chrisjavier

Hi!
I recently bought a 1998 Civic lx and found out the power locks doesn't work. I did some research and discovered that the keyless entry and the dome light "when opening the door" system is in the stock stereo. The car has an aftermarket one. I read that to make the keyless entry work, I have to get a stock stereo. I don't really care about the keyless, but I do care about the power lock and dome light. I there any easy way to fix it?

Note: I don't know much about cars, so any help is welcome

Thanks in advance

CraigW

iTrader: (1)

Keyless was not standard on LX until 7th gen.

Somewhere on the www is a thread were they remove the aftermarket radio and locate the associated dome wiring and somehow jumper/modify it to work.

ezone

This is not a question about keyless entry, right?

This is simply power locks don't work?

Look in the door jamb harness for broken wires at the door connector.


You may need a wiring diagram specific to your car to figure out how to diagnose locks and lighting.

chrisjavier

I thought the problem with the power locks was because of the keyless entry.

ezone

It would not be a factor if your car is not equipped. Not all were equipped in all areas.
Having power locks does not automatically mean it was equipped with keyless entry too.

Is your car equipped with keyless entry?

Have you removed the non-factory radio to investigate connectors or control units that may still be in the dash? Radio may be connected to a gray connector, but are there 2 more green connectors?
Is there a connector that would have been for the keyless and dome light controls?


It looks like you are not in the continental USA. Was your car originally sold in the USA? Canada? Some other country?

chrisjavier

I bought it in Puerto Rico

ezone

But was the car built specifically to be sold there, or was it originally sold in another country and then imported?


So you don't know if the power locks or dome lights ever worked properly after the non-factory radio was installed?



I'm looking at wiring diagrams for USA cars. If I'm reading this correctly, it looks like the power locks should be able to operate independently without the keyless control unit in place.

There is a power lock control unit in the drivers door. The keyless system would send commands to the power lock control unit, but does not operate the locks directly.

Broken wires in the drivers door jamb is a very common problem. I'd look there first.



For the dome lights issue, I think you can use jumpers to connect some of the circuits in the green plugs to get them to work again. I know this info is on the internet. It may be in this site somewhere too.

chrisjavier

I did it today and it worked but the "sensor" or whatever that it's called, is not making contact with the door. If I push it with my hand, it will turn OFF the light

ezone

I only have access to diagrams for US cars, and I have no way of knowing if your car matches exactly.


Sounds like you made good progress!

It's just a plunger style switch in the jamb. Once in a while the plunger (button) breaks, but usually it's something else causing the door to not make sufficient movement of the plunger.

Check: Door striker adjustment, or maybe securing a 'pad' of some sort in the right location on the inside of the door to push on the switch? Some doors had a small round rubber bumper to contact the switch, maybe it is missing?

Compare to the other door, see how it is set up.

chrisjavier

Oh and thanks for all your help so far.

ezone

Sounds like you found the problem, the dent in the door would be sufficient to not push the plunger of the switch correctly.
Once in a while I see cars where the seat belt tongue has dangled and the door was slammed on it denting the door or body.

Remove the door panel and get inside the door to poke/pry the dent out??

Make your patch job more permanent. Tape will fall apart eventually.


The striker is the metal loop on the body that the door latch engages. Usually held with 2 bolts or screws, its position is slightly adjustable.