Door Unlocking Issue
 

Hi All

Ok, here's my problem:

- Driver side door won't unlock, not by remote, key or from inside (flicking the flock).

My drivers side door is locked...permanently. When I click the button on my remote's alarm, the alarm disarms and I hear/see the doors lock move. However when I go to open the door, it won't budge!

I door unlocks (although the lock only goes 2/3 of the way) technically, but obviously not enough to release the door.

This wouldn't be a major if I could unlock it with the key, but not even that works! It refuses to unlock by any means. I have to go to the passenger side door, unlock with the key and scurry across to the drivers seat. Even when i try to force the lock the other 1/3 of the way, it refuses to unlock.

i would rip the panel off and try to go from there, but if I can't open the door I can't even do that.

To me it feels more mecahnical that electrical being that the door wants to unlock and does so with the remote, but isn't getting 100% there.

Suggestions and help welcome.

Cheers

**96 Civic VTI-S, Central Locking, Alarm with unlock/lock remote.**

Roll the window down and try to unlock the lock mechanism on the latch with a wire cloth hanger wire.

Attachment 20249

Hi RonJ,

Thanks, I'll give that a try. I didn't mention that is is an ongoing problem, it has been fixing itself when I use the car the next day, but it's been 3 days and I'm still using the passenger for entry.

So, do you have any suggestions on what's causing the sporadic nature of the lock out?

I think there's a problem where the inner handle rod attaches to the latch's lock mechanism. Once you get the door unlocked, pull off the door panel immediately so that you can fix the problem.

Cheers mate, I'll have a look when I get the panel off. Will let you know how I get on.

Alrighty, ripped the drivers side panel off, heres what I found:

Come hell or high water, when the door refuses to unlock - nothing I can do will move it. I tried pulling/pushing the rods and it locks just fine, goes 90% of the way there to unlock, but does not click that final bit.

I can't tell if it's electrical or mechanical, because the issue is so sporadic. Sometimes it will unlock (both doors) with the alarm, sometimes i can use my key to unlock just the drivers side door and sometimes nothing will budge the drivers door and I have to use the passenger side (use key to manually unlock it).

Anyone have any further suggestions? Could this simple be a door actuator problem or is this more to do with the lock itself?

To test, can you swap a known good actuator from a good door into the driver's door?

Not without buying a new/used actuator.

Is there anything else that you can think I could try before going down that road?

To me it feels like somethings dislodged or worn out as it takes considerable force to get turn the key and occationally when it does unlock the door it's only at the very end of the turn that it makes the 'click'

By the way, thanks so much for the help so far Ron

When you put all the information together, it really sounds like a bad latch. If I were you, I'd replace the latch.

Hopefully you will see this. Was this problem ever solved? If so, what was your solution?

I just got a 2000 civic last week. It has started doing the exact same thing you describe. Nothing will unlock the driver side door at times.. It is random. If i leave it alone for a few hours it will unlock.

I would love to know what you did to fix this as it would save me a great deal of troubleshooting time.