There was a slow degradation of the power locks in my Jeep, there were some random activations that concerned me but I didn't have the time to tinker. The next phase was just hearing a buzzing noise in the passenger door when I pressed the lock/unlock buttons. Now we're at the level that nothing is happening at all when I press the lock/unlock button either on the keyfob or driver/passenger doors. Initial thought was a relay in the passenger door, some sort of control, but I can't find one and replaced the switch assembly to no avail.
Heres what I've done so far and why I'm at a wall.
1 - Checked all the fuses and replaced any that had anything at all to do with the locks. I think there were two. There is a silver relay (?) I think above the fuse panel but that also controls the windows and those work fine so it seems to be ok.
2 - Replaced the passenger side control with one off ebay, windows work but again no lock activity.
3 - Work each of the manual locks to ensure could be moved cleanly and without a large amount of force, I use them daily now.
4 - Looked at the wires going from the passenger door into the panel, no breaks that I can see.
5 - Said a few choice words to the door, then apologized, and still nothing.
Any help would be great I've been looking through my haynes manual ( proving pretty useless ) and haven't been able to find much online, any other places I should look before I tear apart the whole interior with a multimeter?

 

You might try a search here,I have read where some have cleaned there battery terminals which gave more power to the locks,some actually replaced there battery and it worked,some greased them with white lithium grease and fixed the problem. I just gave up,not an issue for me,they seem to be an issue on all xjs.

 

Yeah I've been trying, found a lot of great info on this site but nothing that solves it yet, battery is fairly new that actually helped a lot with the screwed up instrument cluster connections and I greased the locks about a month ago now. Its just strange almost like I said like a relay was slowly dying and now finally gave up the ghost. I've just checked the ones I can find. I'm fine with it like it is, still my favorite ride, it's just the desire to get everything working again. Heck one day I may even replace the antenna I snapped off a few years ago.

 

Are the lock switches sequential? Meaning if the one in the driver door dies does it kill the other and vice versa, or are they wired in parallel?

 

i know you said you checked the wiring in the door...but in the actual door jam itself?

 

I've torn back a fair share of the plastic but am having trouble tracking all the wires. Should I focus more on the passenger door or drivers side?

 

Drivers side is the master switch. I took mine out and took it apart and shot it with electrical contact cleaner and reassembled and all works as it should. Good Luck!

 

First post here... complete newbie to Jeeps.

Luckily for me I live close to one of the best libraries in the US so I have 3 manual related items on reserve that I'm going to pick up today (a serial magazine, Chilton's and Haynes manuals).

Anyway, I just bought a 98 Cherokee Sport 4wd with the same problem. None of the power door locks work. I don't know the previous history on the vehicle to know if it progressed from bad to worse.

Also, the passenger side door won't lock at all (from inside or outside with a key), but the dealer hastily repaired the common bad window regulator on the passenger side. I'm thinking they didn't reconnect the mechanical locking mechanism on that side.

I'll probably be going through the same troubleshooting you guys are. Yay... brand new car to me with problems!

 

I see the dates on this poses are from 2009 and here it is 2012. I have the same problem with the door locks. I have figured the problem lies in the passenger door. When the door is closed, the door locks activate and boom you're locked out! While driving and the road is a little bumpy, the doors lock and unlock until I get to smooth road again. My problem is how do I remove the door panel / door lock control panel without breaking it? My jeep is a 2000 Cherokee Classic. Any advise out there?

 

my 99 had the wires break inside the jam harness. They worked off/on for awhile then quit all together. Found two wires completely broke and a third cut. Rewired
and solidered, no problem since. don't know if it makes a diff, but mine is a GC.

 

My problem is that I don't know how to remove the door panel without breaking it? is there a trick or special tools I need to do this?

 

Well, on a 98 you only have to remove the few screws on the door handle, then slowly pop out the plastic connectors. Start at the bottom and slowly place a flathead screw driver or equivalent underneath the panel to slowly pry it up. If you google "removing door panel jeep cherokee" several videos and other forum posts come up.

 

The lock switches might be going bad as well. I replaced mine as well as fixed one broken wire. No more random locks and the doors work better than ever. The door switches are about 68$ a piece at rockauto. They are very easy to replace.

 

A success! Found where the push buttons were located on the door panel and used a small carpenter's pry bar. Only broke three buttons. Inspected the wire harness and found no broken or chaffed wires. Pulled the connecting plug and sprayed it with contact cleaner. Works as advertised. A short trip to Auto Zone and picked up some hold down buttons and it's all back together. Took a test drive and all is well. Thank you guys for your help.

 

Post offered, if 'clicking sound' can be heard in passenger front door, master door lock switch is located in that door. Replace it. I did, and now my door locks work. $22 for the switch on Amazon. Wow, cheap fix, 10 minute job.
THANKS FOR POSTING!