Finally, if you think about it, it would not be so superfluous to learn more about certain elements of the car. It would even be interesting to understand the mechanism of this famous lock. How does it work? What are its strengths and weaknesses? Go, it will only cost you a few minutes…and you won’t regret it!
What is your back door lock used for?
Lock button to prevent children from opening doors – Source: spm
You are aware that your car has a number of safety devices. So much the better, by the way! Among them, the possibility of locking the rear door is a very reassuring option for parents, in particular. When the protection is active, this door can only be opened from the outside. The must: regardless of the central unlocking, if you have not unlocked it, the famous door will remain closed from the inside. A real relief, especially when you know that children (especially the most restless ones) love to have fun with their wrists both on the road and when the car is stationary. There at least, knowing that the door can only be opened after disabling the security, you are reassured to avoid any danger.
Read also: How to remove a broken key from a car lock?
Well, now that you have discovered the very clever feature of this door, let’s go straight to practice. Commonly, the rear door lock incorporates a small switch that you can move with a finger. To make it easier for you, some manufacturers even opt for a slide switch or just a button. In older models, a key blade was required to activate this lock. Today, if it is a modern car, it is most likely to be activated electrically. In general, the locking lever is clearly identified via a pictogram with the image of a child. But it’s not systematic either. In which case, to have all the details, take a look at the instruction manual.
Closing mechanism: what is the disadvantage of this lock?
Children in the car – Source: spm
As mentioned, this lock is very useful and safe to prevent young children from opening the rear door both during transport and when the vehicle is stationary. Obviously, if you have a newborn, it won’t be of any use to you, so you don’t have to activate it for a while. But beyond its advantages, this lock unfortunately has a major drawback. In the event of an accident, in particular, when the locking system is activated, the passengers seated in the rear will not have the opportunity to open the door from the inside. They will then be forced to do acrobatics to try to reach the handle from the outside by slipping their hand through the window. Provided, of course, that the rear window lock itself has not been activated. Note that this control is located near the driver’s seat. If the latter is not in a state to react, it would be a hell of a hassle for the passengers in the back!
You were wondering how to unlock a completely blocked door? This is quite a laborious task, especially if you do not know some basic rules. But, we are going to try to provide you with some maneuvers to follow to get out of this unpleasant situation.
Read also: Why should you avoid leaving the keys on the door lock?
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Unlock the locking mechanism
Ah, for this operation, you will have to have the soul of a handyman!
- You should already start by removing the interior door panel using a screwdriver. Locate the screws holding it in place and carefully remove them.
- Next locate the door locking mechanism, it is normally located just below the lock.
- Look for a metal plate attached to a rod that goes up and down. Grasp this rod which is attached to the metal plate using pliers and move it up and down to unlock the lock.
- Push it up to lock the door and pull it down to unlock it. Repeat this maneuver several times until the locking mechanism is smooth. Quick Tip: If it’s hard to move the rod up and down, use WD-40 lubricant on the mechanism to loosen it.
- Finally, test the lock with your keys and screw the interior panel back onto the door.
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Lubricate the stuck lock
To unlock the lock, this method can make it easier for you. Use the tip of a flathead screwdriver to uncover the car door keyhole. Take the screwdriver to completely push the movable metal part inside. Spray WD-40 lubricant directly into the keyhole, taking care to get the spray can as close to the hole as possible. Then, tuck the key into the lock and shake it inside to try to loosen the latch. Repeat this process until the lock works properly.
Read also: How to make a key that opens all locks?