Power Door Locks Not Working
Thread Starter
CF Veteran

Joined: May 2009
Posts: 10,417
Likes: 58
Year: 2000
Model: Cherokee (XJ)
Engine: 4.0
89 Cherokee Pioneer, the power door locks dont work from the door switches. Power windows work from every door (its a 4 door). What should I check? the 30a circuit breaker is there, but I dont know how to check it...
Seasoned Member
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 454
Likes: 0
From: East Texas
Year: 1997
Model: Grand Cherokee
Engine: 4.0
Not sure about your model, but on the later model GC there is a relay center under the glove box. That relay center had a door lock relay and a door unlock relay.
Check to see if this may be the same. Maybe someone will know and confirm or reject this.
Check to see if this may be the same. Maybe someone will know and confirm or reject this.
have you check you connector for that? cause i had the same problem but it was the other way around...power door locks worked but the pwer windows didnt and my connector was broken and i had to fix the wires
Thread Starter
CF Veteran

Joined: May 2009
Posts: 10,417
Likes: 58
Year: 2000
Model: Cherokee (XJ)
Engine: 4.0
I took the switch panel from the drivers side out, and everything looks good, the connections are solid...
Member
Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 234
Likes: 0
From: Spokane, WA, USA
Year: 1993
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0
You should not have the relay setup unless you have the keyless entry system but that does not allways hold true. If neither lock or unlock works it's not likely a relay thing. It's most likely the breaker or the red wire between the breaker and lock switch on the driver's side. If the breaker is good look closely at the area around where the Kick Panel screws hold the panel on to make sure no one screwed through the wire. the red wire from the breaker should have 12volts on it at all times. Make sure that one side of the breaker's socket is getting the 12V to start with. On your year the curent to lock or unlock has to pass through the passanger side switch. If you have 12v present at that switch it may be that switch. you can put the switch out of the driver's side to see if the locks work from the passanger side.
Bottom line. see if you have 12v present at the output of the breaker and at each switch then start looking for broken wires...
Bottom line. see if you have 12v present at the output of the breaker and at each switch then start looking for broken wires...
Newbie
Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 17
Likes: 0
From: Phoenix, AZ
Year: 1992
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0 L Inline Six
If so, just take some white lithium, WD-40, brake cleaner and clean it out.
Last edited by XJkid_15; Nov 11, 2009 at 09:56 PM.
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Thread Starter
CF Veteran

Joined: May 2009
Posts: 10,417
Likes: 58
Year: 2000
Model: Cherokee (XJ)
Engine: 4.0
You should not have the relay setup unless you have the keyless entry system but that does not allways hold true. If neither lock or unlock works it's not likely a relay thing. It's most likely the breaker or the red wire between the breaker and lock switch on the driver's side. If the breaker is good look closely at the area around where the Kick Panel screws hold the panel on to make sure no one screwed through the wire. the red wire from the breaker should have 12volts on it at all times. Make sure that one side of the breaker's socket is getting the 12V to start with. On your year the curent to lock or unlock has to pass through the passanger side switch. If you have 12v present at that switch it may be that switch. you can put the switch out of the driver's side to see if the locks work from the passanger side.
Bottom line. see if you have 12v present at the output of the breaker and at each switch then start looking for broken wires...
Bottom line. see if you have 12v present at the output of the breaker and at each switch then start looking for broken wires...
Thread Starter
CF Veteran

Joined: May 2009
Posts: 10,417
Likes: 58
Year: 2000
Model: Cherokee (XJ)
Engine: 4.0
Dome lights work, power windows work, mirrors are manual.. Its not a matter of the solenoid being overworked, there is no noise from the locks (the typical CLUNK you get when you lock the doors) and im sure that somehow there is no power going to the switch or the solenoids...
Junior Member
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 86
Likes: 0
From: Saskatoon, SK
Year: 1988
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0L
Not meaning to hijack your thread but my '88 may have the same issue - when I use the lock/unlock switch on the drivers door switch panel I can see the actual interior lock trying to move but it only has a slight movement & not enough to actually move it from the lock to unlock (& vice versa) positions.
Would this be electrical (perhaps a faulty actuator) or mechanical (bent/broken rod)?
Would this be electrical (perhaps a faulty actuator) or mechanical (bent/broken rod)?
Thread Starter
CF Veteran

Joined: May 2009
Posts: 10,417
Likes: 58
Year: 2000
Model: Cherokee (XJ)
Engine: 4.0
Not meaning to hijack your thread but my '88 may have the same issue - when I use the lock/unlock switch on the drivers door switch panel I can see the actual interior lock trying to move but it only has a slight movement & not enough to actually move it from the lock to unlock (& vice versa) positions.
Would this be electrical (perhaps a faulty actuator) or mechanical (bent/broken rod)?
Would this be electrical (perhaps a faulty actuator) or mechanical (bent/broken rod)?
Member
Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 234
Likes: 0
From: Spokane, WA, USA
Year: 1993
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0
Not meaning to hijack your thread but my '88 may have the same issue - when I use the lock/unlock switch on the drivers door switch panel I can see the actual interior lock trying to move but it only has a slight movement & not enough to actually move it from the lock to unlock (& vice versa) positions.
Would this be electrical (perhaps a faulty actuator) or mechanical (bent/broken rod)?
Would this be electrical (perhaps a faulty actuator) or mechanical (bent/broken rod)?
Last edited by Cheap$200Jeep; Nov 11, 2009 at 10:52 PM.
Junior Member
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 86
Likes: 0
From: Saskatoon, SK
Year: 1988
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0L
None of the doors lock/unlock with the switch - the drivers door lock does need a firm push. If it's electrical then it may be worth mentioning that the electric mirrors do not work either. Where should I start?
Member
Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 234
Likes: 0
From: Spokane, WA, USA
Year: 1993
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0
Thanks, I will have to solder myself a redneck "test light" tonight so I can check for power. I dont own a multimeter, but this will at least give me an idea if theres voltage. I will check that red wire first, I think I know the one youre talking about, I was looking at it a couple days ago. If this wire does not have power I will buy a new breaker and see what happens, and will go from there...


