Power Door Lock SWITCH REPAIR

The driver's side power door lock on my 81 Corvette was not working. The fuse was ok, but nothing happened when I actuated the door-panel-mounted switch.

I tried the passenger's side knowing that it wouldn't work either. In the case of 78 through 82 C3 Corvettes, the passenger's switch won't work if the driver's side PDL (Power Door Lock) is inoperative.

The answer was clear upon removing the door panel: One of the PDL connector wires had broken off the terminal.

And from the looks of it, someone had already attempted a repair by trying to solder it back on in place, which upon further inspection was obvious it was not going to work.

So, I had two options:

1. Order a new replacement pigtail connector
2. Attempt a DIY repair

After checking prices online for replacement parts, it was obvious that the best and cheapest alternative was to try to fix it myself. This necessitated opening the connector which looked harder than it actually was.

I cut the plastic welds off and opened the connector. Inside I found lots of corrosion on each terminal, so this was also an excellent opportunity to clean each one thoroughly to have excellent contact.

I was also able to solder the disconnected wire back and reseal the connector with CA glue for an almost unnoticeable repair.

Upon testing, the door locks are now fully operational, and I saved around $40 by fixing it myself.

Thank you for watching! 🙂👍🏻


P.S. General Motors used the same PDL system—with a few differences from model to model—for many years, and the repair outlined in the video will apply to most of them with slight variations.

In addition to the Chevrolet C3 Corvette, you will find almost identical switches in a Camaro, Firebird, Nova, C10 pickup truck, Blazer, Suburban, El Camino, Malibu, and the list goes on.

GM brands include Chevy, Pontiac, Buick, Oldsmobile, GMC, and Cadillac.

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DISCLAIMER: Even though I like to wrench on my Corvettes and most of my videos are of a how-to nature, I am not responsible nor liable should you decide to follow my musings on the subject.

I am a self-taught DIYer. If videos appear to give technical how-to advice, that is not my intention.

Working on a vehicle can be dangerous. If you're not confident, qualified, or lack the tools to do the job correctly and safely, hire a mechanic.


#c3corvette #doorlocks #generalmotors