What are the reasons for a car door not opening?
3 Answers
There are several main reasons why a car door may not open: 1. Child lock is engaged: Most rear doors of vehicles have a child lock, marked with a child symbol near the edge of the door. If it is accidentally engaged and the door is closed, the door will not open. 2. Door lock cable malfunction: If the cable malfunctions, it directly affects the lock mechanism, preventing the door from opening. 3. Door hinge or lock post deformation: When the door is subjected to external force, it may cause deformation of the door hinge or lock post, which is another reason why the door may not open.
I've been driving for almost twenty years and have encountered the issue of car doors not opening several times. The most common cause is a dead or weak remote key battery—you keep pressing the unlock button, but the car doesn't respond. Jammed door lock mechanisms are also annoying, especially in older cars where rainwater causes rust or sand particles get stuck in the lock cylinder, making the key impossible to turn. Once during heavy snowfall, the door was frozen shut like it was welded, and it took half an hour to thaw it open with a hairdryer. Electronic failures are more common in newer cars—blown fuses or faulty door lock motors leave the door handle completely unresponsive. Another scenario is when a child accidentally activates the child lock, making it impossible to open from the outside. There's also the case of door deformation and lock jamming after a collision, which requires calling a tow truck to handle.
I'm someone who loves to delve into mechanical principles, and there's a lot to know about car doors not opening. On the mechanical side, if the door lock linkage is broken or detached, pulling the handle won't do any good; if the lock cylinder's retaining spring is rusted stuck or the spring is broken, the key will get stuck when inserted; misaligned hinges can cause the latch to be out of position. Electronically, signal interference can cause keyless entry to fail; short circuits can blow fuses; if the control module malfunctions, the entire central locking system can be paralyzed. Special attention is needed in winter when things freeze—don't force the door if the weatherstripping is frozen; use de-icer or warm water to thaw it slowly. It's recommended to spray some lubricating anti-rust agent on the door lock mechanism every six months to prevent many issues.
