Retained accessory power problem

I just had the actuator replaced in the drivers door of my 1995 Riviera.

Prior to the work being done the radio would turn off when the door was opened like it is supposed to. Since replacing the actuator the radio does not turn off when the drivers door is opened although it does if the passenger door is opened. Is there a mechanism within the actuator or latch that is the problem? How do I repair it if that is the case.

Is there a switch similar to the one that pushes in and out to turn interior lights on and off like in older cars? Is there a wire going into the actuator that could be shorting? Any ideas? Apparently the Retained Accessory Power function is working, just not within the drivers door.

Any idea if this repair would require replacing the whole actuator again?

I would take your car right back to the garage that did the repair. They either put in wrong parts, or f*cked up. It's their responsibility, not yours.

Thanks for the advise, but i do not want to take the car back to the garage that installed the actuater.

Can anyone tell me what I need to fix inside the door to get back the retained accessory power function? Is there a switch, a relay, a wire, a little elf? I'd like to try to do the fix myself, but need to know what I am looking for to fix it.

Thanks

There is a trouble shooting chart for the RAP in the Factory Service Manual. It's lengthy. If you want to own and work on one of these cars, you need an FSM. Nothing on these cars is simple.

I would go straight after the part that was just replaced. Sounds like it wasn't installed properly or it was the wrong part.

deekster_caddy wrote:

I would go straight after the part that was just replaced. Sounds like it wasn't installed properly or it was the wrong part.

without seeing any more my guess is it was the wrong part. The Riv door latches have some electrical bits not in other latches and are not readily available new. I think they are around $175.00/each **if** you can find them. Latches without the electrical bits will fit but will not operate the Riv's functions. For instance, on the Riv's latches, when you hold the key in the lock in the door handle in the "unlock" position for a few seconds, the power locks are supposed to actuate and unlock both doors.

Albert is on the right path. Someone installed an actuator, and now you have issues and the RAP is malfunctioning. SOMEBODY messed something up in the door. I would drive the car right through the front door of that place.....
The RAP is controlled directly by that latch. It will not function properly without the correct part installed, period.

Is there an echo in here?

Abaddon wrote:

Albert is on the right path. Someone installed an actuator, and now you have issues and the RAP is malfunctioning. SOMEBODY messed something up in the door. I would drive the car right through the front door of that place.....
The RAP is controlled directly by that latch. It will not function properly without the correct part installed, period.

Is there an echo in here?

Maybe a reverberation not an echo, Abaddon.

FYI to the OP: the issue probably is that the latches for the Riv mechanically interchange with many other GM cars but are *NOT* electrically identical. There are a number of other cars latches that will mechanically work. None of them will make the electricals function. When my door latch electricals broke I had my local dealer's shop replace the latch. They were somewhat hesitant to do it because of the price, to be honest. It is more than a little $$ for something that isn't really repairable in the field.

So the point is there is not a separate switch, relay, wire, or elf.

You may want to visit a regional GM dealer that actually has a body shop (as opposed to a new car prep facility where they have what they call a body shop but they actually sublet the body work elsewhere) and ask.

If you want someone else to do the work or to at least interact with someone local that has a clue, consider going to a very good independent body shop in your area (not a mechanic) and ask advice or an estimate to repair. They (and you for that matter) also may be able to get the needed parts aftermarket or salvage which will save a little $$.