What are the reasons for a car door not opening?

[SanGabriela]

There are several reasons why a car door may not open: 1. The remote key is out of battery: If the door won't open when using the remote key, it's likely that the remote key's battery is dead, the car battery is dead, or there is strong signal interference nearby. Generally, remote keys have a hidden mechanical key inside. 2. After obtaining the mechanical key, if you can't find the keyhole on the door, it's because the keyhole is hidden. Manufacturers often hide the keyhole for aesthetic reasons. 3. In this case, you need to look carefully. Usually, there is a decorative piece at the end of the door handle that is about the same size as the key. You can pry it open to access the keyhole.

[VonHarper]

A few days ago, I encountered the embarrassing situation where the car door simply wouldn’t open. The most common cause is a dead remote key fob battery—replacing it usually solves the issue. If the key isn’t the problem, the door lock mechanism might be jammed, especially in older cars where dust buildup can cause malfunctions. Winter brings its own headaches, as ice forming in the door seams can freeze the door shut, requiring de-icer to slowly thaw it. Another possibility is the accidental activation of the child lock—my sister’s kid once randomly pressed it and locked the rear door. If even the mechanical key won’t work, it’s likely a lock cylinder issue or a vehicle power failure. In such cases, avoid forcing it open; try the spare key first. If that fails, call for roadside assistance. My neighbor once yanked the handle too hard and ended up with an 800-yuan repair bill.

[HaydenDella]

As someone who drives in the northern regions all year round, nine times out of ten when the car door won't open, it's frozen. Once at minus twenty degrees, the door seal and lock mechanism were completely iced up, and it took ten minutes of slowly heating them with a hair dryer to get it open. Of course, there are other reasons too: the key battery running out, the door handle linkage coming loose, accidental activation of the child lock, or the vehicle being out of power. I recommend spraying some antifreeze lubricant in the door gaps before heading out in winter and keeping an emergency power supply handy. If you suddenly can't open the door in the garage, first check the lock cylinder with a flashlight for any foreign objects, then inspect the fuse box. If all else fails, don't struggle too much—calling a professional is the safest bet.

[LeBryce]

My old car often has this issue, and I've summarized a few reasons: first, the lock block spring is broken, and the switch doesn't respond; second, the door handle cable has come off, making it hard to operate; third, it's frozen, which often happens in winter; fourth, there's an issue with the remote. Once, when I was dropping my child off at school, I found the rear door wouldn't open—after checking for a while, it turned out the child lock was accidentally engaged. The simplest solution is to use the mechanical key to open the driver's door and then unlock the other doors from the central control. I recommend spraying some WD-40 into the lock cylinder every month for lubrication, which can prevent most malfunctions.