Hi Guys.
I have noticed that, on my car at least, the auto locking seems very sensitive. By that I mean that by driving out of my garage, at very low speed, the doors lock, and when I get to the top of my garage (I have an underground garage), sometimes the doors will not open. I have to remove the key and press the "open". When I am on a run and stop, most times the door will open OK, but, on the odd occasion it will not.
My question is, is the auto locking safe ?. For example, suppose you were to be involved in an accident and you could not open the door....even worse the rescuer crew cant even get the door open. Suppose you have a fire in the engine bay and the battery dead shorted out.....not only can you not open the door, but you cant even open a window to get out. Even worse. suppose you were to drive into water and the battery shorted out ???.
I am thinking of disabling the auto lock function, what do you guys think ??

Apart from that I absolutely love my car, a 2003 2,1 manual with less than 10,000 original miles on it. I think it is the one of the best cars I have ever owned.

Your comments on this will be much appreciated.

Alan

 

Do you mean that after drive away locking has activated, pulling the interior door handle will NOT open the door?

With the ignition key at position ‘II’ and all doors closed, all doors will lock when the vehicle is moving above 5 mph. It should be possible to open any door from the inside by pulling on the door handle. If it doesn't work like this, there is a fault.

Drive away locking is enabled on European spec vehicles by default but can be deactivated by a dealer.

Graham

 

If there is a fault I would get a diagnostics done using JlR/SDD which would highlight the problem.
With reference to an accident the doors should auto unlock but as you say if there is a fault then they may not. Generally it is safe for good reason but I would get it looked at. If you want to disable it you will need JLR/SDD anyway.

Roger

 

Hi Graham.
Thanks for your input.
I went out for a drive to-day and found that every time I stop, the drivers door will not unlock by pulling the handle. However I found that the passenger door will unlock and unlock all doors ??

 

Hi Rchiv.
Thanks for your comment.
As in my 2nd post, I have found the drivers door has ceased to open by pulling the handle. It can be opened by the passenger door or by the key fob. However it seems an unsafe system in the event of an emergency. You made a reference to "JLR/SDD". Not too sure what this means ??
Kind regards.

Alan.

 

You have a problem with the linkages in the drivers side, possibly.

 

JLR/SDD is the Jaguar Symptom Diagnostic software that Jaguar use in conjunction with the Mongoose connector.. Clone connectors Mangoose can be purchased pretty cheaply but require a Laptop and Windows XP to run the software.
I agree with Jim that you may have a linkage problem in the drivers door.

Roger

 

In the UK you can enable/disable auto lock by the following method.

To turn the feature off or on:

1) Turn on the ignition to position II so all the dash lights come on but don't start the engine.
2) Using the button on the door handle, lock and unlock the door 3 times (don't open the door).
3) Turn off the ignition.
4) Turn on the ignition to position I.
5) Using the button on the door handle, lock and unlock the door 3 times (don't open the door).
6) Turn off the ignition.
7) Turn on the ignition to position II but don't start the engine - a beep will sound.
8 ) Lock and unlock the door once as before - a confirmation beep will sound.

Not sure whether USA cars are the same.

 

I wouldn't do without them any more. Have had someone try to get in my car a few times while in traffic or at a stop light!!

 

Thanks faltwen.
I will try this tomorrow and let you know how it goes,

Alan

 

Thanks higeorge for your reply.
I take your point. However I really do not think there is much chance of "car jacking" in Malta. Unfortunately the general standard of driving here is very poor, and I would not like to be in a situation where, for example, I get sideswiped, the battery is immediately taken out, there is petrol dripping all over the place.......and I'm stuck in the car.
I think I will feel safer disabling the system.

Alan.

 

It's hard to see your scenario is even slightly possible. Petrol wouldn't be dripping, battery wouldn't be causing trouble.

 

The autolock feature is therefore functioning but the passenger's door handle is operating the way the driver's door handle should.

If it's been like this since you got the vehicle I suspect the PO has been tinkering, perhaps to remedy an issue with a door latch.

Graham

 

Stupid question perhaps but are you pulling the door release twice to open it or only the once. When mine went into auto lock "I have had it removed" you had to pull twice. Once to take of the auto lock and again to open the door. Sounds as if your car doors are set up for the passenger door locks on the wrong side,
Hope you get it sorted.

 

Hi DUNKS.
It did work OK at first, by pulling on the handle once, then became a bit erratic.
I have successfully removed this feature and feel much safer.
Thanks very much for your input.

Alan.

 

Hi faltwen.

100% successful.....auto lock now disabled and I feel much safer.

Thanks again.

Alan.