Advances in technology have made the automotive experience more pleasant and convenient. Who doesn’t appreciate power steering, for example? If you’ve driven without it, you know the main difference is tremendous, akin to the strenuous workout of steering a huge, old farm tractor. What is the significance of having power door locks? When they break, we can’t wait to have them fixed again. Courtesy of DenLors Tools Auto Blog, here is simple details you can use to help direct your mechanic toward the heart of the power locks problem your vehicle may be having.
Reasons power locks stop
According to DenLors, if the power locks on just one side aren’t working, probably the most common reason is a malfunctioning actuator (also known as a door lock solenoid). Thus, make that suggestion to your mechanic if that’s what you are experiencing with your automobile. Fixing an actuator will even fix an attached door latch. The problem could be as simple as a broken switch. As automotive computer systems themselves are generally reliable, they typically aren’t the culprit when issues with power locks occur. Bundled data transmission wires, also called the BUS sometimes, don’t have difficulties usually either. Your mechanic will use a scanning tool that connects to your car’s body control or security system. Error codes will display and be connected to a certain part of the computer.
High tech things work great?
DenLors also shows us that unlocking your car with slim jims or coat hangers hurts the rod connector sometimes. The system has links in the door that can be hurt with the object. The rod that is damaged could be replaced. Ah, plastic auto parts; blame the automakers and their price cuts.
Power locks list to check
DenLors suggests these things when figuring out your power lock problem:
- Are difficulties caused by only one lock? Only that door is going to have issues
- If only one switch will make the problem, that switch should be looked at
- The actuator is going to be where you’ll find 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 details
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
