Modern automobiles feature sophisticated designs and precise manufacturing that ensure smooth operation of all components, including the doors. Unfortunately, these advances can cause headaches as well, especially when they cause your doors to either operate unpredictably or stop working altogether.
Fortunately, the right combination of troubleshooting and professional service can relieve you of these annoying problems. In the meantime, a basic understanding of your car door issue can help curb your frustration and worry. Here are three common problems and their potential causes.
1. Power Door Locks That Refuse to Obey
Power door locks supposedly do away with the need to physically push a lever or turn a key to lock or unlock your vehicle. However, malfunctions can and do occur in these systems, forcing you to go back to manual methods until you get the problem fixed.
Among potential causes, the easiest to fix involves a remote key fob that has lost its battery charge or otherwise malfunctioned. Replacing the power supply or having a new key fob programmed for your vehicle restores this powered lock control option.
Even the most advanced power door lock relies on mechanical components, most notably an actuator. This assembly employs gears, cables, and a motor, any of which can fail. The electrical connection that relays the lock/unlock instructions to the actuator may also develop problems.
You should suspect a bad actuator when only one of your door locks refuses to operate. (Driver’s-side door lock actuators tend to fail more often than others, if only because they receive more wear and tear.) Your automotive service technician can open up the door panel and replace the defective parts.
If more than one power door lock malfunctions, then the cause probably lurks somewhere in the electrical system. The replacement of a blown fuse or failed switch may restore normal function to the affected door locks. Alternatively, you may have an electrical failure in the wiring harness running from the door frame to the door.
2. Doors That Don’t Open
Even if your power door locks function normally, you may still find that you cannot open one of your car doors no matter how forcefully you pull on the handle or push against the door from the inside. This problem often occurs when the door’s child safety lock lever shifts into its locked position, making entry or exit impossible.
Dirt, lack of lubrication, or natural wear and tear can freeze a child safety lock mechanism into the wrong position. Your auto repair technician may resolve the problem by applying a lubricant to the lever and pushing the lever up and down multiple times. If this remedy doesn’t work, the entire lock assembly may need replacing.
3. Doors That (Apparently) Never Close
If you fail to close a door completely, your dashboard will usually flash a signal to alert you to this problem. However, you may not know what to do when you pull over and find your doors securely shut. This problem typically involves the door sensors sending faulty data to the car’s computer.
Auto technicians can sometimes solve this problem by cleaning or lubricating all the door latch mechanisms. A persistent door-ajar light may indicate damage to the door sensors, a common problem in vehicles that have sustained collision damage. The computer itself could even have a glitch that generates false alarms.
You can drive your car despite these bogus warning signals, but you shouldn’t ignore the problem indefinitely. A car computer that thinks you have an open door may refuse to lock your doors. It may also keep your cabin lights burning until your battery runs out of power.
Powers Transmissions can put you back in the driver’s seat by restoring full control over your car doors. Contact us today at any of our three locations.