Cars become more and more convenient and pleasant with technological advances. Who doesn’t appreciate power steering, for example? If you have driven without it, you know the main difference is tremendous, akin to the strenuous workout of steering a huge, old farm tractor. What do we think about power door locks? We rely on the convenience of these relatively simple mechanisms every single day, and hence we miss them when they aren’t working. DenLors Tools Auto Blog gave us information on helping your mechanic find the problem with your power locks.
Common causes of power lock failure
Malfunctioning actuator, or door lock solenoid, is likely the cause as outlined by DenLors, if only one side of the car doesn’t work. So you should make that suggestion to your mechanic with that symptom. Fixing an actuator will also fix an attached door latch. The switch can be the real problem. The computer system in the car works great mostly meaning the problem likely isn’t really connected to it. BUS difficulties hardly ever happen also, aka troubles with your bundled data transmission wires. Your mechanic will use a scanning tool that connects to your car’s body control or security system. Every problem has its own error code it can display.
What if it isn’t a high-tech problem?
Sometimes the problem, according to DenLors, was caused by the owner of the car as they were trying to get their door open with a slim jim or coat hanger. The door-unlocking implement can catch the rod and disconnect its link within the power locks system. If this has happened inside your car, a mechanic (or adventurous owner) can remove the door panel and replace the plastic rod. I’d blame the automakers by putting in a plastic part.
Checklist if having power lock problems
DenLors suggests these things when figuring out your power lock problem:
- Are troubles caused by only one lock? The problem is probably in that door only
- If only one switch will make the problem, that switch should be looked at
- The actuator is going to be where you’ll discover the answer to your problem if the power locks will only either lock or unlock the car
- Check the bad door lock switch if power locks are working one direction
Discover more info
DenLors Tools Auto Blog
denlorstools.com/autoblog/2009/07/power-door-locks-not-working-diagnose-and-repair/
Wikipedia (definition of solenoid)
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Solenoid
Fixing the power door lock actuator on a Ford Explorer lift gate
youtube.com/watch?v=zobdWXnDeyY
