How To - Loosen Stuck Electric Door Locks

I just did this today, got tired of hitting the "Unlock" button a hundred times Wink

http://fierodomain.com/content/view/257/1/

I will be repeating the operation and taking pictures to add into the article. This is also worth doing even if you don't have electric locks, as it makes the key lock work infinitely smoother.

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Driving a Fiero is like driving a Rough-Draft, Pontiac got it to work, now its up to you to make it a good car.

Nice writeup, now I just need a Fiero to "do it to". LOL. Rolling Eyes

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"Me? No, I don't own a Fiero, I just play like I do on the internet".
railshot Rolling Eyes

Finally updated with pics Smile

I forgot how long it takes me to edit them Wink

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Driving a Fiero is like driving a Rough-Draft, Pontiac got it to work, now its up to you to make it a good car.

I like how the write up looks like a REAL car, and not the stuff in the manuals.

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Stay outta your head........It's a bad neighborhood.

I love the highlighting you do to those pictures... I would've used a deeper red though.. Laughing

Just messing..

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	MissingPieces wrote:
	I like how the write up looks like a REAL car, and not the stuff in the manuals.

That's my goal with all my writeups, making them specific and accurate to the car. I've been frustrated too many times by Haynes and Chiltons manuals, with some of their illustrations looking like they made them in MSPaint.

	Rising wrote:
	I love the highlighting you do to those pictures... I would've used a deeper red though.. Just messing..

lol, yeah it is borderline pink isn't it? Wink

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Driving a Fiero is like driving a Rough-Draft, Pontiac got it to work, now its up to you to make it a good car.

Hi guys,

Does anyone have a copy of this write up? The link is dead, and so I dropped back to just the primary domain and poked through the how-tos, but didn't see this one listed anymore.

I have this issue with my passanger side door lock, takes three or four hits with the button to get it to slide either way. Thanks!

This is usually caused by a sticking or weak solenoid. You could try squirting some teflon oil or Penetrating/lubricating oil through the rubber boot to help lubricate and free it, that is what cured mine.
Xanth closed down his Fierodomain forum a while back so his articles there are no longer available.

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FieroDotCom Site Administrator

Thanks for the really fast reply. I have some silicone lubricant at home - do you think that'll work?

Now for the next goofy question. When you say rubber boot, do you mean the dew wipe? Or getting the hose in around the plastic slider to actuate the lock manually? Or someplace else entirely?

Thanks!

I'm talking about the rubber boot on the solenoid itself. You have to take the inner door covers off to get access. The silicone spray should work, just give it a quick squirt or two and operate it a few times to work it in. I just make a very tinny slit just big enough to slip the spray tube into the rubber boot. While you are at it, you can clean the power window rails and put some white grease on them. This will help your power windows operate more smoothly if you have them.

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FieroDotCom Site Administrator

Ahh, gotcha!

I did clear and lubricate the power windows... they're still super slow, but no big surprise there, right? lol

I'll have to do that next then. On the power windows, Rodney Dickman is field testing some new fix for the slow windows, hopefully it'll work. I had someone tell me it can also go slow from inadequate grounding, so going to try that too for now.

Thanks for the info!

They also go slow from worn motors, at least those are easy to come by, but a bit of a PITA to install.

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FieroDotCom Site Administrator

Yeah, the window motors were the first thing I had replaced. Bought a set and had my mechanic install them. NO change whatsoever! He gave me the motors that he took out, in case I wanted to swap them again and return the motors for a refund. Never bothered to. Figured I had backups now. heh

Thanks for all the info/feedback though!

	Trinten wrote:
	Ahh, gotcha! I did clear and lubricate the power windows... they're still super slow, but no big surprise there, right? lol I'll have to do that next then. On the power windows, Rodney Dickman is field testing some new fix for the slow windows, hopefully it'll work. I had someone tell me it can also go slow from inadequate grounding, so going to try that too for now. Thanks for the info!

I think I remember someone discussing this problem, and they went to a lower gauge (bigger wire) power cable to the motors. That seemed to provide more "umph" (also known as less amperage drop) and speeded up the opening and closing.

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86 SE 2.8 4-Speed

The oil is all in Texas, but the dipsticks are all in D.C.

That sounds like a good thing to try too! ... I just hope that isn't too much of a PITA. hehe.

Thanks for the suggestion!