1990 Theft Deturrent System question

[HallenTi]

I was told by the previous owner that the TDS on my 1990 will only disarm if I first unlock the passenger door, then open the driver door and that this was by design. From looking in the owners manual, it says that it can be disarmed by "...opening either door with the round key". This leads me to believe that the switch on the drivers door is probably not functional...does this sound like a possibility? If so, are these switches available at an aftermarket distributor? Thanks, Tim

 

[vigman]

Tim

he is WRONG!

You need a new switch on the drivers door.

Not available from GM or aftermarket ( that I have found).

Wrecking yard time!

( and they are a bear to replace, get extra c clips from the wrecking yard)

78-96 all same switch.. but the connectors are different ( soldering time )


Usually the weather stripping gets toasted and water drips onto the switch ( located on the back of the lock mech.) and corrodes.. but if that happens the plastic is usually toast too!

Maybe Caddies use the same...dunno?

Goood luck!

Vig!

 

[HallenTi]

Vigman,

Thanks for the information. The weatherstripping is toast as you said, on both doors. New pieces were included from the owner when I bought the car (he wasn't very "mechanical", so got them and decided it was too difficult for his skill-level). So, when I have it apart for the weatherstripping, I will check the switches as well. Thanks for the tip!

Tim

 

[vigman]

Your welcome

Do the switch when the weather strip is out... it will give you more room to view the madness that GM created when they did that.

In the meantime you could try spraying some electrical cleaner on the switch as you work the lock.. it might clear it up a bit..

If the windows down... you can just make the back of the lock assy out ( do this in the evening with a good flashlight) and just flush it!

Vig!

 

[HallenTi]

Good idea about the spray cleaner too. I have done that before on some hard-to-get-at items in the past and is often works. It just didn't seem reasonable that you'd be REQUIRED to open the passenger door with the key to disarm it. So, I will take a gander and see what I can do! Tim

 

[vigman]

Door lock switch function(84-96)

I had an extra switch.. and was going to take a picture... but ( Murphys Law) I cant find it!


DOH!


It's a SPST switch.... kinda... as you hit either lock...or unlock with the key... it throws a pulse to the alarm system ( gnd ) which arms..or disarms it.

The other thing, ( oh by the way ) is the 1/2 moon which is on the swinger( mount) of the switch gets eaten away.. so sometimes you have to OVER ROTATE the switch to get it to actually open the circut.


Vig!

 

[HallenTi]

I found the driver's door lock anti-theft switch through the local Chevrolet dealer (part number 10074164, $19.77) and replaced it today. It was a little tight in there to get the "C" clip off and out, the pieces from the old switch off the lock shaft (it had come apart), but once I got that all out of there, I was able to get the job done without too much trouble, and now I can unlock the driver's door without setting off the alarm! I'm happy about that!