auto lock gone crazy!

I have a 2002 Astro. I'm having a problem with the auto lock system. Periodically, more as of late, the locks will continually try and lock over and over and over and over.

This happens when the car is in drive and I am going over 5 miles per hour. It does seem to be aggravated over bumps. One good bump can trip a crazy locking spree for about 1-2 minutes solid. It used to only do this once in a rare while, and only one or two locks (it never trys to unlock, only repeatedly locks itself), now it does it several times each trip to work.

A couple of days ago I was taking a trip to the dump and I had the back full, that seemed possibly to worsen the problem as well, the whole 30 minute trip was filled with the annoying CLUNK..CLUNK..CLUNK..CLUNK, clunk,clunk,clunk,clunk.....CLUNKCLUNKCLUNK!!

Sometimes the car trys to lock all the door at once, and sometimes it only attempts to lock the sliding door (that is much more rare).

Has anyone had a similar problem? Could it be related to the auto lock system that locks the car when it is in drive? Perhaps the sliding door panel has some kind of sensor that is going loco?

Any suggestions would be appreciated, my mechanic seems to want nothing to do with this problem!

If possible, you could change your auto locking options setup to NOT have the vehicle lock when going above 5 mph. Maybe this will stop the problem, although your doors will then not lock as you drive off. Check the manual to see if this option is available. My '92 astro doesen't have the auto lock capability in the first place.

If possible, you could change your auto locking options setup to NOT have the vehicle lock when going above 5 mph. Maybe this will stop the problem, although your doors will then not lock as you drive off. Check the manual to see if this option is available. My '92 astro doesen't have the auto lock capability in the first place.

Thank You. I did actually try this several days ago and so far so good! I haven't had the locks go crazy yet! I guess it was just a sensor that was loose or something. I can live with the doors not locking when it goes into drive, especially when it means that I don't have to drive a car that is paranoid! I know I live in Los Angeles, but come on!!

Thanks again for the reply

Considering this is the reason I came here in the first place? Is there a known fix or cure for this problem? My company astrovan started doing this same stuff last week. Same exact symptoms. If there is a way to disable the auto-lock feature? how is this done? Or could this be pointing towards a failing Neutral Safty switch which combines a "gear sensor" for the computer? I've been told that N. safty switch on mine was going bad a year ago, but all it did at the time was make the dash display show the wrong gear when it was below 20 deg's out....

any ideas?

I'm in the same boat. There is no "Auto-Lock" feature that I know of. I did find that when I went to the dutch door at the back and locked the door using the lock on it that it would stop for a little while but once I start driving again, it starts locking and unlocking over and over again.

Any suggestions would be appreciated. HELP !!!!

Well.. The company I work for gave the ok for repairs again. Both front door jam switches replaced..and the problem is still there. (but not as 'bad' as before)

On a related note. I disabled the 'dome light override' so I had use of the lights in the passenger/cargo area last week before the repairs. Everytime the locks clicked down? My dome light flashed as well. I'm convinced it's either one of the double doors in the back, or the sliding door acting up. (for what it's worth? I checked the door jam switches myself before....both did verify good?...Sense the problem has only dimished a bit..must have been a bit flackey)

If anyone still has this problem? Try it with the doom light over-ride kicked 'off' so the lights come on when the door is open. See if it flashes when the door locks click down.

S-

If possible, you could change your auto locking options setup to NOT have the vehicle lock when going above 5 mph. Maybe this will stop the problem, although your doors will then not lock as you drive off. Check the manual to see if this option is available. My '92 astro doesen't have the auto lock capability in the first place.

How do you change the "Auto Locking Options" ? I don't know that mine (1998 Astro) has the auto locking. It has keyless entry but he doors never locked at any speed automatically. Also, if it matters, mine has dutch doors and if when it's clicking up a storm, if I get out and try locking the doors from the dutch door, it usually stops clicking for a bit at least.

Any thoughts would be much appreciated.

How do you change the "Auto Locking Options" ? I don't know that mine (1998 Astro) has the auto locking. It has keyless entry but he doors never locked at any speed automatically. Also, if it matters, mine has dutch doors and if when it's clicking up a storm, if I get out and try locking the doors from the dutch door, it usually stops clicking for a bit at least.

Any thoughts would be much appreciated.


Just quickly before I pass out for the night. Double check the locking with the dome lights inside. (ensure it's enabled and not on "override" as I always have mine on 'override') If you start to hear "clicking" under the dash (the dome light relay clicks..and you might hear it clicking up a storm) and the lights flash? Probably a defective door jam switch like I'm sure mine has. Just wish the dealership would have replaced THE CORRECT ONES LOL. I'm leaning towards the sliding door...or the rear door.. It has to go back in for a heater blower motor when it comes in.. I'll have them check those 2 switches as well and report back when I do. This seems to be a commen issue...probably with a very commen cause.

S-

Thanks Tedybear,

I am not sure if it's enabled or disabled but I clicked on the Dome light override like you suggested and it hasn't clicked since. I think it has something to do with the Dutch Door lock as when I lock it, it behaves funny and clicks a bit.

Would it be the lock itself or something in the door ?

hard to tell...All the door lock is really is just a lock.. With a componet added for the electric locking action. If the actual switch that tells the computer if the door is unlocked...or locked (also controls the dome light...that's why I suggested it) is telling the computer someone just "opened" and "closed" the door while the van was 'in gear'? It would re-lock the doors automatically as a safty measure. If a door jam switch was getting a bit "weak/worn" and sending out mixed signals? It would make the locks 'click' a lot..(probably while driving around...as the chassis gets viberated enough to shake up the switch contacts).

The shop did my front door jam switches already..and the problem is still there. I did find some 'green' gunk building up on the slideing door's "switch" (looks like two spring loaded fingers sticking out...that contacts two small 'brass' colored 'pads' when closed) It could be a build up of junk on those pads causing a mis-reading..but i'm unsure as of that. (I cleaned mine off and it did'nt end the problem)

I'm still waiting on a part to come in at the dealer so they can work on fixing my heater motor and re-address this one as well.. But I'll let ya know what they report back to me with.

S-

Ignore the first part (long day at work) The switch reports if the door is OPEN or CLOSED...not locked or unlocked...Sorry about that.

I am about to FINALLY tackle this on the weekend. I was talking with a fella I know that is a mechanic for GM and he said that in my case at least, it definitely is the dutch door button/lock on the dutch door. He said that it has been a problem for years that the top of the dutch door allows water to get in and it leaks down onto the lock and when it gets wet inside that is what happens. Mine hasn't done the lock freak out thing for a while cause I think something fried in the switch. It now will unlock the door locks no problem everytime but the part where it opens the hatch is not working ever.

I am going to try to pull the panel off like GLFarnes mentioned in another post about manually opening the dutch door. I guess when I get in there I will need to replace the door lock ? Does that sound about right to anyone ?

Any info would be appreciated !!!

Pat

Actually found the problem with mine (granted the company retired the van before it was fixed)

Sliding door 'sensor' is going south. To test it all I did was have my G/F in the van...motor running in gear (so I did'nt get run over LOL) I started to slap the doors in several locations...got to the sliding door and the locks went nuts along with the dome light. There are two 'contacts' mounted on the door jam..and two spring loaded contacts mounted in the door near the lock. Intermiddent contact in that assy... (never verified..as to the van getting retired) Just an idea..If you want to test this I STRONGLY recommend having a driver, and not trusting a parking brake..