How Auto Door Locks Work

Here s how the power door locks and latch works on your car.

How auto door locks work.

This method should work on most pin and tumbler locks that people normally use. Centrifugal clutch on the drive gear when the motor spins the gear the clutch swings out and locks the small metal gear to the larger plastic gear allowing the motor to drive the door latch. Electric car door locks operate by receiving a radio signal transmitted by the car key fob signaling the actuator to activate which then routes the command through the correct path lock unlock and performs the desired action. When locked the latch will be depressed and the mechanism will be connected to prevent the door from being opened.

On activation the actuator unit moves a rod attached to the rear of the latch door lock mechanism. A rod con nects the actuator to the latch and another rod connects the latch to the knob that sticks up out of the top of the door. The body controller is a computer in your car. A car door in this car the power door lock actuator is positioned below the latch.

This will allow the door to be opened and closed as necessary. In some cars that have power door locks the lock unlock switch actually sends power to the actuators that unlock the door. But in more complicated systems that have several ways to lock and unlock the doors the body controller decides when to do the unlocking. If you move the door latch yourself all of the gears will turn except for the plastic gear with the clutch on it.

See more pictures of car gadgets. To start with you need the right tools for the job. You will require one wrench to apply tension to the lock cylinder and one long pick to actually get the pins of the lock to move. The door latch on a car door is responsible for keeping the door shut against the body of the ca.

Key fobs such as this one activate the power door lock mechanism. How the actuator works.