How Can a Car Door Still Be Opened When Locked?
3 Answers
Here are the methods to open a locked car door: 1. Use the remote key to unlock the door by pressing the unlock button. If there is no response, the battery in the remote key might be dead, and replacing the battery should solve the issue. 2. Use the mechanical lock. There is usually a decorative piece at the end of the door handle that is similar in size to a key. Pry it open to access the mechanical lock. 3. Contact a professional locksmith to unlock the door. 4. If the rear door cannot be opened, check whether the child lock is engaged. When the child lock is activated, the door can only be opened from the outside handle. If the vehicle loses power while the child lock is engaged, the door cannot be opened from either the inside or the outside.
I've pondered over this situation before, and it's mainly an issue with the door lock mechanism. It could be that the retaining spring inside the lock assembly has broken, the plastic components have aged and can't hold the latch properly, or the locking motor has burned out causing failure to lock. Especially after rainy days or car washes, water seeping into the door can corrode the lock cylinder, preventing the locking pin from springing back into position properly. Once my door was closed and supposedly locked, but could still be opened - turned out the striker was deformed and wasn't fully engaging with the latch when closing. Don't delay fixing such issues, get to a repair shop immediately to have the door panel removed for inspection, as having a door suddenly open while driving is extremely dangerous.
Having repaired cars for over a decade, I often encounter this weird issue where the door lock doesn't truly engage. Either the latch is loose and shifted, preventing the striker from fully catching when closing the door, or the door hinges have sagged causing misalignment. With electronic locks, it's more complicated - signal interference to the central locking or poor contact in the locking relay can make the lock indicator light up while the door remains unlocked. Remember to test with the spare mechanical key. If the problem persists, inspect the entire lock assembly. As a side note, many older vehicles experience false unlocking due to wiring degradation - in such cases, a full vehicle electrical system inspection is highly recommended.
