If a car door lock is stuck in the lock position, it is most likely due to a connection between one, several, or all, external and internal connections to the car door latch. This commonly occurs in cold weather if the latch is old and if there is any debris built up in the latch. From there, get the door open to work on the broken car door lock. After enough use, you might find that your door lock has begun to “stick,” making it difficult to put in, turn or pull out your key. Where you might be able to drive with a car door lock stuck in the lock position when it won’t open, it is not advisable to do so when the car door will not close. Obviously, you need a permanent solution as to not have to do this every time you try to close your door, but for the time being you can: Once the door is able to be shut, it would be advisable to not lock your door again until the issue has been resolved. If the door panel cannot be opened enough to reach and view the door lock assembly, search for possible partial disassembly. Child Lock Stuck on Car Door Child safety locks are put in cars in order to keep small children from opening car doors while you are driving. Misaligned Strike Plate. You may also want to check with a mechanic to ensure it isn’t a warning that the mechanism may need repair or replacement. Get free useful tips and resources delivered directly to your inbox. Many problems with car door latches happen in older vehicles and are the result of normal use. If the lock mechanism is not right, you won’t be able to turn your key correctly. A resource for consumers, locksmiths, and security professionals. My car door latch is stuck in the position as if the door is open. Once the door is open, the latch can be addressed. For replacement parts, you need access to the proper replacement parts. This issue is much easier to solve if the resulting car door lock stuck in the lock position causes the door to not be able to close. He also checked the fluid levels and tire pressure. If there was nothing you could do to get the car door lock open when the door was open, then it is unlikely that you will be able to get it open when the car door locks in the closed position. If this works, the issue may be with the external door handle. Though your mobility may be reduced because of this issue, you will have a simpler time fixing the problem. Electric door locks work via a door lock relay located near the brake pedal, behind the stereo, behind the passenger air bag, or under the hood. Try spraying some WSD-40 or oil on the latch mechanism . Finding your diagnosis for a car door lock stuck in the lock position is the first step to fixing the problem. If the inside door handle cable or rod was to fail, the door would no longer open from the inside door handle but should still open from the outside door handle. Our certified mobile mechanics make house calls in over 2,000 U.S. cities. Our service team is available 7 days a week, Monday - Friday from 6 AM to 5 PM PST, Saturday - Sunday 7 AM - 4 PM PST. 1. The most difficult part of the solution is getting the door open. All Rights Reserved. When the actuator fails (or starts to fail), you’ll likely notice one or more symptoms that make your daily commute less pleasant. Many of these can be fixed by simply disassembling and reassembling the door … In the worst case scenario, after an accident, there may be damage to your door latch that is causing the issue of a car door lock stuck in the lock position. If you don’t have a blow dryer around, though, we say try to open any other doors in the car first. The lock actuator on this car is integrated into the door latch itself, which was the first thing that had to be unbolted. It is important not to drive a vehicle with a latch that doesn’t work properly. Noted below are a few steps you should take, before making the call to a mechanic to inspect why the door won't open. The majority of latch problems are found in older vehicles. I called the company after fiddling with it. To take on issues with the lock assembly in the door, you need to open up the door panel and try to move the assembly. It is usually a good idea to contact a locksmith for help with issues of repairing a car door lock stuck in the lock position. When your door handle, door lock cylinder, or interior locking post/switch, is not properly connected to the car door latch, you will find that the car door lock is stuck in the lock position. Flick/push the latch toward your car in a semi-upward motion. Look to see what is holding it up. This problem is accentuated in areas with consistently low temperatures or high humidity. Ford has issued another recall for faulty door latches, which can fail to secure a door, leading to its possibly coming open while the vehicle is being driven. Most likely, you will need the assistance of a professional auto locksmith in order to get the door open without causing a greater level of harm. Over time, the components wears out and makes it difficult to open and close. This is a good safety precaution; however, if you accidentally get the child safety locks stuck, you will not be able to open the door from the inside or outside, which is a little bit of a problem. If the lock is still jammed, don’t try to force it open with your key. If a car door will not stay closed, must be slammed hard to close, or gets stuck and will not open, you may need to replace the door latch. Fast, free online quotes for your car repair. Lubricating the door latch may allow it to open and close if rust is the culprit. It begins by finding out what is wrong. The basic steps for getting your car door unlocked so that you can work on solving the issue are as follows: The final step is by far nothing simple by any stretch. You should notice a difference immediately if this takes care of the issue. Find the hole or gap that is meant to catch on the hasp of the car door. Though I have mentioned calling a locksmith several times already, I just wanted to hit home the importance of knowing that a car locksmith can help with any and all aspects of fixing a car door lock stuck in the lock position. Cleaning Car Door Lock Is Vital. In most cases, when a single door will not open, it’s due to a broken latch – which will require replacement. Cleaning the car door lock, before lubricating it, is critical. Freezing weather can jam the locks; again, the moisture can make it rusty and stuck. A stuck, binding or rusted door latch, or a door latch that was accidentally closed when the door was open, will keep a door from closing. While the lives of your toddler and beloved pet is at stake, it’s best you first find a way to get them out of the vehicle. YourMechanic’s technicians bring the dealership to you by performing this job at your home or office 7-days a week between 7AM-9PM. You also can have other foreign objects that have been wrongly placed in the keyway. While diagnosing the issue, you will have to check all internal and external connections, door lock cylinder, and the interior locking switch. When you know more about the issue, then you can find a temporary method of opening the door. If you are using glue, it is paramount to have the right binding agent for the materials that you are gluing together. If the manual lock cable or rod fails in the locked position, the door may not open from either door handle. I would recommend something like a dry lubricant for the long term as it is often the case that oil-based lubricants can attract dust and dirt, which will lead to this problem resurfacing. There are several reasons that your door latch may become stuck and prevent the door from opening. It may cause the latch to get stuck inside because it is slightly bent. Fixing a few stubborn locks might involve disassembling, cleaning, and then reassembling the lock. Something had clearly gone wrong with the latch itself. Stuck latch solution: For the stuck latch, shoot some oil, silicone spray or WD-40 into the latch mechanism on the door. Do You Need to Lubricate Door Locks and Hinges? It is not ideal, and often not possible, to work through the issue without having the car door open. Fortunately, there are a number of ways to fix a stuck lock without calling in the professionals and breaking your budget. Thanks! In order to work through the final step (step 6) refer to the section “How To Diagnose A Car Door Lock Stuck In Lock Position”. Never hesitate to call a locksmith for this type of help if you have any doubts about your knowledge or ability. Wait a few minutes and then remove any grunge or grime from the latch with a clean rag. When I insert the key in my driver side lock, the mechanism seems to get stuck and the lock pull won't go all the way up. If nothing works, then you need to gain access to the inside of your door. It is up to you to weigh the cost versus the reward of having a functional door lock. Repairs covered by 12-month/12,000-mile warranty. No No matter what make or model vehicle you drive, it has door handles. It may be beneficial to have a pair of expert eyes on this type of work to reduce the risk of further damage and the purchase of incorrect parts. The door works properly again. You should notice a difference immediately if this takes care of the issue. It is possible to find these parts online, but more than likely you will need to purchase more than just the part you need replacing. What happens is the door cables in Ford Trucks (F-150, F-250, F-350, Ranger) and Ford Vans (F-150, … This accident could be a fender bender, a crash, or a particularly aggressive slamming of the door. Fast answered all questions told me exactly what the cost was very polite and courteous!! You will be able to tell this because you will see and open place surrounded by the clasp. © I have to take the key out and bang on the handle/key entry point twice or three times and pull the handle up to reset the door pull. The statements expressed above are only for informational purposes and should be independently verified. In some cars, the door lock actuator is positioned below the latch. You have a door handle located on the inside of your car, as well as the outside. You can lock and unlock the glove box by using the master key, and the lock that is directly next... Get a fair & transparent quote instantly before booking. How Long Does an Exterior Door Handle Last. Let it soak in, then rub it into all the visible parts with a clean cloth. Slamming the door can bend the mechanism on the latch and make it more difficult to open and close. How to Keep Your Car Door Hinges from Squeaking. Search for a temporary way to open the door and move the latch. The first thing you want to do, because it is … Here are some of the solutions you can use to fix a car door lock stuck in lock position: For anything that cannot be moved or is not moving regularly, there is the solution presented by lubrication. These openings can be made by unscrewing self-contained panels on the overall door panel. In some cases, the doors are hard to open and sometimes it takes great force to get the latch to let go. Silicone spray is great for lubricating nylon, plastic and metal when only a thin layer of lubricant is necessary. You need to know what is going on with a car door lock stuck in the lock position because of how many causes there could potentially be. In order to fix an issue like this, you need to repair the broken connections. Begin trying to open your car door by all available means. First, clean the keyhole with a penetrating lubricant like WD-40. It will rise about 1/3rd the way up. It was great - he was clean, fast,discreet and honest. Proper lubrication and cleaning are needed to make sure that the fix maintains over time. car door will not open from the inside or outside, the cost of having a locksmith unlock your car. However, with a car door lock stuck in the lock position, even when you use your car key remote, the issue is greater than just the keyway. She was able to determine what model I had because there is no model number anywhere on the thing. The Issue – With the door latch stuck only when you are attempting to open a closed door, but not when the door is open, you might have a misaligned strike plate. Add a Lubricant to the Lock. I can push the latch to the closed position but it will not stay closed. LEARN MORE. If a car door lock is stuck in the lock position, it is most likely due to a connection between one, several, or all, external and internal connections to the car door latch. Lubricating the door latch may allow it to open and close if rust is the culprit. Advertisement. If you cannot fully insert your car key into the keyhole, then this is a good indication of blockage. Continue to lubricate and move the assembly. *If a “credit card” type of plastic card is too thick to slide in, you could try cutting out a rectangle shape piece out of a plastic bottle (e.g. Problem-If a vehicle entryway lock is stuck in the lock position, it is probably because of a connection between one, a few, or all, external and internal connections with the car door latch. Theodore repaired the inner right side rear door. Connection issues: A common reason for car locks to get jammed is a damaged connection to the car door latch. Things might seem complicated, but if you read on, we will guide you through it. A broken or damaged door latch typically needs to be replaced by a professional mechanic. Latches can become noisy when you open or close the door. While we don’t often think of this as a... Hi there. Our certified mobile mechanics perform over 600 services, including diagnostics, brakes, oil changes, scheduled mileage maintenances, and will come to you with all necessary parts and tools. If all of the doors remain locked, the issue may be with the remote lock or a damaged lock itself. For example, plastic and metal will need different glue, and different glue will be needed to bind plastic to metal. Locking door is quite simple, but not the mechanism of it. A door lock that is stuck in the lock position only becomes more complicated when the door won’t open. The concept of a door lock actuator works great—until it doesn’t. Many people put up with the aggravation of a sticking door lock for years. Car door locks can freeze up overnight which means that sometimes you are refused entry from your own cars. With access to door lock assembly, attempt to manipulate both the assembly and the interior door lock. It may cause the latch to get stuck inside because it is slightly bent. If this step doesn’t fix the problem, the door latch mechanism may need to be replaced. Perhaps the damaged part can be fixed, but structural damage almost always calls for some form of replacement. Wiggle the key back and forth to loosen up the tumblers inside the lock, then try turning the key to unlock it. Once you determine only one door has a problem opening, you can try opening the door from the inside. If you can’t open one door, try another door to see if it opens. Buick Regal - Door will not open - Dallas, Texas, Chuck was right on time and solved the problem. You must also have replacement parts or other means of putting broken pieces back together. He did the job right in my parking garage also we thought we had broken the door handle but it turned out someone just turned the child lock on. In other cases of a car door lock stuck in the lock position, the door will be closed already. If you would like to contact a car locksmith or specialized automotive professional, they can help with the purchasing and installation of any and all replacement parts. Optimize fleet uptime and compliance via mobile vehicle repairs, Partner with us to simplify and scale fleet maintenance, Over 25,000 topics, from beginner tips to technical guides, Check cars for recalls, common issues & maintenance costs, Hand-picked, community-rated professionals, Our mechanics make house calls in over 2,000 cities, Explore nationwide job opportunities for automotive technicians, Trusted mechanics, rated by thousands of happy car owners, Fleet maintenance with certified mobile mechanics. This includes using your car key remote, manual manipulation of the interior post/switch locks, and using the key in the door lock. A rod connects the actuator to the latch, and another rod connects the latch to the knob that sticks up out of the top of the door. 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