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Car Door Lock Questions and Answers - This category contains featured questions
as examples. They relate to most vehicles.
Question: 1982 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: 1989 VW Jetta mileage: 63,000. This model Jetta
has auto locks; you turn the key and all the doors lock (and alarm activates). Mine
has a problem though, the drivers door locks but all the others do not. I can hear
the whine of a small motor (left side in trunk) for about 20 seconds, as if the
doors are trying to lock but will not. I figure the locking mechanism needs to be
replaced. Is it possible to just disconnect the struggling locking mechanism and
just lock the doors manually?
Answer: Yes, you can disconnect the locking mechanism
and lock the doors manually.
Question: 1999 VW Jetta mileage: 62,000. The central locking
system does not work for the passenger side of the vehicle. When I lock/unlock the
doors from the driver's side, the passenger side locks do not move. I can hear a
motor turning for about 15 seconds, leading me to believe the car is trying to lock
the doors. What could the problem be?
Answer: Remove the door panel and inspect the lock mechanism
for faulty or broken parts. Replacing the broken parts that you find should cure
your predicament.
Question: 1989 Dodge Caravan mileage: 75,200. I have power
door locks & want to install remote opener. Where is control box located in van?
Answer: The control box is located under the left side of
the dash-top cover.
Question: 1988 GMC Sierra 1500 4X4 mileage: 120,000. I recently
had my power window motor replaced on the drivers side of my truck. When I got my
truck back, I noticed the window was working fine but the power door locks were
not working. The power switches to the locks also were continuously clicking. I
had to take part of the trim off and disconnect the power to the switch to keep
anything from shorting out. I am wondering if someone crossed a wire or if there
is another problem with my power door locks.
Answer: You should take your vehicle back to who ever previously
worked on it and have then check the wiring harnesses especially the ground wires.
Question: 1989 VW Jetta mileage: 72,500. The driver door
freezes all the time. After opening, it will not re-latch. I use a hair dryer to
thaw once opened and it is Ok for a while, and then freezes again. I was told to
spray WD40 in the door latch and this would stop. Did that and now it is frozen
completely shut and will not open. Have to admit it was about zero last night. Any
ideas how to overcome this or if it may be something beyond a moisture problem?
I would appreciate your advice, thanks.
Answer: The freezing of the door latch mechanism is
probably caused by water or moisture getting into the mechanism. Check the rubber
door seals to be sure that moisture is not somehow entering the interior of the
door. Also, check the drain holes in the bottom of the door to make sure they are
open.
Question: 1998 Nissan Sentra mileage: 140,000. My fuel gauge
and my temperature gauge no longer work. In addition, my driver’s side door lock
often freezes. I know this is vague but if you have any ideas please help.
Answer: The problem with your gauges may be a faulty
voltage limiter. The problem with your door locks may be a faulty door lock actuator.
Question: 1994 Chrysler LHS 3.5 liter mileage: 67,750. I
recently purchased this car and the keyless remote FOB's do not work. The batteries
are all brand new and both remote units have good electrical connections. I thought
it needed reprogramming until today. The car was sitting out while I was working
and the exterior temperature was around 30 degrees F. After starting, just for fun,
I tried the FOB and the doors locked. I repeatedly locked and unlocked the car while
driving. After the car was warmed up, the remote failed to work again. I am thinking
that the receiver has a loose wire or something, but I cannot find where the receiver
or the antenna is. Every manual I try shows nothing about the remote door locks.
Can you provide me any information to help me out? I want to try doing this myself,
because I feel it will be pretty simple, but I am stumped on where to look in a
car filled with electronic "goodies". Thanks in advance for your help, and I look
forward to your response.
Answer: Check the electrical power and ground connections
to the receiver. It is located under the dash cover on the passenger side.
Question: 1988 Bonneville SSE 3800 mileage: 140,000. This
car has automatic door locks and both back doors will not open. When automatic lock
button is pushed the back doors click but will not open. The front door does open
with the button. The two back doors went out about 2 weeks of each other. When using
the back door locks manually, they still will not open. Any suggestions on how to
get the doors open to fix.
Answer: Try a “Slim Jim” the tool tow-truck drivers use to
open a car door when the keys are left inside the car.
Question: 1999 Chevrolet Lumina z34 v6 mileage: 18,000. I
can't get the doors closed on my car......I know I accidentally "flipped" something
on the side of the doors when I was washing/cleaning it. Can you tell me or show
me how to remedy this? I know it sounds stupid...but... THANKS
Answer: Try “opening” the door with the outside handle. That
should release the latch.
Question: 1989 Buick/La Sabre 6 Cyl mileage: 154,000. Both
power door locks and power-seat are inoperable. Don't know if seat went up at same
point as door locks as I was at the time only one driving the car. Went step #1
in troubleshooting and checked fuses. Problem is they look all right (I replaced
the 30 amp circuit breaker anyway since they are hard to tell if shot or not). There
is a secondary fuse panel behind the glove box, which contains an unlabeled 20 amp
and 15 amp fuse (both seem fine) also in the same fuse panel are 2 (I am guessing
here) square black boxes that I assume are also breakers. Do you know if either
one of these boxes have anything to do with the seats and locks. If so do you know
which it would be top or bottom? I am on a small fixed income here and would like
to make sure it is not something this simple before I spend money for a Pro. Wouldn't
worry about it but wife is short and can't reach pedals and we are down to 1 car.
Answer: Check fusible links down by the starter.
Question: 1992 Pontiac Bonneville mileage: 98,700. I am unable
to get my automatic door locks to work. I checked the fuses and they look fine.
They don't work with my remote on my key chain and the don't work on the doors.
Any suggestions would be appreciated.
Answer: Your car is equipped with a remote accessory
control module. Two fuses supply power to it, check both. If the fuses are okay,
the module may be at fault.
Question: 1997 Ford Thunderbird mileage: 110,000. My driver
side door hinge/lock unit (the piece that goes on to the car post to hold the door
shut) will not go all the way down so it will fit over the post. Do you know of
a way to get that to function again? If I lift the handle up the piece does release
but not far enough to fit over the post. Any kind of help/trick would be appreciated.
Answer: If we understand your problem correctly, the
proper way to fix it is to replace the worn latch assembly.
MORE: Door lock
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