1999 Ford Explorer Key lock problem

[raetootle]

This is a toughie!

I have a 1999 Ford Explorer Sport. My keyless entry does not lock or unlock the driver side door. My keyless entry DOES lock and unlock the passenger door and back hatch. I can unlock both the driver and the passenger doors from inside the vehicle. The keypad on the drivers side also does not work now. Any ideas?? I'm stumped!!

[ponchonutty]

Not sure there. Did you have driver unlock priority before? If so, it could be the RKE or GEM module going bad.

[raetootle]

Originally Posted by ponchonutty

Not sure there. Did you have driver unlock priority before? If so, it could be the RKE or GEM module going bad.

You know - I don't even know what that is. I bought it used. I wish I could have helped you more, so that you could help me!! Any other ideas??

[robertjtucker]

Did you ever find out what was causing this problem? We are having the exact same issue on our 99 explorer.

[shorod]

The question about the driver's priority is a good one. That is where you press unlock once and only the driver's door unlocks. You press the unlock button a second time and the remaining locks unlock. If that worked before, but does not now, you may have a faulty relay for the priority unlock.

On yours, does the driver's lock solenoid work off of the lock/unlock buttons in the cabin or from the 5-button keypad?

-Rod

[robertjtucker]

No sometimes everything works fine, but others the keypad doesn't work, key chain and or the inside lock buttons will not unlock the door.You have to Keep trying 5-6 times unitl the driver side will open. As you hit buttons to unlock, it tries to unlock but it won't come up.

[shorod]

So, you can hear the lock solenoid attempting to unlock the door each time, but it actually only unlocks it sometimes? Or are you saying that you can only hear it try to work sometimes, and even fewer times it actually works?

Same questions when trying the keypad or the fob.

If the lock solenoid tries to work all the time, but only succeeds sometimes, then you need to look for a mechanical issue (or less likely a weak solenoid). If the solenoid only tries to work sometimes, then you probably have a mechanical and an electrical issue.

-Rod

[robertjtucker]

You can hear it and you can see the lock moving up and down a little each time you use anything to unlock the door. It eventually opens. I figured it was a mechanical thing but I wasn't sure it someone else had the same problem.

[shorod]

Your best bet would probably be to remove the door panel, liner, and take a look at the latch and lock mechanisms. There may be grease in there that is either tacky or collected so much dirt and grime that it is causing the linkage to bind. Some brake parts cleaner or Simple Green will probably work well to clean any old grease.

-Rod

[ponchonutty]

Ahhh, you have a faulty power lock motor. When you have extreme weather conditions it can cause a weak motor to work better or worse. You may luck out and do what was mentioned above. It could be something simple but my experience says otherwise.