Driver door lock won't lock unless manually pressed

ThreeSeven · 11-27-2015, 12:34 PM

The other day I went to get in my car and I opened the drivers side door but the alarm went off. Figured out that sometime very recently something happened to the drivers side door lock such that locking via the key fob or the arm rest button won't lock the door. I've looked up how to remove the panel because I was planning on trying to fix it myself but I wanted to see if anyone else has had a similar problem.

SouthArk370Z · 11-27-2015, 02:12 PM

I'd check for a blown fuse or a wiring/connector problem. Possibly the connector near the door hinge. Could be a bad solenoid. FSM (link in my sig) has wiring diagrams, fuse locations, &c. A cheap VOM will come in very handy.

Edit: It might be worth a shot to disconnect the battery, step on the brake pedal for a few seconds, then reconnect the battery. This will reset the computers that control the car. You will need to do a window reset and reprogram the radio presets afterwards. And the car may run rough for a while until the ECM relearns the engine. I don't have high hopes that it will fix your problem, but it's a lot easier than pulling door panels and wringing out wiring.

Chuy · 11-27-2015, 02:50 PM

I know their are some options with the fob, setting up how the door locks and sounds and lights

POS VETT · 11-27-2015, 02:57 PM

Check your door pin switch. Test for continuity. If there's no continuity, clean and lubricate contacts or replace switch. Start with this first, check connector and wiring next.

ThreeSeven · 11-27-2015, 03:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SouthArk370Z

I'd check for a blown fuse or a wiring/connector problem. Possibly the connector near the door hinge. Could be a bad solenoid. FSM (link in my sig) has wiring diagrams, fuse locations, &c. A cheap VOM will come in very handy.

Edit: It might be worth a shot to disconnect the battery, step on the brake pedal for a few seconds, then reconnect the battery. This will reset the computers that control the car. You will need to do a window reset and reprogram the radio presets afterwards. And the car may run rough for a while until the ECM relearns the engine. I don't have high hopes that it will fix your problem, but it's a lot easier than pulling door panels and wringing out wiring.

I'll do that, don't want to take the panel off only to find out it wasn't something not behind it. I actually just replaced the battery, I'm fairly sure it was the original battery ('09, bought used in '13 with 30k, 42k miles now).

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chuy

I know their are some options with the fob, setting up how the door locks and sounds and lights

The only one I know of is that you can make the lock silent or make noise by holding the lock and unlock button. Since the button on the arm rest won't lock or unlock the car I don't think it's something that would have been done on the fob.

Quote:

Originally Posted by POS VETT

Check your door pin switch. Test for continuity. If there's no continuity, clean and lubricate contacts or replace switch. Start with this first, check connector and wiring next.

I'll do that too, wouldn't want to remove the door panel and have it be something not behind it.

ThreeSeven · 11-27-2015, 04:23 PM

Disconnecting the battery and pressing the brake didn't help. Which fuse would I be looking for? It seems odd that the passenger side will still lock/unlock and the drivers won't if the issue were a fuse. Door pin switch (if I was looking at the right part) seems to be working, with the door open if I press it the window goes back up.

Where should I look as far as connectors/wiring? I'm not a huge car guy but I am a pretty good DIY kind of person. I'm getting the feeling that the problem is behind the panel, and since I'm hoping to upgrade the stereo next year I'm actually not too worried about taking the door panel off.

POS VETT · 11-27-2015, 05:42 PM

Well, that rules out the door switch and the connector/wiring. Now, it could be the door lock actuator itself.

ThreeSeven · 11-27-2015, 07:41 PM

Thought I had included that the passenger side was still working in my original post but I didn't. I'll have to try and take a look behind the panel in a few days when I have the time.

SouthArk370Z · 11-28-2015, 07:01 AM

Some plastic/nylon pry tools will help remove panel while minimizing scratching. You can find them at most auto parts stores for a few bucks.

ThreeSeven · 11-29-2015, 02:26 PM

Door randomly decided it was going to start (kind of) working this morning. For the most part the arm rest switch was able to lock and unlock, didn't test with the keyfob.

11-27-2015, 12:34 PM	#1 (permalink)
ThreeSeven Base Member Join Date: Apr 2015 Location: United States Posts: 30 Drives: 09 Nissan 370Z Rep Power: 10	Driver door lock won't lock unless manually pressed The other day I went to get in my car and I opened the drivers side door but the alarm went off. Figured out that sometime very recently something happened to the drivers side door lock such that locking via the key fob or the arm rest button won't lock the door. I've looked up how to remove the panel because I was planning on trying to fix it myself but I wanted to see if anyone else has had a similar problem.

11-27-2015, 02:12 PM	#2 (permalink)
SouthArk370Z Premium Member Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: South Arkansas Posts: 8,435 Drives: 2014 Challenger Rep Power: 324198	I'd check for a blown fuse or a wiring/connector problem. Possibly the connector near the door hinge. Could be a bad solenoid. FSM (link in my sig) has wiring diagrams, fuse locations, &c. A cheap VOM will come in very handy. Edit: It might be worth a shot to disconnect the battery, step on the brake pedal for a few seconds, then reconnect the battery. This will reset the computers that control the car. You will need to do a window reset and reprogram the radio presets afterwards. And the car may run rough for a while until the ECM relearns the engine. I don't have high hopes that it will fix your problem, but it's a lot easier than pulling door panels and wringing out wiring. __________________ Steering Lock Links - Search The370Z Bookmarklet - FSM @ NICOclub Mankind has progressed past the need for war but we haven't evolved that far. - NachoMahma Last edited by SouthArk370Z; 11-27-2015 at 02:16 PM.

11-27-2015, 02:50 PM	#3 (permalink)
Chuy Enthusiast Member Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Colorado Springs Posts: 474 Drives: 2015 NISMO Rep Power: 15	I know their are some options with the fob, setting up how the door locks and sounds and lights __________________ Miko 2015 Nismo Tech: nothing RIP Ginger 2009 370Z Sport Touring

11-28-2015, 07:01 AM	#9 (permalink)
SouthArk370Z Premium Member Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: South Arkansas Posts: 8,435 Drives: 2014 Challenger Rep Power: 324198	Some plastic/nylon pry tools will help remove panel while minimizing scratching. You can find them at most auto parts stores for a few bucks. __________________ Steering Lock Links - Search The370Z Bookmarklet - FSM @ NICOclub Mankind has progressed past the need for war but we haven't evolved that far. - NachoMahma

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11-27-2015, 02:57 PM	#4 (permalink)
POS VETT Track Member Join Date: Apr 2015 Location: Columbus OH Posts: 612 Drives: Z34\|C4LT4\|C6Z06\|V25 Rep Power: 3366	Check your door pin switch. Test for continuity. If there's no continuity, clean and lubricate contacts or replace switch. Start with this first, check connector and wiring next.

11-27-2015, 04:23 PM	#6 (permalink)
ThreeSeven Base Member Join Date: Apr 2015 Location: United States Posts: 30 Drives: 09 Nissan 370Z Rep Power: 10	Disconnecting the battery and pressing the brake didn't help. Which fuse would I be looking for? It seems odd that the passenger side will still lock/unlock and the drivers won't if the issue were a fuse. Door pin switch (if I was looking at the right part) seems to be working, with the door open if I press it the window goes back up. Where should I look as far as connectors/wiring? I'm not a huge car guy but I am a pretty good DIY kind of person. I'm getting the feeling that the problem is behind the panel, and since I'm hoping to upgrade the stereo next year I'm actually not too worried about taking the door panel off.

11-27-2015, 05:42 PM	#7 (permalink)
POS VETT Track Member Join Date: Apr 2015 Location: Columbus OH Posts: 612 Drives: Z34\|C4LT4\|C6Z06\|V25 Rep Power: 3366	Well, that rules out the door switch and the connector/wiring. Now, it could be the door lock actuator itself.

11-27-2015, 07:41 PM	#8 (permalink)
ThreeSeven Base Member Join Date: Apr 2015 Location: United States Posts: 30 Drives: 09 Nissan 370Z Rep Power: 10	Thought I had included that the passenger side was still working in my original post but I didn't. I'll have to try and take a look behind the panel in a few days when I have the time.

11-29-2015, 02:26 PM	#10 (permalink)
ThreeSeven Base Member Join Date: Apr 2015 Location: United States Posts: 30 Drives: 09 Nissan 370Z Rep Power: 10	Door randomly decided it was going to start (kind of) working this morning. For the most part the arm rest switch was able to lock and unlock, didn't test with the keyfob.