what causes door locks to short and how can this be fixed?

On my 82 244, motor unit in door has a disk in accuator motor that serves as a common contact. This disk can get burnt "dead spots" where the contacts have rested for years. Rotating the disk is all it takes to rectify a dead power lock.

This winter weather really seems to bring on these little electrical issues...

I'm having an issue where everything off the key works as it should. But when trying to lock from the the drivers knob the 3 other doors fail to (Unlocking working fine). The fact that all is well from the key, I'm guessing my relays and the door wiring are alright?
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1990 240 Wagon, 1984 Turbo Wagon, 1971 1800E Auto, 1971 1800E 4-Speed

i had the latter in arts response, the wiring had broken where it goes through the rubber boot in door on drivers side. also had the perfect storm of windows and speaker wires breaking.

rainy day spliceathon made all good

gary c.

Either the insulation crumbles off of the switch wires at the key switch and lock knob switch, or the wires in the door jamb break inside their insulation. Switch replacement is the usual fix for the former, and wire replacement for the latter.

Symptoms of the first condition are battery drain and phantom locking. The second condition just results with intermittently inoperative locking or unlocking, depending on which wire is broken.
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Art Benstein near Baltimore

A dog teaches a boy fidelity, perseverance, and to turn around three times before lying down.
-Robert Benchley

thanks for the response Art, do you happen to know of or how to contact Redwoodchair who is on Turbobricks? I am trying to buy the window squeegee rubber he has and I have lost contact with him, thanks, Don