How to Fix Your Car Door Latches

People may encounter the problem that they can not open their car door locks. Sometimes, the car door latches are broken and it causes the car door lock closed. So, you need know how to fix your car door latches at first and then open the lock quickly. We are going to list several useful steps for you to fix your car door latches in the article. People can use car lockout kit to open normal car door locks easily at home and fix the problem quickly.

 

Basic Steps for You to Fix Car Door Latches

Troubleshooting

The first step in troubleshooting is seeing if there are any circumstances where the car door lock works properly. Try the physical key, press the remote unlock, use the interior locks, and check when the lock opens and when it does not.

 

Before you find out how to fix a car door latch, you need to know if your car door latch is the issue. If your problem is just with your physical, manual manipulation of the lock should work. If the remote is the problem, the lights on the car should not flash when you click the button.

 

Most commonly, there is an issue with the key fob not working. Quick ways to test this are by using another remote or changing out the remote’s battery. But stop before you replace car remotes, as this is a bit too costly without knowing if it will solve the issue.

 

A car door lock fix that might work during troubleshooting is applying some lubricant to the problem area. However, if you have a car door latch stuck closed, you may not be able to reach all the relevant areas of the lock assembly.

 

Disassembly

From the troubleshooting stage, you will have already solved or narrowed down your possible issue. But if lubrication or car key replacement was not the car door lock fix you needed, you are going to need more information, and that is going to come from accessing the lock assembly.

 

Access requires disassembly of the door to evaluate the various parts of the door lock. Disassembly begins by unlocking the door. This may require you to find a car unlock service near you if you have a car door latch stuck closed.

 

With the door open, it is time to remove the door panels and covers. This is likely going to be the most time-consuming aspect of how to fix a car door latch. If you are doing this work yourself, you will need a manual or video for your car.

 

Documentation on the disassembly process will give you your order of operations. It will also help to locate hidden screws, find the snaps on panels, and know if any special tools will be needed. While you are disassembling the car door, be very careful with the wires you encounter. These wires can trigger airbags, lights, alarms, etc., as well as affect remote unlocking.

 

Diagnosis

Now that the car door is taken apart, you can assess how to fix the car door latch. If you already invested in hiring the best lockout service near you, they may have already given you an idea of what to look for. Often when a professional locksmith is opening a car door, they will get a good idea of what is broken.

 

Diagnosis can be relatively straightforward. Try to use whatever open procedure is not working, and with the lock assembly fully exposed, locate any breaks or blockage. If the assembly is working fine, your car door lock fix may be to replace the car door lock cylinder.

 

However, even if you suspect the car door lock cylinder, you should still check the connection between the cylinder and the actuator. Door lock actuator repair means a lot of things, but in this case, we are talking about looking at how the rotation of the lock cylinder interacts with the lock assembly.

 

I would highly recommend that a trained auto locksmith give the diagnosis so that you can get access to replacement parts faster. Also, the removal of door lock assemblies and door lock cylinders can be tricky at times.

 

Repair

Repair is what most people are thinking about when they are looking for how to fix a car door latch. But this is the last step in how to fix a car door latch because it is truly the most variable. If you are skipping to this step, I would recommend going back to the troubleshooting section for information on potential quick car door lock fixes.

 

In most cases, if you have gotten to this point, car door lock repair is going to involve full or partial replacement of the lock assembly. Depending on how replacement parts are sold for your vehicle, you may not be able to just purchase the component you need.

 

Even in cases where you only need car door latch repair, the latch may not be available by itself. This is another reason a locksmith or mechanic can be useful, as they might have spare parts from previously removed door lock assemblies.

 

If how to fix your car door latch ended in lock cylinder replacement, you may also want to look into rekeying your car lock so each lock functions with the same key. Any repair that decreases convenience and ease of use is not ideal.