Why do some car doors not unlock automatically?

[NutBucket]

Originally posted by: fyleowWell if you think about it it's a security feature. If your lock "knob" pokes out a little like in Honda's etc it is easier to get a wire in there to unlock the door. If it goes all the way down then you can't.

That's how I see it anyway, I don't know if it really improves security but I like the look with disappearing knobs better anyway.

Well, mine are flush to the door panel, but yeah, you can take a stiff piece of bent wire and pop it up. How about cars that have the barrel that rotates near the door handle? You can't move that with a piece of wire yet you can activate it with your hand quite easily.

 

[cavemanmoron]

Originally posted by: deftron
Probably so kids don't fall out.

:beer:

 

[fyleow]

Originally posted by: NutBucket

Originally posted by: fyleowWell if you think about it it's a security feature. If your lock "knob" pokes out a little like in Honda's etc it is easier to get a wire in there to unlock the door. If it goes all the way down then you can't.

That's how I see it anyway, I don't know if it really improves security but I like the look with disappearing knobs better anyway.

Well, mine are flush to the door panel, but yeah, you can take a stiff piece of bent wire and pop it up. How about cars that have the barrel that rotates near the door handle? You can't move that with a piece of wire yet you can activate it with your hand quite easily.

That's true, like in the new Corollas it is like that and it's a good idea. I think cars that unlock with the first pull and open with the second pull of the handle still operates mechanically though, so even if there is no power in the case of an accident it would still be possible to escape.

Ultra luxury cars with electronic only locks have a bunch of safety features that would prevent locking yourself in. IIRC the Phaeton has a spare battery in the back, battery cuts out in the case of an accident so that fuel will not explode, doors are unlocked automatically, fuel supply is shut off, and onstar is automatically notified so medical attention can be there very quickly.

 

[Thegonagle]

Originally posted by: fyleow

Originally posted by: NutBucket

Originally posted by: ScottyB
It's like the retarted safty widows in the rear seats. I want fvcking rear windows that roll all the way down!

I think that's also a function of design. On alot of cars the shape of the door dictates how far down the window goes. Goes down all the way on mine tho

And about cars where you can't manually lock/unlock. That's complete crap. Thank god my car isn't like that. Electric is nice but if something fails its nice to be able to unlock it manually. Luckily only American cars seem to be like that, at least that I know of.

Well if you think about it it's a security feature. If your lock "knob" pokes out a little like in Honda's etc it is easier to get a wire in there to unlock the door. If it goes all the way down then you can't.

That's how I see it anyway, I don't know if it really improves security but I like the look with disappearing knobs better anyway.

It doesn't improve security at all. I've had three car break-ins over time, and three broken windows. I'm telling ya, when it's locks vs. rocks, the rocks win. Why bother with a lock when it's easier and faster to break the window?

 

[iamwiz82]

Originally posted by: Windogg

Originally posted by: deftron
Probably so kids don't fall out.

That is why cars have the child safety locks that keep the inside door handle from opening the door even unlocked. I like the features in BMWs where ther first full unlocks the door and the second pull opens it. Pretty much gotten used to that. Another feature, don't know if it is standard in other vehicles, kick in after an accident. The doors automatically unlock, hazard lights gets turned on, and should the impact be severe enough, a shaped charge severs the battery cable. This prevents shorts from setting spilled gasoline on fire.

I hate that feature and had them reprogram it so that turning off the car unlocks the doors. 2 pulls drove me nuts

 

[NutBucket]

Originally posted by: ThegonagleIt doesn't improve security at all. I've had three car break-ins over time, and three broken windows. I'm telling ya, when it's locks vs. rocks, the rocks win. Why bother with a lock when it's easier and faster to break the window?

This is true, but also realize that if you're in a residential neighborhood you're likely to wake people by breaking glass. My dad's truck was broken into and someone attempted to break into my car. On my dad's truck they pried the exterior door handle and were able to move the lock rods and on my car they tried a screwdriver in the lock cylinder.

 

[eakers]

Originally posted by: Chiropteran
That last comment reminded me of an old Civic I drove, where you could NOT lock the door with the door open. So the only way to lock was to shut the door and lock it from the outside with the key. Now that would drive me nuts.

if you hold the handle up when you close the door it will stay locked.
my stanza did that.
i miss her.

 

[NutBucket]

Originally posted by: eakers

Originally posted by: Chiropteran
That last comment reminded me of an old Civic I drove, where you could NOT lock the door with the door open. So the only way to lock was to shut the door and lock it from the outside with the key. Now that would drive me nuts.

if you hold the handle up when you close the door it will stay locked.
my stanza did that.
i miss her.

Honda's don't do that You simply cannont push the button down.

 

[Ornery]

Some car's rear windows won't roll all the way down. Now that's a pisser, too!

 

[Chiropteran]

Originally posted by: XZeroII
It's a safety thing. Otherwise kids could just open them right up while driving 75mph on the highway. My car is fine the way it is. The doors automatically unlock when the key is turned off.

But what if your kid unlocks the door and opens the door while driving 75mph on the highway?

 

[Chiropteran]

Originally posted by: Thegonagle

Originally posted by: Chiropteran
That last comment reminded me of an old Civic I drove, where you could NOT lock the door with the door open. So the only way to lock was to shut the door and lock it from the outside with the key. Now that would drive me nuts.

You never read the manual.

To lock the door without the key, you could pull either handle and then push the lock down (or use the power lock switch).

I was working at a Ford dealership, it was a trade in- not my car. We didn't get very many Hondas. As long as you can override it though, it makes the whole feature pointless. So you *CAN* still lock your key in the car. Might as well just let you lock the door normally.

 

[Kelemvor]

My car unlocks the doors when I turn off the ignition. But if it's locked and you just try to open the door it doesn't unlock automatically. My SUV doesn't unlock automatically when the ignition turns off but if it's off and you try to open the door form the inside, it will unlock if it's locked. Not sure if it does that when it's running or not...