Hello everyone,

I'm looking to swap the door on my 1989 with the one on my 1988 parts car. The one on the 89 has a couple large dents that won't come out, so it's time to change.

The problem I'm running into is that they (apparently) changed the door lock method from 88 to 89. The 1988 door uses a larger gauge wire, for one, and doesn't have a ground in the connector like the 1989 does. The wires are the same colors, but that's about it.

Obviously the doors are the same part, but apparently the electronics are different. Before I swap this thing over, does anyone know how these are different, and what I might do to make this older door work on my 1989? I expect I could just swap over the door lock actuators from the 1989 over to the 88, but I wanted to check before I did it.

Thanks!

 

In addition, could anyone tell me where the door lock fuse is? I looked in the 1989 electrical book and it said #8 in the main panel, but I looked under the driver's feet fuse panel (is this the correct one?) and didn't find a 7.5 amp fuse in the #8 slot. There are a couple 7.5a fuses under there but I have removed that fuse panel door so I can't use it to tell me which fuse is which. Thanks for the help!

 

just rewire the new door with the old door wiring and locks

the doors are constructed the same until the facelift

BB

 

I made this same change, 88 door on a 89 car.

The only difference is the door lock solenoid. I can't help with wiring because I ultimately used aftermarket solenoids. I would use the original door wiring and solenoid from original door, but leave the inside door handle and actuator rods from the 88. I'm almost certain hey are the same.

Re: door lock fuse rating, some sources say 2 amp, some 3 amp and some 7.5 amp for door lock fuse. I discovered this because the aftermarket solenoids I used kept blowing 3 amp fuse and eventually the 5 amp fuse. I ultimately put in a 7.5 amp fuse and it works fine.

 

I'll try to remember to check out my car tomorrow (88). The door panel has been off for like a year now, so I can look around at whatever it is you are wondering about. It is a pretty simply system, so I can't see switching over being too challenging.

 

Going from memory it's probably the difference between Lucas lock solenoids (earlier car) and Kiekert lock motors (later car). The former uses relays, the latter doesn't....so the circuits are different

Cheers
DD