Q: Front doors not locking with fob.

asked by on January 12, 2016

I have two things wrong with my car. First off, when I press the fob I can hear the rear doors locks, but not the front doors. From the front door arm controls, the back door locks work but not the front doors. I have to manually lock the passenger's side door and use the key to lock the driver's side front door. Second, I have two warning lights on the dashboard: Check Tire Pressure and the Air Bag light.

Power door locks are not working Inspection $94.99 - $114.99 Get a Quote

The front door lock actuators are controlled by the their respective door switch units. The rear lock actuators are controlled by the Body Control Module. When the key fob is pressed to lock or unlock. The Body Control Module receives the request and then locks/unlocks rear doors and sends a signal to both the drivers door and passenger front door switch assemblies over a computer data line to lock/unlock front doors. Since the rear door locks are operating, one of two things is happening, either the door lock/unlock request is being interrupted on the computer data line or the Body Control Module is not sending the request to lock/unlock doors to the data line. One way to see if the problem lies with the data line or the Body Control Module is to try to lock or unlock all doors from the driver’s door switch. If the rear doors do not lock/unlock then the data line to the Body Control Module is open and will need to be traced to locate the open circuit and repaired. You may want to enlist the help of a mechanic, like one from YourMechanic who can scope out the data line to see if the signal is being interrupted and to locate and repair the open circuit.

The statements expressed above are only for informational purposes and should be independently verified. Please see our terms of service for more details

Get an instant quote for your car

Our certified mechanics come to you ・Backed by 12-month, 12,000-mile guarantee・Fair and transparent pricing


Experienced Mechanic?

Earn up to $70/hr

What others are asking

Weird noise coming from back left wheel
Hello. If the noise is intermittent, it is either road noise (possibly due to an abnormally worn, cupped, or damaged tire interacting with particular road "textures", hence the intermittent nature of the noise) or a component of the vehicle, for...
Rough idling of engine with check engine light on
Hi there, thanks for writing in. The driver restraint fault code is a common issue on the BMWs. Here is how to clear it: Step 1: choose chassis "E65", then click on "Functional Jobs" Step 2: choose "Error" on the...
I have a 2004 Dodge Dakota that needs the front wheel hubs changed. It is 4wd with all wheel ABS. I need some tips.
When I replace a hub, I don't necessarily remove the CV joints. I do, however, remove the nut that is holding the CV joint onto the hub. You will need to remove the brakes and rotor, the upper and lower...
The engine stalls when I put the car in reverse, but if I go past reverse into drive there is not an issue.
Hi there. Usually when you shift into reverse and engage the brake it will cause the engine RPM to drop; as it's creating a load against the transmission and the engine. If the engine stalls, it may be caused by...
My heater/air conditioner blows out hot and cold air appropriately, but makes a horrible grinding noise
This is a sign of a faulty blower motor. As you know, these have electric motors in them that wear out over time and will begin to make squeaking or grinding noises as the bearings begin to wear out. The...
Need to know where the ground wires for the motor to frame are located.
Hi there. Check the back of the engine around the cylinder head. The wire will either be a silver color wire and also black in color. The wire will connect to the frame or the body with an alternate ground...
Could a bad sway bar bracket and a dry rotted bushing be causing the pop sound I hear? 2002 Saturn SC2
Hello - the popping noise (https://www.yourmechanic.com/question/suspension-up-front-makes-a-ton-of-noise-creaks) could be the sway bar mount bushings, and you would certainly want to replace them if there are rotted or not holding the sway bar firmly. The popping sound could also be the strut...
What does wholesale reserve mean?
If you are referring to a new car transaction, "wholesale reserve" is a category of "dealer holdback". Dealer holdback is simply any economic value or component of "profit" that a dealer receives in a car transaction but which is paid...
Would a chip in the crankshaft make the car a squek and have a burning rubber smell?
Hi there. Typically the symptoms you are describing is caused by a damaged serpentine or accessory belt. The squealing noise is usually caused by the belt being loose or the pulley's that drive the belt being worn out. The burning...

Related articles

The Best Used Cars to Buy If You Have Kids
Once Once you have kids, the kind of car you have becomes very important. Suddenly, the amount of space, entertainment features, reliability, safety, and easy to clean interior become the top priorities. Here’s a list of vehicles meant to satisfy...
The Best Used Cars to Buy If You Love Camping
Do Do you love camping, getting back to nature and enjoying life in the great outdoors? If you do, then you know that getting there can be half the fun, and it’s even better if you have a great ride....
Symptoms of a Bad or Failing Tailgate Lock Solenoid
Common signs include the tailgate not unlocking and the tailgate opening on its own without any buttons being pressed.