rcarba

1998 Jeep Cherokee 4-Door.

Both driver and passenger door lock switches will unlock all doors but not lock them. I hear a sound like it's trying to lock them, but no such luck. If I keep hitting either switch multiple times, the doors will eventually lock.
Unlock works fine every time.
All electric windows work fine.
Electric side view mirrors don't work either.

Any clues what could be going on here?

Mattpar

does the keyfob lock the doors?

black_771

Mine used to do that but had other issues too like poor idle and hard starting as well. Ended up being a bad cell in the battery. New battery cleared up all the problems.

rcarba

Mattpar,
No, the remote keyfob does not work either. No sounds, nothing.

debington

I have a 98 that is doing the same door lock thing. My mirrors still work though. I do not have a key fob with my jeep. I am interested in finding out how yours worked out.
Deb

Dugualla

I think the problem may be in the driver door, all power and grounds for the door locks goes through the driver door harness. Broken wires in that harness will cause problems. $450 from a dealer, I found one for 10 bucks at the pick and pull. If you pull the harness and replace it don't throw the old one away. You may be able to rewire it by replacing one wire at a time insuring you do not cross any wires.

M4RK

The control panel itself could be the problem too right? My 98 has weird issues with these things too. You can only control the windows from the drivers side and all the doors work with the power locks except for the drivers side and now the driver door wont hardly ever lock even with a key.

Dugualla

Sounds like the lock mechanism for the driver door is dirty, corroded. Try cleaning it, if it won't lock by key it isn't going to work with the solenoid.

As for the windows, those are the exact symptoms this fix is supposed to address, yes it could be the button or the wiring but you can't fix the button, you supposedly have to replace the whole panel.

M4RK

Cool, thanks for the info. I figured I have to replace the entire panel. Any tips on getting to the lock mechanism? Do I just pop off the interior door panel?

KyZiX

To state some fact before people keep guessing. My power locks have also gone bad. It was the actuators failing, (one right after another) and I will post a guide for an inexpensive fix (door lock actuator overhaul).

FACT:The Power Door Lock controller is located in the Passenger Door NOT the Driver side. The driver side switch is just that, a switch.

I hope this may help.
This is from the 2000 Jeep Cherokee Electronic Service Manual. Page 8P-3

"The only function of the Driver Door Module
(DDM) in the power lock system is to provide a Lock
or Unlock signal to the power lock system control circuitry
contained within the Passenger Door Module
(PDM). The DDM signals the PDM by providing a
hard-wired ground path through the DDM ground
circuit and the driver side power lock switch contacts
to the lock request or unlock request terminals of the
PDM. The DDM power lock switch function can be
tested as follows:"

"(1) Disconnect and isolate the battery negative
cable. Remove the driver side front door trim panel
and unplug the 12-way DDM wire harness connector
(C-2) from the DDM. Check for continuity between
the ground circuit cavity of the 12-way DDM wire
harness connector and a good ground. There should
be continuity. If OK, go to Step 2. If not OK, repair
the open circuit to ground as required.
(2) If the problem being diagnosed is inoperative
power lock switch illumination, proceed as follows. If
the problem is not power lock switch illumination, go
to Step 4. Connect the battery negative cable. Turn
the ignition switch to the Accessory or On positions.
Check for battery voltage at both sides of the power
window circuit breaker in the junction block. If OK,
go to Step 3. If not OK, replace the faulty circuit
breaker.
(3) With the ignition switch still in the On or
Accessory position, check for battery voltage at the
fused ignition switch output circuit cavity of the
12-way DDM wire harness connector. If OK, replace
the faulty DDM. If not OK, repair the open circuit to
the junction block as required.
(4) Test the power lock switch continuity through
the DDM 12-way wire harness connector receptacle.
See the DDM Power Lock Switch Continuity chart
(Fig. 1) to determine if the continuity is correct in
both the Lock and Unlock switch positions. If OK,
repair the lock request circuit and/or the unlock
request circuit between the DDM and the PDM as
required. If not OK, replace the faulty DDM."