Door switch or what else?
-
melissa2019
- LE Member
- Posts: 1
- Joined: Sun Jan 23, 2022 8:59 pm
- Year and Trim: 2004 Pontiac Bonneville SE
Door switch or what else?
Hello,
I have an '04. I am not real knowledgeable about cars, but I do like to fix things myself when possible (many times with the help of youtube haha). Any help here is appreciated!
In the past 2 weeks I have noticed that when I open the door to get in, the interior lights do not usually come on, and several times when I open the door to get out the radio does not always turn off like it used to. Sometimes if I shut and re-open the door once or twice, the radio will then turn off. I am guessing these are related since they started occurring around the same time, and my guess would be some type of sensor that lets these functions know that the door has been opened. In other cars I've had, there is a visible button-type thing in the door jamb that could physically get stuck, but I am not finding one in this car.
Any ideas if this type of sensor is the issue, and if in fact it is, what would it be called and where would I find it?
TIA!
I have an '04. I am not real knowledgeable about cars, but I do like to fix things myself when possible (many times with the help of youtube haha). Any help here is appreciated!
In the past 2 weeks I have noticed that when I open the door to get in, the interior lights do not usually come on, and several times when I open the door to get out the radio does not always turn off like it used to. Sometimes if I shut and re-open the door once or twice, the radio will then turn off. I am guessing these are related since they started occurring around the same time, and my guess would be some type of sensor that lets these functions know that the door has been opened. In other cars I've had, there is a visible button-type thing in the door jamb that could physically get stuck, but I am not finding one in this car.
Any ideas if this type of sensor is the issue, and if in fact it is, what would it be called and where would I find it?
TIA!
- Juggernaught
- SLE Member

- Posts: 71
- Joined: Thu Sep 24, 2015 11:57 pm
- Year and Trim: 2005 Bonneville GXP
Re: Door switch or what else?
I'm having the same issue on my '05 GXP. However, if I open the passenger door, the radio will turn off. So it must be something in the driver's door. Anyone have any suggestions on what might be the cause of this?
2005 Pontiac Bonneville GXP Greystone


-
JEFFSSSEI
- SSE Member

- Posts: 133
- Joined: Sat Oct 28, 2017 10:00 pm
- Year and Trim: 2003 Pontiac Bonneville SSEI
Re: Door switch or what else?
Since the Driver's door is the most used door, and the issues are intermittent, I would look at checking the wiring harness that goes between the door and and body. it gets bent/articulated each time the door is open...these cars are getting older and it's a possibility you have some wires rubbed through touching each other or grounding out. Also possible you have some wires that are broken and only making intermittent connection....my best guess without putting eyes on.
2003 Pontiac Bonneville SSEI
3.8L V6 SC, 180*T (Drilled),
Custom PCM w/Perf Shift,
SLP Ceramic Coated Headers,
Thrasher Cold Air Intake,
GXP Tails, Interior Door handles, Trim pieces etc.
40th Aniv Grand Prix GTP Wheels (Very Shiny & Very Annoying
)
3.8L V6 SC, 180*T (Drilled),
Custom PCM w/Perf Shift,
SLP Ceramic Coated Headers,
Thrasher Cold Air Intake,
GXP Tails, Interior Door handles, Trim pieces etc.
40th Aniv Grand Prix GTP Wheels (Very Shiny & Very Annoying
- harofreak00
- Administrator

- Posts: 26022
- Joined: Mon May 19, 2008 6:04 pm
- Year and Trim: 2004 GXP - plus a handful of other Bonnevilles
- Location: Browerville, MN
- Contact:
Re: Door switch or what else?
I see these door lock actuators fail often, more frequently on the 03-05's. Pretty labor intensive job as you have to disassemble the entire door to swap them.
Andrew - owner/operator of Bonnevilles Unlimited

2004 Bonneville GXP | 60k | White Gold Tricoat | custom built supercharged 3800 hot rod | garage queen
1997 Corvette | 57k | Silver Metallic | Z06 wheels | Date-night Hauler/Parts runner
2014 Town & Country Limited | Cashmere Pearl | 115k | Family Hauler
2002 Ram 1500 Quad Cab Sport | Black| 280k | Official Bonneville Hauler

2004 Bonneville GXP | 60k | White Gold Tricoat | custom built supercharged 3800 hot rod | garage queen
1997 Corvette | 57k | Silver Metallic | Z06 wheels | Date-night Hauler/Parts runner
2014 Town & Country Limited | Cashmere Pearl | 115k | Family Hauler
2002 Ram 1500 Quad Cab Sport | Black| 280k | Official Bonneville Hauler
- Juggernaught
- SLE Member

- Posts: 71
- Joined: Thu Sep 24, 2015 11:57 pm
- Year and Trim: 2005 Bonneville GXP
Re: Door switch or what else?
Thanks for your responses. The lock actuators seem to be working fine. They lock and unlock without any issues, even when shifting from/into park. When I get a chance, I'll try to check the wiring harness running to the door to see if there are any issues. Does anyone know what the radio (or BCM) uses to see if the door is open? My dash display does show the driver's door open when it's open. Really puzzling to me.
2005 Pontiac Bonneville GXP Greystone


- harofreak00
- Administrator

- Posts: 26022
- Joined: Mon May 19, 2008 6:04 pm
- Year and Trim: 2004 GXP - plus a handful of other Bonnevilles
- Location: Browerville, MN
- Contact:
Re: Door switch or what else?
The lock actuators will work fine for their other intended purposes, just the door ajar sensor inside the unit has failed. As someone who has worked on hundreds of Bonnevilles and has seen this problem first hand dozens of times, just replace the door lock actuator.Juggernaught wrote:Thanks for your responses. The lock actuators seem to be working fine. They lock and unlock without any issues, even when shifting from/into park. When I get a chance, I'll try to check the wiring harness running to the door to see if there are any issues. Does anyone know what the radio (or BCM) uses to see if the door is open? My dash display does show the driver's door open when it's open. Really puzzling to me.
Andrew - owner/operator of Bonnevilles Unlimited

2004 Bonneville GXP | 60k | White Gold Tricoat | custom built supercharged 3800 hot rod | garage queen
1997 Corvette | 57k | Silver Metallic | Z06 wheels | Date-night Hauler/Parts runner
2014 Town & Country Limited | Cashmere Pearl | 115k | Family Hauler
2002 Ram 1500 Quad Cab Sport | Black| 280k | Official Bonneville Hauler

2004 Bonneville GXP | 60k | White Gold Tricoat | custom built supercharged 3800 hot rod | garage queen
1997 Corvette | 57k | Silver Metallic | Z06 wheels | Date-night Hauler/Parts runner
2014 Town & Country Limited | Cashmere Pearl | 115k | Family Hauler
2002 Ram 1500 Quad Cab Sport | Black| 280k | Official Bonneville Hauler
- Juggernaught
- SLE Member

- Posts: 71
- Joined: Thu Sep 24, 2015 11:57 pm
- Year and Trim: 2005 Bonneville GXP
Re: Door switch or what else?
Thanks for the info. I had no idea that the lock actuator also controlled the door ajar condition. In the old days, there was just a switch in the door jam that controlled the dome lights, etc when the door was opened or closed. Do you have the part number and are they still available?
2005 Pontiac Bonneville GXP Greystone


- Sirius
- Resident Gearhead

- Posts: 2143
- Joined: Thu May 22, 2008 10:40 am
- Year and Trim: 2003 SSEi
- Location: West Point
Re: Door switch or what else?
Resident Tightwadgweg_b wrote:People think I'm nuts, but Matt proved it.

Screw you, Photobucket.
Re: Door switch or what else?
I had the same problem, the radio would stay on even after I removed the key, got out, and locked the door. What I noticed is that you need to give it some time. Put it in park, turn off the engine, remove the key, give it 2-3 seconds, and then get out. I've noticed that while you can drive this car with agility, some things you need to do slowly. I haven't had that problem since I started giving it a bit more time.melissa2019 wrote:Hello,
I have an '04. I am not real knowledgeable about cars, but I do like to fix things myself when possible (many times with the help of youtube haha). Any help here is appreciated!
In the past 2 weeks I have noticed that when I open the door to get in, the interior lights do not usually come on, and several times when I open the door to get out the radio does not always turn off like it used to. Sometimes if I shut and re-open the door once or twice, the radio will then turn off. I am guessing these are related since they started occurring around the same time, and my guess would be some type of sensor that lets these functions know that the door has been opened. In other cars I've had, there is a visible button-type thing in the door jamb that could physically get stuck, but I am not finding one in this car.
Any ideas if this type of sensor is the issue, and if in fact it is, what would it be called and where would I find it?
TIA!

