Author Topic: Cannot Unlock Doors (Read 4934 times)

gearhead133 · « **on:** March 24, 2012, 04:08:48 PM »

So this afternoon I went out to grab something out of my e30, now its been sitting for about a week or so. I went to unlock it and nothing happened....

I had the key in all the way, jiggled it, tried everything but it won't unlock with the key. I turned it to the right however and heard the actuators kick as if to lock the doors. Don't want to have to carry a slim jim around everywhere to break into my own car. Anyone else experience this before or any advice?

DesktopDave · « **Reply #1 on:** March 24, 2012, 04:47:05 PM »

Might have lost a microswitch in the door. Try to unlock them via the passenger or trunk lock.

You also might have "double-locked" the doors. At least the actuators are OK.

gearhead133 · « **Reply #2 on:** March 24, 2012, 05:48:59 PM »

I did try the passenger and trunk locks same thing happened.

Double locked? Any specific way around that?

DesktopDave · « **Reply #3 on:** March 24, 2012, 10:41:07 PM »

I was sure the car would unlock with the passenger or trunk lock.

Maybe a bad relay? I did find this, lots of info:
http://www.mesaperformance.com/faqs/centlock.html

dsm2002 · « **Reply #4 on:** March 25, 2012, 01:43:01 AM »

My 318i $hittter was double locked. A tip on one of the E30 forums suggesting if the lock is worn, put a slight amount of pressure upwards on the door handle and at the same time jiggling the key. This worked for me.

HTH

gearhead133 · « **Reply #5 on:** March 30, 2012, 02:19:23 PM »

Issue resolved

Finally got into the car via the trunk. tried everything imaginable even tried the trunk before but nothing worked, then last night I gave it one more shot before calling a locksmith and *POP*.

Maybe the bimmer could sense my frustration. However door locks still won't unlock the car, ill have to rebuild them

Thanks for the help though.

monko141 · « **Reply #6 on:** March 30, 2012, 06:13:13 PM »

Do yourself a favor and unplug that micro switch when you rebuild your lock. Mine was malfunctioning and locking itself on a whim. One time locking my keys in the car.

Colo318IS · « **Reply #7 on:** May 19, 2012, 06:41:34 PM »

So I was replacing my fuel pump, unhooked the battery etc, and when I couldn't complete the job that afternoon, I locked the car up...but did so by not hooking the battery back up (was just freaked out about rehooking the battery with the fuel pump job still in process)...so I manually locked the doors, driver and pass side with the key.

I've finished the fuel pump job now and rehooked the battery and somehow I've now locked myself out? Not sure wtf I did? What's going on is the central lock via the trunk is not working (e.g., there was no resistance or "clicking" like ususal when turning the key, and no movement from the door locks)...I then went to try the driver's side door lock, and when I turned the key, it locked the only unlocked door..the pass side...so now I can't get in? Awesome.

I've tried the above recommendations from the previous posts, with no luck. I've tried unhooking the battery, and have tried different combinations of turning the door locks on the driver's and pass side 45 degrees and then trying the central locking system again.

I'm kinda assuming I somehow manually double-locked myself out? What happens now is the pass side will not unlock, it wants to, but I'm afraid to put too much pressure and break the key. The driver's side won't budge for unlock. When I turn the key, all it does is make the locking or "clicking" sound that one would usually hear when you're locking the car either via the trunk or driver's side...so it seems like all I can do now rom the driver's side is lock the doors, but the doors are already locked and all that is happening is the "clicking" sound.

At any rate, am trying not to call a locksmith if I can and the locks worked completely fine before I worked on the fuel pump, so I don't think it's a rebuilding issue...just curious if anyone has any insights or secrets from experience that might work? Maybe I just bite the bullet, call a locksmith and with him there try and reset the system?

Thank you!

Colo318IS · « **Reply #8 on:** May 21, 2012, 11:32:49 PM »

Problem Solved. When back and unhooked the battery and tried the passenger side door lock. This time it allowed me to manually unlock the door. Pulled the driver's side lock, then reset the locks once the battery was hooked back up.