Crazy door locks

[nickbidd]

Mine had crazy door locks and thanks to this forum I just fixed them!
Problem: The driver & passender doors and the tailgate each has a small switch on the back of the lock barrel. The switch has two resistors (I think approx 50 & 250 ohms), when the key is rotated to lock the car it sends the appropriate resistance to enable the alarm.
When the key is rotated to unlock it sends a signal to the alarm to disable it allowing you to open the door without the alarm operating. If the key is turned to unlock the door 'twice' the signal operates the power locks to unlock the whole car. So if your remote fob doesn't work, you can still operate the power locks for the whole car. Like most users, I only use my fob so I didn't know about this feature until I had a problem.
The drivers door lock switch had cracked, it was split and the vibration caused the switch to keep sending lock and double unlock signals operating the locks all the time. Because they use 'resistors', when it was damp/wet it was worse as the moisture kept changing the resistance value.
Mine was the drivers switch but either could cause problems. If you operate each of them with the key in turn, the faulty one may only work sometimes.
The car locking itself every time you shut the door was becoming a pain, fitted new switch about three months ago now and no problems.
Hope this helps anyone else with the problem.

[CREWZIN]

Glad you got yours fixed but looking all the replies to this thread there seems to be a lot of different fixes all related to a similar problem. You seem to have picked the particular fix for yours. Nice diagnostics.

[JoeHundredAire]

That was pretty good timing too. I had a problem with mine the other night. When I tried to unlock the rear gate & it would lock back on me. I don't have a working FOB & just always use the key. When I unlocked it from the driver's door, it stopped doing it.
BTW - Is there any particular reason why Chrysler didn't bother to add a key tumbler on the passengers side door as well? This is the only car I've ever seen without one on both sides.

[nickbidd]

Originally Posted by JoeHundredAire

That was pretty good timing too. I had a problem with mine the other night. When I tried to unlock the rear gate & it would lock back on me. I don't have a working FOB & just always use the key. When I unlocked it from the driver's door, it stopped doing it.
BTW - Is there any particular reason why Chrysler didn't bother to add a key tumbler on the passengers side door as well? This is the only car I've ever seen without one on both sides.

Sounds like the switch in the rear gate, either loose or broken. My 2000 UK model has a key tumbler both sides! I suspect they just wanted to save some money.

[CREWZIN]

Originally Posted by JoeHundredAire

- Is there any particular reason why Chrysler didn't bother to add a key tumbler on the passengers side door as well? This is the only car I've ever seen without one on both sides.

Joe,

Back around 2003 Chrysler started their cost cutting measures and continued for a couple years. They did away with that passenger door lock, the engine vanity cover, some lights on inner switches. The rear cargo net and shelf because options you could buy instead of coming with all cruisers. The changed from all chrome to chrome-clad wheels and went to solid outside rear-view mirrors instead of the folding type that came on the 01-02 cruisers. There's probably a couple more things I can't think of at this time.

[JoeHundredAire]

Ahhh...that makes sense. I might have to hit the local junk yards for a set of those early mirrors. Although the "cheap" ones look fine to me for now.

[lt4supr]

I read my manual and turned off my auto doorlocks that lock when underway at i think 15 mph.before that my door locks went crazy and it had nothing to do with my keyless enter since i had broke it weeks before..cant hurt to try,hope this helps.............

[BLUEH20]

Chrysler cost cutting by removing passenger door key lock--

I just went out to the garage and checked my 2008 PT Touring, just bought it last month and you guys are spot on-no passenger door lock assembly.Out of curisoity, I chekced my 2002 Mercedes Benz SLK320; no passenger door lock. Just to verify that it was not a DiamlerChrysler issue, I checked my 2004 Volvo XC70-no passanger door key lock assembly. I did find one on my 1990 Jeep Cherokee. I wasn't sure that the Jeep had one cause I can not remember ever using it and I am the original owner of all the vehicles memetioned.

Appears that lots of manufactures are doing away with the passeger door lock assembly--does anyone else have a vehilce without the key assembly?

Could be an interesting thread in its self.