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98 Winstar door locks won't close and they run continuously

I have a 98 Windstar GL with 100K miles. We are the second owners and we've owned the veh since it had 17K miles.

About 2 weeks ago, the veh started to have a problem with the door locks. When the veh would try to automatically lock the doors, the electric motors (that pull down the locks) would run and run and run, but the locks would not respond. The noise sounds like the veh is trying to lock the locks, but the locks don't move. And this is happening at the same time with several door locks in the vehicle!!

Usually we just push down the lock, and manually lock the door, and the elec. motor stops.

Today, our battery is dead. I opened both the doors, and in both doors (driver and passenger) I can hear a small the elec. motor running!! This is the elec motor that powers the elec locks, and it appears that this is what drained the veh battery!! And when I push the lock down, the elec motor does NOT stop.

Any idea what could cause this prob simultaneously in multiple locks?

What do I do?

What diagnostic tips can you give me?

Thanks.

Reply to
Ralph
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There is a bad switch or relay someplace. The first thing I would do is look in your owner's manual and see what fuse the power goes through. And remove it. Otherwise, the motors may get too hot and cause a fire or burn out.

There are a few technical service bulletins for the elctrical system; one of them might apply to the truck. The other thing it could be a fault keyless entry thing or the recievers. I think this is unlikely, but it is possible.

Jeff

Reply to
Jeff

Jeff, Thanks for the advice. I did locate the fuse and pulled it. Now, how do I troubleshoot for a bad switch or relay? What do I do next?

Reply to
Ralph

It oculd be in the switches in the doors, the radio reciever things, or the relays along the way.

I know the very obvious and sometimes the merely obvious. Find someone who knows more than I do.

You could always call click and clack the tappet brothers on NPR's Car Talk radio show.

Jeff

Reply to
Jeff

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