Major Door Lock Problem

[Watchdog]

Funny thing. The electric door locks on my '90 4Runner won't unlock. The locks were working perfectly this morning, unlocking and locking. But when I went to unlock it to drive home from work...nothing. The key won't even turn. Won't unlock with the key. Won't unlock with the inside switches. Can't manually pull up the locking knobs, either. I can hear the click from the driver's side kick panel where the fuse is...but nothing happens. And no other electrical function is affected.

I was thinking it's a fuse, but it's the same fuse that powers the windows, and luckily they all work, so I ended up lowering the tailgate window, climbing in, and cranking it up to drive home from work today.

So what could it be? A relay, maybe? Or what? I'll replace the fuse tomorrow anyway, but if that doesn't work...what next? I'm afraid to close the tailgate window now, too, cause if that locks up, I'll be out of luck for real. I am not happy about this.

So...anyone have a clue? A suggestion? Anything??

 

[the_dingman]

If you can't move it manually or with the key, it's mechanical, not electrical. Check the trim around the lock lever that sticks out of the door. I know on the 1st gens the will break on one side and jam the lock from moving. Otherwise it's time to open up the door and have a look-see.

 

[Watchdog]

If you can't move it manually or with the key, it's mechanical, not electrical. Check the trim around the lock lever that sticks out of the door. I know on the 1st gens the will break on one side and jam the lock from moving. Otherwise it's time to open up the door and have a look-see.

Thanks for the reply.

I've looked, and there's nothing visible that's broken. Thing is, whatever's going on is affecting all of the locks...other than the tailgate, of course. And I've tried all the door-mounted interior switches, and none of them will unlock any door.

It's just weird. Have any other thoughts on it?

 

[the_dingman]

There could be an issue causing the motors to constantly be pushing the lock down... Maybe try removing the fuse for the power locks and see if you can move them manually.

 

[94Beast4Runner]

I second removing the fuse. 8 years in a body shop- and have never heard of a vehicle doing that. UNLESS ITS CHRISTINE!!!!
I mean possessed. I've heard of the lock actuator rod from the tumbler to the latch getting bent or jammed. it could be holding it on lock mode.

Just a suggestion on something to check.

 

[Watchdog]

I second removing the fuse. 8 years in a body shop- and have never heard of a vehicle doing that. UNLESS ITS CHRISTINE!!!!
I mean possessed. I've heard of the lock actuator rod from the tumbler to the latch getting bent or jammed. it could be holding it on lock mode.

Just a suggestion on something to check.

Funny you should mention the actuator thing. I talked to a locksmith today (who says he can unlock it) and described the problem, and the first thing he says is, "It's the actuator." But would one actuator or actuator rod affect all four door locks? I guess it could, since when you unlock one front door, all four unlock, too. So if you can't unlock one, you can't unlock any?

So I may get him to come over and see what he can do, so maybe I can stop crawling in and out through the tailgate, and if he can unlock it, I'll take it to Toyota and let them figure the rest of it out.

What's so funny to me is that everyone I tell about the problem, their first thought is, "Maybe the battery in your key is dead." Well, duh...it's a '90 model...it didn't come with a key with a battery in it. You have to stick the key into the lock and turn it. One guy I talked to about it wasn't even born when I bought the truck. Key battery's dead...yeah, right.

On another note, I actually did buy another fuse today, and as Dingman suggests, I may just remove the old one first and see if that'll let me at least pull the knobs up by hand. Since the door won't open, I'll have to go through some contortions to get down to the driver's side kick panel under the dash.

We'll see what happens. Thanks for your reply. I appreciate it.

 

[94Beast4Runner]

When you lock the door with the key it will lock all the doors. so that could be holding in lock mode.
Have you tried using the key in the passenger door?
If the locksmith gets the door open, remove the panel and the door handle with the lock and look for yourself, the dealer will probably charge you by the hour at 80 bucks or more an hour.

 

[Watchdog]

When you lock the door with the key it will lock all the doors. so that could be holding in lock mode.
Have you tried using the key in the passenger door?

Yes, I've tried unlocking it at the passenger door. No go. And I still haven't had the locksmith over yet, either. Just been driving my other car. Decided to wait until I get paid this week before getting the problem fixed.

But I should have the issue resolved one way or another by the end of the week, so I'll let you know what the problem was.

 

[Watchdog]

If anyone's interested, here's the resolution on the lock problem...or at least the resolution for now.

Took it to the Toyota place. Not sure if they even knew exactly what was wrong with it. They sort of stood around scratching their heads and asking the same questions over and over again. They say the actuators were bad. And I'm wondering if all of them went bad at once? Doesn't seem likely, but anyway, they ended up disconnecting the actuators in each door. So I no longer have electric locks...have to lock and unlock each one with the key. But at least I don't have to crawl in the back window to get in it any more.

The service guy said Toyota no longer makes the actuators for the '90 model. And says ones from a '91 won't work, which seems weird to me, but what do I know. I'm no gearhead.

And while they had it, I let them replace the timing belt (174K miles)...the second replacement since I bought it in '90. And got new drive belts and had them replace the water pump while they were at it, since it was the original one.

Next on the agenda? New power steering pump (leaking), complete brake job, valve cover gasket on the left side, and maybe some air conditioning system work. I plan on driving to Montana this winter.

 

[n8buddy]

i would check the door lock control relay. it's what controls all the lock solenoids, and if the lock contacts have fused together it would constantly be trying to lock, like dingman said.

 

[94Beast4Runner]

That is crazy that they would all crap out at once. Unless it shorted somewhere.

But lucky for you I'm just about to scrap a 90. All the power locks work on it.
I can remove the actuators and ship them to you if you would like. Just pay shipping. Pm me.

Funny that you take it in for the locks and get a big maintenance overhaul.
Gotta keep them in tip top shape.

 

[SlowYourRoll]

I had about the same door lock problem once out of no where. I took apart the whole side panel and found a little spring had busted in there and jammed everything up. got a new spring similar to the old, and now im all good. Could be something simply mechanical like that, just got to pay attention to what your taking apart.

 

[rdracer66]

Not to hijack this thread but I sorta have the same problem. My drivers side door does not open. I can open all the doors from the passenger side tho. Also whats the proper way the back window works on a 95? I can get it to only go up or down with the button inside the car not the key on the outside.
Kurt

 

[94Beast4Runner]

Not to hijack this thread but I sorta have the same problem. My drivers side door does not open. I can open all the doors from the passenger side tho. Also whats the proper way the back window works on a 95? I can get it to only go up or down with the button inside the car not the key on the outside.
Kurt

Does the key work at all in the drivers door lock?

Could be the lock cylinder in the tailgate is unplugged. Take off the rear panel it is very easy to do, and just take a look at the workings inside.