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What is causing my doors to unlock?

jepherz

Staff member
Joined
Aug 8, 2004
Messages
7,877
Location
KC, Missouri
Please correct me if I'm wrong, but the ETACS system in our cars is what automatically unlocks the doors (right after you've locked them) if you have a door open and your key in the ignition. This portion of the system has always worked for me until recently. For some reason, I can shut my car off and remove my key from the ignition, open the driver's door, and lock the doors from the driver side. This tells me that the switch telling the ETACS system that the key is NOT in the ignition is there and working. However, if I shut my car off, open the driver's door and try to lock the PASSENGER side, just recently it has started not allowing this.

Any thoughts as to why this is happening?
 

blacksheep

Well-known member
Joined
May 1, 2002
Messages
15,485
Location
Urbandale, Iowa 50323
Cold weather or mechanical look issue /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/dunno.gif

One of my gvr4's did some kooky shiat with the locks, mang. I don't remember what the fix was, but it had to do with the rod for the lock arm or something behind the doors....
 

jepherz

Staff member
Joined
Aug 8, 2004
Messages
7,877
Location
KC, Missouri
Hmm, I may have to take a look at that... The only reason I know that it happens this way is because there is something restricting the passenger side lock actuator a bit; if I rely on the automatic locks to lock that door, it only pushes the lock down about half way and it's a gamble if it's actually locked.
 

blacksheep

Well-known member
Joined
May 1, 2002
Messages
15,485
Location
Urbandale, Iowa 50323
Yep, it would like lock half way or bounce back up halfway when it locked. I know that it had to do with door innards, Jeffy.
 

Rausch

Well-known member
Joined
Dec 21, 2004
Messages
12,049
Location
Cleveland, OH
Mine did that exact thing. The linkage was binding in the door. The actuator would not be able to force the lock tabby guy up all the way, and would reset- locked.

IIRC, it was the rod to the lock/latch in the door that was causing the issue, but YMMV.
 

moidsm1

Well-known member
Joined
Nov 30, 2009
Messages
116
Location
Tucson, AZ
My Galant GS does the same thing once in a while. It will unlock after I lock it. I just keep trying till it stays locked. I agree with it being a binding issue, if the actuator cant smoothly pull the locks down then they will return to the original position.
 

mitsuturbo

Well-known member
Joined
Jun 2, 2008
Messages
3,544
Location
Near Seattle, Washington
161/2000 had this problem after my ex gf spilled soda on part of the door, soaking the plastic lock tab... once it dried, it would stick the tab up or down, and would cause the locks to return to position. Make sure nothing is sticking in any one door. Watch the locks when you lock it.. see if any dont want to go down.
 
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