Door Lock Telltale won't switch off

[DrJeff]

My door lock telltale light (in the center console) won't switch off irrespective of the state of the door locks. Based on the electrical diagrams (color schematic) the bulb finds ground through the unlock signal wire to the DLM. Since the doors are locking and unlocking correctly, that would suggest that the bulb is finding ground through the brown-pink wire.

I tested continuity on the brown-pink wire from the lock door bulb, to the inertia switch, to the input to the DLM - all connections check out. What I don't understand is that if the lock door bulb is lit, then the unlock signal wire (brown-pink) is grounded, and the doors should be unlocked?

I'm assuming from the design that the inertia switch can connect the brown-pink wire to ground and unlock the doors in the case of a roll-over.
nb. I disconnected the remote lock unit to leave the DLM in stock mode during the tests.

Anyone come across this before?

[Bitsyncmaster]

If the light is still on with the door lock unit removed then it's a ground in the wiring.

[DrJeff]

If the light is still on with the door lock unit removed then it's a ground in the wiring.

I disconnected the DLM and the light stays on. Thanks Dave, good test, like you said there's a ground in the wiring. Now I just need to find it. I need to be sure the Inertia Switch still functions as intended.

[Ron]

Just a thought...did you try unplugging the N/K wire at the Inertia Switch and the Door Lock Switches?

[Bitsyncmaster]

I disconnected the DLM and the light stays on. Thanks Dave, good test, like you said there's a ground in the wiring. Now I just need to find it. I need to be sure the Inertia Switch still functions as intended.

Probably in the center console. There are lots of sharp edges that can cut into wires.

[Mike F]

If the light is still on with the door lock unit removed then it's a ground in the wiring.

Just a side note, I have my DLM disconnected, but my light still functions as normal (shuts off when I lock the doors, comes on when unlocked). Should it no longer work like that with the DLM disconnected?

[Bitsyncmaster]

Just a side note, I have my DLM disconnected, but my light still functions as normal (shuts off when I lock the doors, comes on when unlocked). Should it no longer work like that with the DLM disconnected?

The schmatic is not clear but it looks like the DLM connector may just connect that wire to a door lock switch. So maybe that could be the problem with the OP problem.

[DMCMW Dave]

Just a side note, I have my DLM disconnected, but my light still functions as normal (shuts off when I lock the doors, comes on when unlocked). Should it no longer work like that with the DLM disconnected?

Do you happen to have the dome light (#12) fuse pulled?

[Mike F]

Do you happen to have the dome light (#12) fuse pulled?

No, fuse #12 is in place. Dome lights function as normal (timed delay, etc.).

[Mike F]

The schmatic is not clear but it looks like the DLM connector may just connect that wire to a door lock switch. So maybe that could be the problem with the OP problem.

Makes sense. Perhaps a switch in one of the doors is an issue.

Jeff, do your power locks function properly when everything is connected? Lock/unlock functionality using either door?

[DrJeff]

Jeff, do your power locks function properly when everything is connected? Lock/unlock functionality using either door?

Both door's locks work correctly, fuse 12 is good. Everything works as it's supposed to but the door lock light is on.

I pulled the connector from the inertial switch - just in case it was somehow providing ground. {It looks like the brown-pink wire from the door lock bulb just connects at the inertia switch quick disconnect plug and then just runs on to the DLM}. No change. The short could be anywhere between the bulb in the center console and the DLM. As Dave says, I'll start with the center console and work from there.

Just an Aside : If there is a short to ground in the brown-pink wire which is connected to the unlock switch wire, I guess I'm not sure how the DLM acts if both the lock and unlock signal wires are connected to ground at the same time. Now I'm confused.

[Bitsyncmaster]

Since your locks work, my guess is your door switches are also working correctly. So finding a grounded wire is a pain to do. One thing you can try is remove the two screws on the shift boot plate. There should not be wires near those screws but you never know who did what before.

[Mike F]

Has it always done this, or is it a recent development?

[DrJeff]

This is new and likely a trapped wire. My center console and armrest area are highly customized. Time to pull it apart a bit and see what's going on.

Thanks for the advice, guys.

[Mike F]

Keep us posted on what you find!

[DrJeff]

Keep us posted on what you find!

No obvious sign of where the short could have occurred so I ran a new connection from the inertia switch to the DLM to bypass the short. Problem fixed - light goes out if both doors are locked.

The brown-pink from the inertial switch and the brown-pink from the doors lock/unlock swipe switch meet at the DLM, so I needed to cut into the connection and figure out which one ran to the inertia switch. Got it right first time by starting with the wire that looked like it was running towards the front of the car in the wiring loom.

[Ron]

So you cut the N/K wire at the inertia switch end too, right?

[DrJeff]

So you cut the N/K wire at the inertia switch end too, right?

Yep, I cut at the inertia switch and also cut it at the DLM, then I ran a bypass. This will preserve the original functioning. The brown-pink is shorting somewhere in the wiring harness (not around the center console surprisingly) - and life is too short to find it.

[Ron]

lol...way too short -- I was wondering whether to not wonder why the module wasn't trying to constantly unlock before, or, not wonder how cutting one end did the trick. :wink:

[Mike F]

Awesome! No telling where that thing is grounded out; glad you found an easy workaround. I'm dying to know where in the harness the problem is, just for curiosity's sake! Maybe you'll run across it someday during a future project. If you ever find it, let us know! :)