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Door Lock-1 / Car
Door Lock-2
Car Door Lock Questions and
Answers This
category contains featured questions as
examples. They relate to most vehicles.
Question: 2002 Chevrolet
Cavalier mileage: 52,000. My car is hunted, when
I use the door locks only three out of the four
are working. It this a switch problem, or wiring
maybe.?
Answer: No, it
sounds like you have a shorted door lock
actuator, simply replace the lock that is not
working with a new unit.
Question:
2002 Oldsmobile
Alero mileage: 45,000. As I am driving, my door
lock actuators keep activating to lock the
doors. They activate every 2-3 seconds. But
sometimes they stop (and behave normal).
Sometimes they seem to activate when I hit a
bump, but other times I don't really hit any
bumps when they activate. This occurs only while
the car is moving. When stopped at an
intersection, the locks don't do anything. I
have not noticed any other problems locking or
unlocking the doors - when the car is
stopped/parked. Also, in conjunction with this,
when stopped at an intersection, the interior
dome light comes on. Then goes off once I start
moving - but then the doors start locking again.
Additionally, when I park and get out, the
interior lights do not always go off - sometimes
they stay on for many minutes, sometimes they go
off in about 20 seconds (as normal). Sometimes
re-closing the doors fix this, sometimes not.
Any advice is much appreciated. Thank You
Answer:
Your door lock problem is more than likely due
to pin switch (door switch) that is either out
of adjustment or is faulty.
Question: 1999 Ford
Taurus mileage 100,000. I have a problem with
power locks in my car. The doors unlock
perfectly whether by a remote control or by
pushing a button inside, but will not lock. It's
not a problem with the remote as the lights
blink and honk sounds when I press the "Lock"
button, but the doors remain unlocked. Pushing
any of the "Lock" buttons inside also produces
no result. Any ideas?
Answer: Your problem is
more than likely a broken wire in the wiring
loom that goes to the driver's side door. Check
the loom at the door hinge.
Question: 1995 Buick
Skylark mileage: 118,000. My power door
locks don't work when you push the button on any
of the doors. They all lock like they're
supposed to when the car is put into drive or
reverse. What are the possibilities?
Answer: There should be a
circuit breaker for the door locks. Check for
12-volts on both sides of the circuit breaker.
If that tests okay, check for 12-volts at the
main switch in the driver's door.
Question: 1999 Lincoln
Town Car: Though your list is rather complete, I
noted Keyless Entry was omitted. Was searching
to learn why my Keyless Entry works on all 3
doors & trunk but fails to work on the Driver
Door. To unlock the Driver Door, I must use the
physical key lock. In addition, the code for
punching the entry numbers (when without a key)
does not work. All worked fine until car
returned from vehicle clean-up shop. Wonder what
could cause this malfunction & where to begin to
correct problem?
Answer: Check the
actuator in the driver's door it appears that is
non-operational and needs to be replaced.
Question: 1999 Ford
Mustang mileage: 50,500. My trunk is popping
open by itself. I can hear it happen. It sounds
like I hit the "trunk" button on my remote, but
I didn't. It just started happening this
morning, and has continued for hours now. I keep
shutting it, but it keeps opening. After it has
opened, I can still hear the "pop" noise
continuing. Also, I can't open the passenger
side window with the button on the passenger
side. It will only open from the driver's side.
Could there be a problem with a fuse?
Answer: Sounds like a
comedy act. Scan the body control module and it
will identify the problem you are having. There
may be a short in the control module itself. It
also could be as simple as a low battery in your
remote controller.
Question: 1999 Buick
Century. My buddy dropped the key to my truck
down the defrost vents in dash of his Buick and
it was my last one. What is my best course of
action for getting it out? I don't want to make
more of this that I have too.
Answer: The cheaper and
easier way to go is to have a good locksmith
make a key for you. They can do this without a
key to copy.
Question: 1998 Isuzu
Rodeo mileage: 107,000. Rear passenger side door
won't unlock. I know I need to remove the
interior door panel to check and fix the latch
mechanism, but since I can't open the door, I
can't remove the panel. I'm thinking that I have
to remove the entire door from the frame, so I
can then remove the panel. But I'm not sure that
if I unbolt the hinges from the frame, the door
will unlatch. Am I on the right track? Any other
innovative ideas?
Answer: Instead of
removing the door, try using a tool known as a
"Slim Jim" to slide down inside of the door to
unlock the mechanism. Most tow truck drivers
have this type of tool to be used when people
lock their keys in the car.
Question: 1998 Cadillac
Fleetwood Brough mileage: 102,000. The electric
door lock switches will unlock the doors but
they will not lock the doors. I looked for the
door lock relay but could not locate it. Could
it be the relay or something else?
Answer: You probably have
a bad door switch. Check it out under load with
a 12-volt test light.
Question: 2005 Toyota
Camry mileage: 11,800. Great car, runs like a
dream - but, without any obvious reason, I can
no longer open the trunk: the key will not turn
in the lock and the release latch by the drivers
seat has also given up the ghost. Is this
mechanical, electronics, or what and can you
suggest a get around to make me happy again.
This guy in London, England, would appreciate
your help.
Answer: Sounds like the
locks and or the key is worn out. A good
locksmith should be able to help you out here by
either replacing the worn key or the lock
assembly or both.
Question: 2004 Chevy
Lumina, miles. The left door handle was broken
during a theft attempt. I replaced the handle
with no problem, I also cycled both the interior
and exterior handles and manually tripped the
latching mechanism to insure the function prior
to closing the door. I closed the door and again
both the interior and exterior handles worked
fine to open and close the door. Then I screwed
up; I cycled the locking mechanism with the door
in the closed position! Now I can't get the door
open at all. The exterior latch has a short
travel distance and the interior one has a
normal travel. (As when the door is locked) I
have tried a coat hangar on the mechanism I can
see thru the gap between the window
weather-stripping, the same between the door and
frame to no avail. My question.
How can I get to the latch
mechanism in the door? I need a detailed
breakdown (schematic) of the interior door
molding showing the 'hidden' screws and how this
panel pops off. I also need to know if there is
another way to get to the latch or is there a
way I can trip it from between the door and
frame? I also believe I know what I did wrong...
the locking lever is not 'timed' with the lock
tumbler therefore the travel distance is not
enough to unlock the door. I'd appreciate any
help. I'm using every resource I can think of
for advice. Thanks Fred
Answer: What you may
want to try, is to disassemble the passenger
side door for the information you need about the
locations of the mechanisms you need to fix you
driver's side door. Obviously, the passenger
side door is a mirror image of the driver's side
door.
Question: 00 GM Pontiac Montana
3.4 mileage: 1,500. Hello, Our question is: I am
having a problem with my new Montana's door
locks. When I press the on lock button to exit
the vehicle it automatically locks.
Also when I try to enter the
vehicle with the key once it unlocks and I
remove the key it automatically locks up again
before the door can be opened. When we are
driving, the locks are continuously locking and
unlocking on their own without our contact. We
have contacted the dealer for the fourth time
and they can't seem to locate the problem.
Please note that this vehicle doesn't have a
remote door opener. Please advise.
Answer: If an
aftermarket alarm system has been installed on
your car, this may be the source of your
problems. If not, the body control module may be
faulty.
Question: 1999 Chevy
Astro Van mileage: 56,000. Hello. My problem is
that I have cargo doors in the back with a
pop-up window/door. It usually just releases and
when you lift it up, it goes up and stays in
place. Lately when you release it and lift it
up, it will not stay up and needs to be manually
held in place. Is it a hydraulic problem and is
it something I can take care of myself. Thank
you
Answer: The lift shocks
on the cargo door need to be replaced. Lift
shocks are pressurized with nitrogen gas, which,
over time, leaks out and consequently will not
support the cargo door.
Question: 1999 Nissan
Maxima GS V6 mileage: 32,000. My Maxima has
power windows, locks, remote entry/trunk
release, and alarm. The intermittent problem is
that after the car is shut off and you get out
and close the door, the trunk will sometimes
open, and the front windows will sometimes power
down about 4" (all with no action on my part).
Sometimes when you hit the remote trunk release,
the windows will power down 4" on command, but
not always. We have come out to a car on Monday
am with a dead battery since the trunk had
opened when we last parked the car on Friday and
we did not notice (light was on all weekend). I
worry about taking this to a dealer since we
cannot consistently create the problem and it
sounds like an expensive one to diagnose. Any
thoughts/suggestions?
Answer: Either your car
is possessed or it has a bad body control
module. We hope it is the latter.
Repair Topics / Car
Door Lock-1 / Car
Door Lock-2
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