C-3 Power Locks and Anti-theft System

[Thomas J. Mattingly]

Dear Friends;

I am trying to toubleshoot the subject system, and can find no real documentation. I have GM, Chilton, and Haynes repair manuals, and the manufacturerers assembly manual. None of the repair manuals troubleshoot this sub-system. If anyone knows of a manual, or just has a good amount of experience please help!! At this time the system will not respond to switch movement, and the key lock is very hard to turn. The anti-theft unit will not engage. Please someone just a yell!! Thanks for listening.

[Chuck S.]

Re: C-3 Power Locks and Anti-theft System

Thomas, I presume you are talking about the "anti-theft warning system".

First of all, it sounds like you have some basic "issues" that have to be corrected before you can start trouble-shooting. Once you have the obvious problems fixed, the owner's manual (if you have one) will tell you how/when the anti-theft system operates. My 70 owners manual has one paragraph of about 20-30 words.

These "anti-theft warning systems" are primitive car alarms on early C3s. Basically, when you leave the car, you turn on the key switch that energizes the alarm system. Then, if either door or the hood is opened, small plunger switches energize a circuit with relays that cause a small horn located behind the left rear wheel to sound in short regular beeps. No connection to the door locks, no set it and forget it, no "Step away from the vehicle".