Lockout Tips

When your car door is stuck in the lock position, it’s totally frustrating. A DIY fix is possible, but perhaps not always the most efficient, stress-free way of handling the situation. First, find out what is wrong. From there, get the door open to work on the broken car door lock. Finding a solution will depend on whether the car door is locked and won’t close or if the car door is locked and won’t open.

Diagnosing a Car Door Stuck in Lock Position

First you need to determine the cause of the lock stuck in its locked position. Knowing all the problems creates an understanding needing to find which issue you are facing.

Broken Connections

If a car door lock is stuck in the lock position, it may be due to a connection between one, several, or all, external and internal connections to the car door latch. When your door handle, door lock cylinder, or interior locking post/switch, is not properly connected to the car door latch, you will find that the car door lock is stuck in the lock position.

In order to fix an issue like this, you need to repair the broken connections. This will require the door to be opened and troubleshooting the lock assembly. You must also have replacement parts or other means of putting broken pieces back together.

Rust, Grime, & Jamming

Besides something as obvious as having to remove a broken key from a lock, other things can build up or become jammed in the internal workings of a car door lock. These include rust, dirt that can build up in the lock assembly, or broken parts of the door that can fall and jam the interior assembly.

Start by checking the keyway. If you cannot fully insert your car key into the keyhole, then this is a good indication of blockage. However, with a car door lock stuck in the lock position, even when you use your car key remote, the issue is greater than just the keyway.

Structural Damage

In the worst case scenario, after an accident, there may be damage to your door latch that is causing the issue of a car door lock stuck in the lock position. This accident could be a fender bender, a crash, or a particularly aggressive slamming of the door. What it amounts to is that the latch is not working. The latch could be bent or simply disconnected from the rest of the door lock assembly.

These issues vary too much to have a very detailed overview, but it essentially amounts to finding a way to get the car door open and replacing what is broken. Most likely, you will need the assistance of a professional auto locksmith in order to get the door open without causing a greater level of harm.

The best way to fix a stuck lock on your car is to call 24 HR Lockouts. We have the skills, experience, and right tools to get you back into your car without harm to your vehicle. Give us a call today!