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The doors auto-lock after I start driving, which is normal behavior. When I stop driving and want to exit the car, I remove the key fob and pull the interior door handle to unlock and open the door. I have to pull the door handle twice, which I understand is a "safety feature" and something I've gotten used to.
However, now I have to pull the handle three or four times for it to unlock. Sometimes it doesn't unlock at all requiring me to press the unlock button on the dash or my key fob to unlock the door and let me out. The passenger side door unlocks properly with a handle pull, and the key fob works correctly, as well. The outside handles also work correctly.
One of the problems with this double-pull handle feature on the driver's door is that the handle is being used twice as often as normal, accelerating any wear and tear. I squirted Silicone lubricant behind the handle and lock tab. That has helped to make it work again, but only temporarily. This makes me think the problem is not software-related but something mechanical.
There are several Youtube videos that address door locking problems but none seem to address my specific issue. Any suggestions?
Last edited by LR2driver; Jan 15, 2022 at 05:04 PM.
With the help of a couple Youtube videos, I removed the inside panel (aka, door card) of the driver's door to inspect the mechanism. It was pretty easy to remove so long as you go slowly and don't break any of the plastic retainers while prying back the panel.
I took a photo and highlighted the release cable in red. The inner cable moves freely without restriction. The connector end to the door handle is also in good condition. Since the problem is limited to pulling the inside door handle (unlocking by the dash button and keyfob work fine), I was actually hoping to find a problem that I could easily fix at this stage. The bad news is that everything looks good.
This means I need to replace the actuator, which is going to be a PITA. The glass needs to be taken out and multiple cables have to be disconnected and reconnected. There are a couple Youtube videos showing the process and it's not a snap.
Drivers Door will not unlock using inside handle pull
