Help! 2000 Z71, Power Locks keep blowing fuse

[VonDutch78]

I have a 2000 Z71, and the power locks wont work. They have worked great for years then one night the fuse blew. I replaced the fuse then hit the lock switch on the drivers door and it blew again. I have tried to replace the 20amp fuse w/ a 30, and it also blew, so I am assuming there is a dead short somewhere. I removed the driverside door panel and disconnected the lock actuator, replaced the fuse and hit the switch on the passenger door... again it blew the fuse. My next step is to take and disconnect both actuators and hit the lock switch and see what happens. I noticed there are like 3 relays in the fuse panel that are listed under "power lock." I am wondering if one of those could be the source of the problem. I checked the wiring in the driver door and I did not see any cuts or damage. The one thiing i an questioning is an aftermarket remote starting system. The remote for the starter also controls my "lock/unlock" Just wondering if anyone else has had these problems and if there is a solution to the problem besides taking it to the dealer and paying out the A$$ to fix it. I'm very mechanically inclined, but hate electrical stuff, but i would love to fix it on my own. Any help or suggestions are very much appreciated.

Dan

[tidalcock]

A Haynes manual only costs about $15 and usually includes circuitry diagrams. A volt/ohm meter would also help, but this may take some time.

Good Luck!

[RacinRex]

Dan, make sure to check the wiring going from the cab to the doors. It is usually wrapped in conduit, so you will have to cut it and pull it back to access the wires. Also, you may want to try unhooking the main box form your remote start to make sure it is not that. I have seen a lot of strange stuff with the remote starts. Also, don't get too wild with the fuses, cause they are at the amp rating for a reason, cause you could melt some wiring causing more problems. I would try these things first.

[ponchonutty]

Originally Posted by VonDutch78

I have a 2000 Z71, and the power locks wont work. They have worked great for years then one night the fuse blew. I replaced the fuse then hit the lock switch on the drivers door and it blew again. I have tried to replace the 20amp fuse w/ a 30, and it also blew, so I am assuming there is a dead short somewhere. I removed the driverside door panel and disconnected the lock actuator, replaced the fuse and hit the switch on the passenger door... again it blew the fuse. My next step is to take and disconnect both actuators and hit the lock switch and see what happens. I noticed there are like 3 relays in the fuse panel that are listed under "power lock." I am wondering if one of those could be the source of the problem. I checked the wiring in the driver door and I did not see any cuts or damage. The one thiing i an questioning is an aftermarket remote starting system. The remote for the starter also controls my "lock/unlock" Just wondering if anyone else has had these problems and if there is a solution to the problem besides taking it to the dealer and paying out the A$$ to fix it. I'm very mechanically inclined, but hate electrical stuff, but i would love to fix it on my own. Any help or suggestions are very much appreciated.

Dan

If this is the "new" style truck, I would doubt that it could be from the remote start unless the installer did something funky. To interface into the system on these trucks, the installer should have tapped into the wires at the BCM which is right behind the knee knocker and below the colum.

If it is the old style, it very well could be the installer. They have to "5 wire" into the doorlocks with relays in order to get the locks to work. This is usually done close to either pass. or driver's door boot.

Now, more common is the wires inside the door boots break and short out so I would also confirm those are OK. Those are usually gray and tan. They reverse polarity when you rock the switch.

[VonDutch78]

It is a "new" body style truck. I've had the remote start on there for 2 yrs now and no problems ever. I will go ahead and take the door boots off and check there, and chase the wires back into the cab. I just wanted to make sure there wasnt something silly like a relay, etc... that I am overlooking, before i start unwraping wires. Thank's again.

[ponchonutty]

Originally Posted by VonDutch78

It is a "new" body style truck. I've had the remote start on there for 2 yrs now and no problems ever. I will go ahead and take the door boots off and check there, and chase the wires back into the cab. I just wanted to make sure there wasnt something silly like a relay, etc... that I am overlooking, before i start unwraping wires. Thank's again.

Yeah, it could be a number of things. Make sure to be carefull what and how you check things. The doorlocks are powered by the computer and relays. Testing with anything other than a meter or test probe can result in even more problems.