My 96 has been doing it for awhile and my 95 just started locking without being touched. Sometimes they will lock just driving and sometimes when I close the door. It will also lock with the key in the ignition, which it will not normally do if you are getting out of the car without the key.
I figured there must be a "best place" to start before I start tearing into everything.
I did a search but did not come up with anything that matched my problem.
All help is appreciated.
Randy

 

I have the same problem, so I am interested in this too. Mine will lock every door but the passenger front door.

 

Hey Mtn, that small block Chevy looks just like the one in my El Camino, which also spent about 100K miles in a 72 240Z Datsun before I pulled and took it 30 over and installed another L-79 cam in it.

 

mine does that too, i hate it. i wonder what it could be

 

Mine does that too but it locks them all except the drivers door......?

 

the ghost of Nissan maybe ?

 

Yep, I've had that happen once while refueling the car. Luckily the front passenger door lock did not lock.

 

I've got a '96 too and that only happened once. I don't know what could be the source of that. I hope it isn't the ghost of Nissan.

 

Find the body control module. Unplug and replug all the connectors on the box. Each door has a control module too. At age of our cars, it is likely a connector failure.

 

i guess that could explain the randomness of this problem, where are the modules? pics?

 

Not sure about you guys, but on my 97 gxe, when I manually lock the front doors from inside, it'll lock all the doors. There's some switch in there. I once had a passenger leave the lock 1/2 way, and shut the door, which locked all the doors. So I'm thinking, the internal switch somehow got loose from the external (door panel side) lock. I'll check the FSM to see what's going on there. (I don't have the problem, but just sharing knowledge).
Dr J

 

This should be stickied:

Power Door Lock diagnosis procedure

Pre-diagnosis setup:
Ignition switch: off
dome light: on (this's the map light for front passengers)
rear window defogger: off
doors: closed
interior lamp: center "O" position

1) Turn ignition switch "ON"
2) Return ignition switch to "OFF" and press rear window defogger switch more than 10 times during 10 seconds
3) Self diagnostic results indicator lamps should turn on
4) Rear window defogger switch stays OFF
5) Turn ignition switch "ON" within 5 seconds after the indicator lamp turns on
6) Indicator lamp turns off
...after a second...
7) Mode 3 diagnosis is performed
8) Turn ignition switch "OFF"
9) Diagnosis end
*make sure all lights are out.

Description:
The malfunction code is indicated by the number of flashes from the front map light and step lamps. Count the number of short flashes.
Legend:
Code 1: Driver door lock actuator/unlock sensor
Code 2: Passenger door lock actuator/unlock sensor
Code 3: Rear RH door lock actuator/unlock sensor
Code 4: Rear LH door lock actuator/unlock sensor
Code 5: No malfunction in the above items

What to do if you get Code 1-4? Check door unlock sensor, and door lock actuator.

Dr J

 

ok the problem seems to be that he door doesn't unlock all the way my car does it too.. it looks like the problem here is the actuator OR the linkage is being restricted somewhere.. i noticed that if the door lock only opens like 50 percent then when u close the door it locks on its own... OR when u unlock it locks on it it own...

so i see it as 2 possible scenarios.. actuator failing or the linkage is getting caught onto something

 

If you guys havent tried it yet, unplug your BCM connectors and plug them back in. The BCM is in the trunk on the antenna side. Just peel back the lining and its a black box. If it doesnt work try it again but also disconnect the battery.

 

I believe the BCM is inside the car behind the stereo headunit the box in the trunk is the remote control module. Would not hurt to disconnect and hopefully reset the both of them.

 

Did you go through the procedure I listed? If so, I'll post the next steps. Please let me know what code you got, so I can put up the proper steps.

Dr J

 

I share the same problem as venturous, fat_kid, et al. I did Dr. J's (or is it thurznite?) diagnosis procedure, but my map light didn't blink at all in diagnosis mode.

What does that mean and what should I try next? The BCM method mentioned by the others here?

Has anybody out there successfully solved this problem?

Many thanks.

 

not to say Dr J is wrong, because he obviously knows his shxt, but i would have started by reprogramming the keyless remote, then maybe pulling fuses and reinserting them

 

I'll consider trying that, but it doesn't seem logical to me. I've never had any problems with the keyless remote - it always works fine. The locks respond correctly when I use the remote. It's when I'm not using the keyless remote that my locks act up - when driving, closing doors, etc.

Is my hunch wrong? Why do you recommend reprogramming the keyless remote?

 

that was just my hunch. maybe there's something getting confused and your receiver thinks you're pressing a button. that doesn't explain why one door is not locking. hmm....

disregard

 

I have a 97 and if the lock gets stuck 1/2 way, it will lock all the doors. If you try to unlock it 1 second later it locks again.

 

I have the same problem with mine I just have been doing too many other things to my max to worry about that. I'll look into it and see what I can find.

 

Sounds like a short somewhere. My 93 240sx used to send the seat belts forward and back by themselves (auto belts). I never figured it out but I'll bet your problem is in the dash harness behind the steering wheel.

 

I did this and got a code 2, what should i do now

 

I just typed what's in the FSM... it says by starting out with this procedure. Later on, it'll say reprogram.

I'm helping a member swap his knock sensor tonight... if I'm not too tired, I'll post the follow up to code #2.

Dr J <-- Dr J, like the hall of fame basketball player, 5 highest scorer of all time. I like playing basketball, and was told I play like him.

 

I have a Maxima (actually it is my wife's) with this same issue and have been trying for a long time to figure it out with no luck. I am excited that I finally did a search and found some information. Thanks for the info.

I did the procedure and got a longer signal followed by a 2 shorter pulse flashes. I guess this is a Code 2. What should be done next? How do I get to and check the door unlock sensor and actuator? I am not very familar with electronics diagnostics, but know my way around the car okay.

Again,
Thanks for any help.

 

My 96 locks too, sometimes my wife hits the door with her knee (passenger side) and they'll all lock, but most of the time i'll be driving by myself and they'll all just lock, it's really weird... Sometimes i'll even fight with it going back and forth unlocking and locking by it's self...