When the car gets older, doors not opening from the inside is a common problem that every driver faces at one time or another. However, some vehicles have manual locking systems, and modern vehicles use remote locking systems. Currently, most vehicles are equipped with automatic remote locking systems.
In this system, the vehicle doors can be locked and unlocked by pressing a button on the remote, and the doors lock automatically at a certain time while the vehicle is moving. But sometimes, when the driver is inside the vehicle, it can be difficult to open a locked door, even if you have the option of a second exit door.
Through this article, you will learn in detail about all the possible reasons why a car door won’t open from the inside, so that you can try to troubleshoot this problem.
7 Reasons Why Your Car Door Won’t Open From Inside
The most common reason why your car door won’t open from inside is a broken handle or a jammed door latch. Other reasons may include activated child lock, broken cable or linkage rod, rusted components or faulty door lock mechanism.
Let’s go through the reasons for a car door not opening from inside in detail so that we can solve this problem easily.
#1. Broken or Damaged Door Handle
If your car door handle is broken or damaged in some other way, this can also make it impossible to open the car door from inside. Because the door lock system unlocks only by pulling this handle.
#2. Bad Door Latch
The latch plays an important role in locking and unlocking the car door. But sometimes the mechanism system of the car door latch gets damaged, which can make it impossible to open the car door from inside.
#3. Broken Cable or Linkage Rod
The cable or linkage rod of the car door works to connect the handle and the latch mechanism. Pulling the door handle opens the latch through the cable and the door opens. But sometimes due to breakage of this cable or linkage rod, the car door is not able to open from inside.
#4. Activate Child Safety Lock
The function of child safety lock is given in the doors of cars or other modern technology vehicles. When the child safety lock button is activated, the door does not open from inside. Child safety lock is installed in the doors of vehicles for safety. So that the child cannot suddenly open the door from a moving vehicle.
#5. Debris or Rusted Components
Sometimes the handle, linkage, door latch and lock system used to open the car door get jammed with debris or rust. Due to this, the car doors are not able to lock or unlock from inside or outside. Often this problem occurs when the car is not used for a long time or water enters the car doors during rainy days.
#6. Mechanical Problems
Sometimes there is a problem in opening the vehicle door from inside or outside due to damage to the door frame or hinges of the vehicle. Many times, due to a collision, the alignment of the vehicle’s door and door frame gets disturbed. Due to this, the vehicle’s door has to be closed by applying more force. But it becomes impossible to open the door.
#7. Problem in Power Window Function
In the present time, the function of locking or unlocking the doors of cars and other vehicles with modern technology is combined with power windows. But when there is a problem in the function of power windows on the car doors, the vehicle doors may also be unable to open from inside.
How To Fix a Car Door That Won’t Open From The Inside
There can be many different reasons why a car door won’t open from inside. You should solve it by checking all the reasons step by step.
#1. Check The Door Handle
- Cause Investigation: Often, one of the main reasons why your car doors won’t open from inside is the remote handle being broken or damaged. So first check the door handle.
- Solution: If the door handle is broken or rusted, replace it with a new one. The procedure for replacing the door handle may vary depending on the car model. For convenience, you can refer to the car’s service manual.
#2. Check The Child Safety Lock
- Cause Investigation: Often the reason why the doors of cars and other modern technology vehicles won’t open from inside is the child safety lock being activated. Often, the child safety lock button on the open door of the car is pressed by children, or the driver forgets to deactivate the child safety lock after activating it, which causes the car doors not to open from inside.
- Solution: To deactivate the child safety lock in the car, turn off its button from the driver window panel, if your vehicle does not have this function, then you have to deactivate the child safety lock by opening the rear door of the car from outside.
#3. Lubricate Door Lock Components
- Cause Investigation: Often, the locking and unlocking components of the car doors can get stuck due to lack of lubrication. Because the latch, linkage rod and lock system of the car door are made of metal. In which rust or any other debris is a normal process.
- Solution: Often, the door lock system and other components stop working due to rust or debris. Therefore, lubricate the door lock and latch from time to time so that their functioning remains smooth.
#4. Clear Snow
- Cause Investigation: If your vehicle is running in a cold temperature environment, it is natural for a large amount of snow to fall on it. Therefore, due to excess snow, the doors of your vehicle can get stuck and the door lock and unlock system can get stuck.
- Solution: In such a situation, if the doors of your car are not opening, then first of all you have to clean the snow by pouring hot water on the doors and also try to open the door by pushing it.
#5. Check Door Cable or Linkage Rod
- Cause Investigation: If the cable or linkage rod of your car door is broken, then your car door will not open from inside. For this, you have to open the panel of the car door and check the cable or linkage rod.
- Solution: If the door lock cable or linkage rod is broken, then replace it with a new one. If it is loose, then tighten it properly. Sometimes this cable or linkage rod can get stuck due to rust. For this, you can clean it and apply grease, which will eliminate the problem of it getting stuck.
#6. Check The Door Latch and Lock
- Cause Investigation: Many times there may be a problem with the door latch and lock in your car, due to which the car door does not open from inside.
- Solution: For this you need to check the lock and latch. If you face any problem with the door latch or lock of the car, get it repaired or get a new lock installed.
7. Check The Electronic Components
- Cause Investigation: Sometimes the lock button of your car’s door lock unlock remote gets pressed twice in a row, due to which the remote control system does not allow the door to unlock. Due to this, the car doors cannot be opened from inside.
- Solution: For this, press the unlock button of the remote control for a long time, so that the setting of the remote control comes back to the same state or other electronic components connected to the door lock can also get damaged. For this, check these electronic components.
How Does Door Lock-Unlock Work in Cars?
A variety of components play a vital role in the efficient functioning of a vehicle’s door lock and unlock system. Such as: door handles, window latches, lock connector rods or wires, door hinges, door actuators, and door locks. The door lock system of cars and other vehicles consists of a closed cylinder that rotates the latch to open the door and is rotated by a key to operate it inside the vehicle or a remote control fob to control it, in which an electronic lock is used.
Usually, a manual door lock system involves inserting a key into the vehicle’s door lock and turning it, and the lock mechanism releases the latch and opens the door. But in an electronic lock system, an electrical signal from a switch or remote control fob activates the electronic lock, causing the lock mechanism to release the latch and the vehicle’s door opens successfully.
FAQ’s
Why is my door handle not working from the inside?
If your car door won’t open from the inside, possible causes could be a broken handle, an activated child lock, or failure of the latch mechanism. Therefore, first investigate the cause and consider repairing or replacing the damaged parts.
How much does it cost to fix a car door that won’t open?
The cost to repair your car door will depend on the damaged parts and the replacement, with an average repair ranging from $80 to $300. You will also have to pay for labor. However, vehicle models and the mechanic’s location can affect this cost.
Can you open a car door manually?
Yes, if you have a vehicle, you can open the top of your car door with a little pressure. After this, a wooden rod or a hard wire can be used to unlock it. But this should be done carefully, as applying too much force may break the door glass.