express van door locks

Hey guys, I got a 2001 Chevy express 2500 series base van, I am planning on retrofitting power locks and power windows. The windows are a long term project until I find a machinist to make me some gears, but I digress. Looking inside the door panel it seems there is a stock actuator attached to the door latch (driver and passenger) I guess it's cheaper for GM to install and not put the switches instead of changing the assembly line but I am arsed to pull apart the dash to see if the relay is located there. According to the wiring tan/gray signal the motor (they come from behind the kickplates) I applied 12 volts to the 2 wires and no action happened would this mean these actuators are kaput or does GM use some weird signaling system for their door locks.

You said nothing about ground on one of the wires.  12V to one wire and ground to the other wire should move the actuator in direction 1.  Reverse power and ground should make the actuator move the other way.

And you will probably still need a dedicated lock relay if you are going to use the door key, available from Spal, MES etc. Otherwise a window switch.

on a 2001 express.....

powering tan while grounding gray, unlocks door.

powering gray while grounding tan, locks door.

yuk

quiet rural missouri, near KC.

If your system moves you physically and not emotionally, you have wasted your money.