Door lock problems

**Jdalton01** · 03-20-2008, 11:12 PM

New to site and have a question about door locks. My key fob will not work. I have 96 suburban. first thought that the fob battery was dead, but this wasnt' the problem. I bought used and no separate door key. I know older trucks had separate key for door and ignition so, I don't know if I should have a separate door key or if another problem. I have read about the actuators going out - how will I know this? I have never had a vehicle where the key wouldn't open the door.

Thanks for the help.

**84fiero123** · 03-21-2008, 08:39 AM

First do the lock solenoids work with the interior switches?

If not it may not be the key fobs problem, batteries or programming.

If the locks work on the switches than you just might need to reprogram the fob.’

http://www.programyourremote.com/

1. Locate the Data Link Port. It is located under dash drivers side. Be sure you know which pins are 8 and 4.
(Notice port is wider on top row)

2. Make sure there are metal contact pins in terminals 8 and 4. Connect 8 to 4 with a suitable jumper wire (leave the jumper wire connected throughout the programming procedure). Make sure you know which terminals are 8 and 4. The vehicle will respond by locking and unlocking the doors to signify entering of programming mode.
3. Press and hold both the LOCK and UNLOCK buttons together on the first transmitter to be programmed. After about 15 seconds, the vehicle will respond by locking and unlocking the doors. Release the buttons on the transmitter.
4. Within one minute, repeat the previous step on the remaining transmitters to be programmed.
5. Remove jumper wire applied to the OBDII Port.

Hope this helps.

**Jdalton01** · 03-24-2008, 01:09 AM

Question first though - is there a separate key for the door than the ignition key? I cannot get into the vehicle now. I do not want to go to the expense of having a lock smith make a key, if it is the same as the iginition. Can someone tell me if the 96 Suburbans have a separate key for the door?

**84fiero123** · 03-24-2008, 07:01 AM

Yes the round key is for the door locks.

The Burbs can be a bitch to try and get in.
Don’t call a locksmith before you call the local police. They used to carry slim jims and would help a locked out owner get in if they were not real busy.

If the police won’t help try a old solid type radio antenna, the longer and solider the better.

Make a bend in the antenna and leave the ball on the end of the antenna. Now find a plastic wedge or something soft yet firm. If that makes sence.

I have plastic wedges that came in a lock out kit. but you can make one out of a peace of soft wood, just make it look like a thin door stop. Now take a peace of duct tape and at the drivers front door place some masking tape, then the duct tape over that at the upper left corner of the door. Now with a solid putty knife pry the upper corner out away from the body. Then place the peace of plastic, wood wedge in the small opening.

Now is the tricky part, the antenna has to have a bend in it, that bend is so that you can get at the electric door lock button. Not the lock button.

Now just look threw the windsheild and see if you can push the electric lock button.

By the way have you check the rear barn doors to see if they are locked?

I have problems with mine locking by the button. It was the contacts.

**Crawdaddy** · 03-24-2008, 09:53 AM

all my doors work great except for my barn doors. for some odd reason, they will never unlock when I unlock the rest of the doors, I have to use the key. However, every time I've locked the doors via the power locks, the barn doors do lock. Not quite sure why the barn door only locks via the power locks, and I haven't taken the time to pull the door apart to find out....

**84fiero123** · 03-24-2008, 07:52 PM

Originally Posted by Crawdaddy

all my doors work great except for my barn doors. for some odd reason, they will never unlock when I unlock the rest of the doors, I have to use the key. However, every time I've locked the doors via the power locks, the barn doors do lock. Not quite sure why the barn door only locks via the power locks, and I haven't taken the time to pull the door apart to find out....

When you do get the time to pull the pads off your barn doors, it only takes a min. have a helper push the lock button on the drivers door while you are watching the solenoid. It should move quickly up, and down.

If it doesn’t then it is most likely something needs to be lubed up.

One thing that was a problem with my barn door electric locks was the connecting pins on the sides of the door jamb were green with corrosion. Those and the plates they come in contact with on the doors were both green.

I just took some 400 sand paper and sanded all the contacts and plates and haven’t had any trouble since.

The last one is probably your problem, since it works one way and not the other.