This morning after I got out of my car, I tried to turn the key to lock my door, and it would not turn. So i got in the car, shut the door, and tried to pull up and push down on the lock.

the other doors still lock and unlock when you pull up and push down on the driver's lock pin, but the pin will not push down (locking the driver's door)

Even when the car door is shut, you can't push it down to lock it.

And the key will not turn to lock the door either.

Is there a switch that tells the car the door is open (to prevent you from locking your keys inside)

Or some other possible part of the lock mechanism that may have broken???


Any suggestions would greatly be appreciated. I feel weird having my car out in the parking lot, unlocked.

Thanks,

Luke
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Luke Healey

This is just a thought, I don't know if it has anything to do with it, but:
Is your ignition slightly out of off? I mean enough where the bell doesn't ring, but the locking system still thinks the keys are in the car.

I know I'm weird...but hey?
Chuck

Hi.

No you can't manually lock it. It's to make shure you dont lock your keys in the car. If I understand your post, the key doesnt turn at all? Frozen or simply needs lubrication. WD40 should do the job.

The problem is that it seems like the problem just popped up outta the blue.

ie: the motion was not in need of lubrication before this morning.


It's like the door thinks it's open, even when it is closed (meaning the lock-your-keys-in prevention mechanism is messed up)

But how does this work? is it an electrical switch?

A manual lever/tab?

if i turn REALLY hard with my key, all the other doors lock, but the driver's one does not.

so the electrial portion of the system for locking and unlocking the other doors is working.

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Luke Healey

I can tell you that the lockout safety is mechanical and not electrical, but I don't know how it messes up - haven't had that to fix yet.

If it happened to me, I'd first take a close look at the outside latch mechanism in hopes I could see something that flipped past its intended travel or stuck when the latch engaged the b-pillar pin. Failing that, I'd be pulling the door panel, I guess. But its not electrical - unless you've put in keyless entry, there's no lock motor in the driver's door.
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Art Benstein near Baltimore

This was what I was afraid of :)

as soon as it happened.. I will try to weed out the cause over lunch break, but won't have time to disassemble the door panel. I guess all valuables will be removed over lunchtime too :(

the key turns to unlock the doors, but just feels like it's hitting a brick wall when trying to lock.

what's weird is that usually when I encounter these problems on the volvo, it is because of something I did, such as abused the car, tried to lock it wrong or something..

but this just popped up.

I might squirt some silicone spray in there too to see if it makes it work.

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Luke Healey

I'd tell you to just put all your good stuff in the trunk, but there's no crime in Ames. The down side is it will be dark and cold when you get time to work on it, right?
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Art Benstein near Baltimore

Mysteriously, the door lock worked fine at noon when I was on lunch break.

The ONLY explaination is that something inside froze. BUT, my car was not wet and the lock felt solid (as in I'd bend my key if I had used more force.)

Oh well, I guess I'll just thank the Volvo gods for smiling upon me.

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Luke Healey

Yes :)

Ames is pretty much crime free.. IN fact, my doors are seldomly locked when parked at my apartment. I'm not TOO worried, but again, I like to lock the doors when I'm parked on campus.


And yes, it will be dark and cold when I do get to work on it. Currently in the middle of Iowa's trademark winter.

(it finally set in at the beginning of January)

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Luke Healey