Unplugged my battery, now the doors won't unlock

[MuRCieLaGo]

Hi guys,

1991 ZR-1.

I unplugged the battery in July and locked the doors. Haven't touched the car since then. I'm still away from the car, but my friend tried to unlock the car tonight and he couldn't unlock it, on both sides (driver and passenger). It was working fine before. Yes he has the right key. Key turns fine, he can feel the small usual resistance, but it just won't unlock.

Is it because that I unplugged my battery? I don't get it.

[Dynomite]

Hi guys,

1991 ZR-1.

I unplugged the battery in July and locked the doors. Haven't touched the car since then. I'm still away from the car, but my friend tried to unlock the car tonight and he couldn't unlock it, on both sides (driver and passenger). It was working fine before. Yes he has the right key. Key turns fine, he can feel the small usual resistance, but it just won't unlock.

Is it because that I unplugged my battery? I don't get it.

I would say nothing to do with unplugging the battery (except with battery power there is a connection to the locking function between doors). On a single door it is ALL mechanical and the only time I locked myself out was on a 95' when it decided to lock itself with key in ignition (I think the Auto Door Opener was low on battery) :D

I just checked on a 90'........locked both doors and then disconnected battery.....Both doors could be unlocked after battery disconnect.

Looking through the window he should be able to see the Locking Slider move as someone else turns the key on the opposite side.

If the Slider is not sliding.......something else is going on.
If the Slider does slide but door will not open, Maybe he should pull a bit harder on the door latch.

It is very strange that both sides are issues????

Maybe a shot of WD-40 in the key lock then back and forth a few times with the door key.

Sometimes when you turn the door key there is considerable resistance when you actually are unlocking the door........maybe he just has to turn the key harder (that is where WD-40 comes in).

The only difference is the fact YOU locked the doors........did you try unlocking the doors in July?

They might actually lock but not quite unlock once locked and that is where WD-40 might be handy.

Or time for your friend to call a locksmith who can unlock those doors with NO damage in a few seconds as I found out with some special tools and a little inflatable bag that he puts in between the window and door frame ;)

[MuRCieLaGo]

Yes this is very strange that both sides got the same issue all of a sudden. The friend knows what he's doing, he's my #1 assistant with all my mods and fixes since a decade.

When looking inside from the opposite side, the slider does not move. I won't ask him to turn the key harder, I'll do it myself when I'll be back in one month. But for now, I'm really lost.

Thanks a lot for that detailed answer Dynomite and thanks for looking on your '90!

[Dynomite]

Yes this is very strange that both sides got the same issue all of a sudden. The friend knows what he's doing, he's my #1 assistant with all my mods and fixes since a decade.

When looking inside from the opposite side, the slider does not move. I won't ask him to turn the key harder, I'll do it myself when I'll be back in one month. But for now, I'm really lost.

Thanks a lot for that detailed answer Dynomite and thanks for looking on your '90!

I am very interested in this issue since I use a Battery Disconnect at all times ....... See Item #4 Starter, Starter Relay, Wiring Harness, Battery, and Plugs Tricks (http://forums.corvetteforum.com/c4-zr-1-discussion/3005470-tech-info-lt5-modifications-rebuild-tricks-500-hp-3.html#post1581564085)

I just went out and on another 90' turned on the power and locked the doors with a mirror inside. I then disconnected the battery and unlocked the doors and observed the slider moving each time I locked and unlocked the door no matter if the battery was disconnected. The Slider is located just below the Door Latch on each door.

So.....yes....check the slider movement on the door you are locking or unlocking. If no slider movement, the key is not turned far enough or something else going on. Sometimes moving that slider with the door key takes more pressure than you would think.

[WVZR-1]

The lock cylinder is a direct connect from the cylinder to the lock assembly. If the friend is actually rotating the key the lock assembly should be unlatching. There's no electrical involved with the "unlock" function outside the car using the key - it's all mechanical, lever on locking cylinder connected with a nylon retainer to the rod then rod to latch. I'd guess your friend is attempting to rotate the key in the wrong direction. If he's got the correct keys!

[MuRCieLaGo]

Oh well, I was hoping it had something to do with the battery. I'll update this thread when I'll be back from work, in less than a month. I hope nothing is broken.

Thanks guys!

[MuRCieLaGo]

Well, I'm a bit shy for my friend.

Nothing's wrong with my locks. I arrived at the car and unlocked my doors without any issue.

He wasn't turning the key far enough. I could see full of fingerprints in my side windows, so he really investigated the problem... Good thing I came back home for one day, if not I would've called the towing.

Thanks for your help guys!

[G8nightman]

Nice