engages" do you mean "pops the 'gate?" i have a dash-mounted release, which won't work when in gear. does the fob have a button to pop the liftgate? if yes then there has to be a dedicated receiver for the actuator. if the fob should but won't pop the liftgate, it's either a receiver or safety switch problem.
disclaimer: i think i have this right because some time ago i asked about later models out of curiosity, but would welcome any corrections. my '95 has no push-button on the back but only a keyed switch which i turn to pop the 'gate. i think the keyed pushbutton on later models can itself be locked or unlocked with the key, but the push-button action is still an electrical switch.
Mechanical or electrical, the rear indeed does lock otherwise anyone could get into your vehicle at any time. The rear is now always unlocked. Prior to the installation of this new actuator, the rear did lock. How? I do not know but rear hatch certainly didn't remain free for anyone to open. I could lock/unlock with both the key fob and the key.
Engage as in the actuator moves to pull both rods to unlatch the liftgate. If I need to take a video I can.
Never owned or drove a liftgate / dutch door equipped Van, so never got to at least experience one working or not.
It is truly a bummer there is not "clearing house" thread concerning operation, PM, common fixes or the hassles of the 3 different styles or types of rear 3 door locking systems.
Photos and diagrams help, but, I swear, sometimes even those make no sense.
I even went to the JY to try to acclimate and reinforce my scant knowledge.
ahhh... maybe next year
It is truly a bummer there is not "clearing house" thread concerning operation, PM, common fixes or the hassles of the 3 different styles or types of rear 3 door locking systems.
Photos and diagrams help, but, I swear, sometimes even those make no sense.
I even went to the JY to try to acclimate and reinforce my scant knowledge.
ahhh... maybe next year
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6,125 Posts
You have me quite confused. How exactly do you open the rear hatch? Can you simply lift it open? it does not latch shut?
I'm not sure how to be more clear but apparently I'm not so let's try again.
All doors lock/unlock except my rear. When I hit the lock button on the fob, or up front, the back doesn't lock. How I open the back? Like everyone else with this style, you push in the keyed button on the back hatch (sorry IDK the technical term) and the hatch opens right up. In order for that to happen, the actuator has to be working properly. Thanks to a brand new one, it does indeed move the two bars that unlatch the hatch.
However, no matter what way I lock the van, the back remains open (meaning push in the button a boom, hatch opens). All other doors lock.
Appears there are relays for this? Two bottom blocks in the fuse box under the steering wheel is what I'm reading. I will check those tomorrow.
All doors lock/unlock except my rear. When I hit the lock button on the fob, or up front, the back doesn't lock. How I open the back? Like everyone else with this style, you push in the keyed button on the back hatch (sorry IDK the technical term) and the hatch opens right up. In order for that to happen, the actuator has to be working properly. Thanks to a brand new one, it does indeed move the two bars that unlatch the hatch.
However, no matter what way I lock the van, the back remains open (meaning push in the button a boom, hatch opens). All other doors lock.
Appears there are relays for this? Two bottom blocks in the fuse box under the steering wheel is what I'm reading. I will check those tomorrow.
THIS: ok now, i might have just figured something out...does having a fob mean you have passlock? apparently passlock CAN remotely lock the liftgate by disabling the actuator, but you have to have the correct connector on your new actuator. if you DO have passlock, i don't know a dang thing about it, and i'm out.
regardless of the above, you're simply saying that you can push the (keyed) button at any time to pop the liftgate?
seems to me that the key's position should matter. you may have more than one problem.
(what i do know is that i am increasingly grateful that my Gen1.5 has a lot of the simpler Gen1 features. my rear liftgate release is merely a flush-fit momentary switch, turn the key and the 'gate pops, let it go, remove the key, done.)
regardless of the above, you're simply saying that you can push the (keyed) button at any time to pop the liftgate?
seems to me that the key's position should matter. you may have more than one problem.
(what i do know is that i am increasingly grateful that my Gen1.5 has a lot of the simpler Gen1 features. my rear liftgate release is merely a flush-fit momentary switch, turn the key and the 'gate pops, let it go, remove the key, done.)
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6,125 Posts
?????
Simple answer please!
If you are outside the van, front and sliding doors are locked, can you open the rear hatch without a key in hand?
On my 1998, the rear hatch pushbutton had a key slot.
The pushbutton is an electrical switch.
The key position only determines if the electrical switch can be activated, or not, when the button is pressed.
The electrical signal from that switch goes to a relay in the jack storage area
The relay provides the power for the actuator.
Again, this is on my 1998. I have never had a fob for my van, so I have nonidea if th ere is some function there.
The 1998 also does not have a dash mounted rear door release.
Rod J
Issaquah
The pushbutton is an electrical switch.
The key position only determines if the electrical switch can be activated, or not, when the button is pressed.
The electrical signal from that switch goes to a relay in the jack storage area
The relay provides the power for the actuator.
Again, this is on my 1998. I have never had a fob for my van, so I have nonidea if th ere is some function there.
The 1998 also does not have a dash mounted rear door release.
Rod J
Issaquah
I had the same issue on my 02' (everything working as designed except the ability to lock). All wiring/hardware checked out with the exception of the liftgate lock relay. It's located in the emergency jack stowage area. The relay may no longer be available new. I was able to pick up one from a salvage yard for $3. Works as intended now.
Interestingly, I checked the relay fuse and that's good. So then I messed around plugging and unplugging the old one. The dutch doors do indeed lock and unlock but the hatch just won't "lock" so my question is, what keeps that liftgate latched?
latches.
in the lower corners of the liftgate, which the actuator rods are connected to. and corresponding strikers on each pillar
just to mess with your head...maybe yours do, but my dutch doors do not "lock" at all, but are only secured by the closed liftgate.
'93 Astro LT Ext w/ FE3 (RWD), 7 Passenger, Dutch Doors, Med Teal, 4.3 V6
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270 Posts
Have you tried just lubricating the latching mechanisms on each side of the liftgate. i was having latch release problems and that fixed it (thanks to recommendations from this forum). I'm thinking the mechanism might be stuck in the open position.
there's been a real problem with terminology in this thread...it would BLOW MY MIND if this is really what's going on.
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6,125 Posts
Fantastic! Thank you.
As Augi and Ruh-roh have alluded to, have you cleaned the latching mechanisms on both sides of the hatch? I hose them with wd40 and wipe the mess with rags to clean the old dry grease. Mine is a first gen with only the electronic release, no mechanical push button.
You will need to chase wires checking for continuity, the most likely area for a break or short being the area where the harness runs from hatch to body.
You said you replaced the "actuator", looking at Rock auto I found this for the rear lock actuator of the '04
"ACDELCO 11P5 Gold / Professional"
2004 CHEVROLET ASTRO 4.3L V6 Door Lock Actuator | RockAuto
RockAuto ships auto parts and body parts from over 300 manufacturers to customers' doors worldwide, all at warehouse prices. Easy to use parts catalog.
www.rockauto.com
It says "w/o passlock",
maybe that passlock thing or lack thereof is the issue"
I don't know, I'm sorry I can't be of more help but I don't have a service manual for my '05. I have used gm's techline, If you search here you'll find links to it. AstroWill has a link to it in his signature.
good luck
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