Door Actuators on a Dodge Caravan
Printed From: the12volt.com
Forum Name: Car Security and Convenience
Forum Discription: Car Alarms, Keyless Entries, Remote Starters, Immobilizer Bypasses, Sensors, Door Locks, Window Modules, Heated Mirrors, Heated Seats, etc.
URL: https://www.the12volt.com/installbay/forum_posts.asp?tid=7806
Printed Date: May 14, 2025 at 2:30 PM
Topic: Door Actuators on a Dodge Caravan
Posted By: redsatrun
Subject: Door Actuators on a Dodge Caravan
Date Posted: January 07, 2003 at 9:21 PM
I have a 1998 Dodge Caravan with Dual sliding doors, does anybody have any suggestions, on to where i can run the wires to get them inside the door panel. Thanks
Replies:
Posted By: themagicone
Date Posted: January 07, 2003 at 9:29 PM
Well for the front doors you have to drill if it dosent have no speakers or anything in the door. There should be a opening in the kick pannel where the wires would be, just drill the rest out to get outside.
Posted By: the12volt
Date Posted: January 07, 2003 at 9:36 PM
Here's what you'll need for your side doors: https://www.spal-usa.com/html/finsacc5.htm You can also purchase them from your local Dodge/Chrysler dealer's parts department.
Posted By: redsatrun
Date Posted: January 08, 2003 at 9:54 AM
I never seen this type of system before, do you think you can elaborate on how to install them. I would appreciate it. Thanks.
Posted By: the12volt
Date Posted: January 08, 2003 at 10:03 AM
It's actually very simple. You remove the existing plates in each sliding door and door jamb and replace them with the ones shown at the top of the image below. The contact switch plate in the door has two wires that attach to the actuator. The plate in the door jamb has a connector for the two wires that connect to your relays and/or door lock switches. When the door is closed, the contact switch plate in the door makes contact with the plate in the door jamb allowing you to lock and unlock the sliding door. Also, behind each sliding door jamb behind the plastic panel, you'll find the factory harness that connects to the plate that goes in each jamb. Cut this harness and insulate the vehicle side of it and connect your leads to the plug side. 
Posted By: redsatrun
Date Posted: January 08, 2003 at 1:08 PM
Once this is connected, then how do i control the door locks, keep in mind I do not have any power door locks in the van at all, is there a factory wire that runs from the sliding doors to the front of the van. Thanks
Posted By: the12volt
Date Posted: January 08, 2003 at 1:46 PM
There are wires that do run to the BCM, but as I said above, cut the harnesses behind each jamb that plug into the new plates, insulate the vehicle sides of the harnesses and attach your wires to the plug sides and run them to your keyless entry or whatever you had planned to install to control them.
Posted By: cpgoose
Date Posted: January 08, 2003 at 2:22 PM
Is this the same for Jeep's that you would take off the doors for when you go offroading? My friend's Jeep doesn't have power door locks, and they take off the doors every now and then to go 4X4ing. So maybe something like this would work?
Posted By: the12volt
Date Posted: January 08, 2003 at 2:32 PM
No, you'll want to use some type of disconnect for removable doors like his.
Posted By: securinu
Date Posted: January 08, 2003 at 4:59 PM
be careful with the jeeps . we had a customer who would play with her remote while driving and one time the wires were pinched inside the door. well when she hit the remote smoke everywhere from the short. not to mention melted wire everywhere she freaked and almost sued the place i used to work for. now i dont do them at all.and we used to use the cb power harness from radioshack for the quick disconnect.
Posted By: cpgoose
Date Posted: January 09, 2003 at 6:19 AM
I figured you could just do it like the Caravan door....unless I'm reading it wrong. You can have the part on the body of the car (right by the door's hinge), and then the other part inside the door that's connected to the actuator. When the door closes, both parts touch and you can lock/unlock the door. Then if you want to, you can take off the door because nothing is connected.....only when the door is shut the contacts are touching. I've never done this before, so I'm just blabbing 
Posted By: AlarmTech
Date Posted: January 10, 2003 at 12:03 PM
Man i loved doing these vans, must have done 15-20 with full lock kits...i used spal motors but never did buy the kit, the brakects are easy to make for the sliders and the rear hatch was pretty simple too. I used the factory slider door plates instead of aftermarket ones. IIRC, they where like $30 from the dealer. much cleaner and easier to install, perfect fit and function and they come with harnesses. Oh and you'll need some extra panel clips too, since they are designed to break when pulled off (or so it seams anyway) Dodge makes them in 2 peices to get even more money out of you. again, IIRC they were like $10 for a handfull. As stated, the wires are already in the van, just need to tap into them. ------------- Viper Equipped
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