I can’t unlock my car on the driver side

ANSWER : The key should only unlock the driver door with one turn and unlock all of the doors with two turns. If the passenger door is unlocking when the driver door is turned with one turn or if the alarm is still set if the driver door is turned two times, then the Immobilizer System Module needs replaced if you are intending on not using a key fob or you will need to get a key fob to manually turn off the Immobilizer System Module. If you need further assistance with your doors unlocking unusual, then seek out a professional, such as one from Your Mechanic, to help you.

ANSWER : Hi there. There is a resistor for the door locks that keep a voltage on the driver door lock cylinder to activate the secondary door locks electronically. If the resistor is leaking (losing power) it tends to cause the door locks to not work. You can try unlocking the driver door, then open the driver door and use the key to unlock the other doors. This will supply power directly to the driver door lock cylinder and bypass the resistor. If the other doors unlock, then the resistor needs replaced. If the doors do not unlock with the key and the driver door open, then the door lock cylinder on the driver door will need replaced. If you need further assistance with your doors not unlocking when turning the key twice, then seek out a professional, such as one from Your Mechanic, to help you.

ANSWER : Hello. The door lock issue at hand is likely due to a faulty door lock timer module. The door lock timer module is located inside of the dashboard and happens to be a common failure on Subaru vehicles. If requested, YourMechanic will provide a technician to test the door lock timer module and install it if necessary. You’re able to find a technician at schedule an appointment here https://www.yourmechanic.com

ANSWER : Hi there. The alarm should not affect the use of the key to unlock and lock the driver’s door. The linkage from the door lock cylinder to the door latch assembly must be disconnected. A fairly common failure, is the plastic retaining clip for the linkage rod has broken. In order to diagnose this problem, the inner door panel will have to be removed for inspection and repair. I recommend having your vehicle’s key won’t unlock the driver’s door be diagnosed and repaired by a certified technician, such as one from YourMechanic.

ANSWER : This is often related to a malfunctioning door lock actuator, a blown fuse or a faulty power door lock switch. When you use the door lock switch in the car it sends a signal to a relay which then activates an actuator inside the door. The actuator is the final step in the process in that it is a small motor with a set of gears that actually locks and unlocks the latch mechanism inside the door allowing the door to open. When this motor is bad, the latch mechanism will fail to operate and cause the door not to unlock as it is designed to. In the case of a bad door lock relay, the power, normally needed to send the signal from the switch when you activate it to the actuator motor is not there. This means the relay is not allowing the circuit to be completed and the actuator motor is not activated. Any of the above may cause your power door lock switches not to work properly and should be diagnosed by a qualified mechanic. I would suggest having a professional from YourMechanic come to your location to take a look at the door locks in your vehicle.

ANSWER : Hello, and thank you for writing in. There are several reasons why your vehicle may pull to one side or the other while braking. The first thing to consider is a warped rotor or faulty brake pads. When you replace the pads and rotors on the vehicle you need to replace two or four of them at a time. Replacing just the one on passenger side will not be adequate. With that being said, you are more concerned about the rotors then you are the calibers. The calibers hold the brake pads to the rotors when needed. It is a warped rotor or a bad brake pad that will cause the vehicle to pull. You should start with the full service brake job including machining the rotors to flatten them out if needed, and all new brake pads. If the problem continues after that, get an alignment done on the vehicle. For more help contact our service department to schedule an appointment.

ANSWER : Your central locking system may have been designed with a control module in the circuit. This is a small computer that is responsible for controlling the different functions of a particular system. It is possible that the module for your central locking system may have shorted out internally preventing particular functions from working properly. I would recommend having a certified technician test your central locking module to determine if all of its functions are working properly.

ANSWER : Hi there. These door issues are common on this vehicle. Most of the time the main issue is the master door lock switch on the driver door. It sounds like you already replaced that. As for the sliding door problem, most of the time, this is a failure within the door module or it can be a connection issue.

I typically take the door apart and check the connections on the module and inside of the door just to make sure that there is nothing apparent in there. If the connections and the wiring are fine, then I use a scan tool to check the module to see what the inputs and outputs are doing. If you need to have this looked at, consider YourMechanic, as a certified mechanic can come to your home or office to diagnose your door problem and recommend a repair.