Power Locks: Description and Operation

POWER LOCKS
The Viper uses electric door latches to accomplish opening and closing of the vehicle doors and electronics to accomplish the lock function that was typically performed with linkage inside the door.

The system utilizes electric latches and switches both inside and outside the vehicle. These switches are inputs to the Entry Module and if the conditions are correct, the entry module will unlatch the doors. The lock function is simply the ignoring of the switch inputs that would normally open the doors. There is no mechanical lock linkage inside the door. This results in fewer moving parts and problems associated with packaging the linkage mechanisms. The outside door handle and inside door handles control micro switches that are the inputs to the entry module. Located below the inside door switches are the lock switches with LED indicators. The LED lock indicator informs the driver and passenger of the lock status of the doors. If the light is ON, the doors are unlocked. If there is no activity for approximately one minute (input to the entry module) and the key is in the ON or OFF position, the LED will be turned OFF to reduce battery draw.