Yet Another Power Lock Gremlin

[Reckless Amateur]

OK, while this is not as good as the one I read about the constant cycling of the power locks, it's still pretty odd.

The rear hatch unlocks when I lock the driver doors and the slider; when I unlock the driver doors the hatch is locked. Is there some mysterious way to "reset" the locks so they actually work together?

Or what?

PS I don't like the power locks!
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91 Bostig-powered Westy (automatic)
Philadelphia, PA

[16CVs]

Try opening the panel and lubing the lock. Also when you have the panel off check the actuator and make sure it is working.

Stacy
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1987 Syncro Westfalia Triple knob (bastard)
1989 Syncro Tristar Triple knob "Swedish"
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[jmranger]

So you confirm that the actuator actually locks and unlocks the rear hatch. That rules out:
- frozen actuator
- cut wire scenarios
- misunderstanding of the vertical/horizontal positions of the rear hatch lock
- disconnected/missing actuation rod

I know of no "secret handshake" to explain a desynchronized actuator. The most likely culprit I can think of, assuming this is a long standing issue, is that something got incorrectly assembled either in the wiring or in one of the actuators the last time they were serviced.

Easiest way to correct that would be to swap the yellow and white wires that feed the hatch actuator. If you don't feel like pulling the hatch panel, you can do it by swapping them at the junction that feeds both the hatch and the slider, behind the glovebox, and then again at the slider contacts on the B pillar, since those are marginally more accessible.

Regardless where you do the change, you will need some kind of terminal tool. See here. I still think the official AMP tool is really worth its price.

You might also find the info in this thread interesting.

And final note, if you don't like the power door locks, you can just pull the fuse and be done with them!

[Reckless Amateur]

Thanks for the good diagnostics, jmranger. What's weird is that it's not a longstanding issue-I've owned the van for a couple months and power locks worked fine until the gremlins came to visit this weekend.

I think I most like the pull the fuse route. Westy with power locks feels like too much of a minivan for my taste! Plus it's one more thing to break.
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91 Bostig-powered Westy (automatic)
Philadelphia, PA