Locks on 2004 Legacy Outback

[John A Reichert]

My wife had just parked her car in a mall parking lot. As she was beginning
to walk to the stores, another, newer Subaru pull up. Apparently when the
driver of that Subaru, pushed the lock switch button on the key fob, my
Wife's Car's lights flashed as her driver's door unlocked. But just the
driver's door. She had to use her metal key to lock the car.

At this time, the only way to lock the driver's door on her car is to use
the metal door key. All of the other locks on the car can be opened and
closed using my Wife's key fob switch. We tried both set of key fobs, so it
is not the battery in the key fob.

I'm beginning to think the signal from the other car somehow confused our
car's electronic locks and maybe needs to be reset if possible. Does seem a
bit far fetched.

Any ideas would be helpful

Thanks
John

 

[Todd H.]

My wife had just parked her car in a mall parking lot. As she was beginning
to walk to the stores, another, newer Subaru pull up. Apparently when the
driver of that Subaru, pushed the lock switch button on the key fob, my
Wife's Car's lights flashed as her driver's door unlocked. But just the
driver's door. She had to use her metal key to lock the car.

At this time, the only way to lock the driver's door on her car is to use
the metal door key. All of the other locks on the car can be opened and
closed using my Wife's key fob switch. We tried both set of key fobs, so it
is not the battery in the key fob.

I'm beginning to think the signal from the other car somehow confused our
car's electronic locks and maybe needs to be reset if possible. Does seem a
bit far fetched.

Any ideas would be helpful

That's wacky.

Without a wiring diagram or a block diagram, I'm only offering some
commentary based on past experience:

Generally all door lock actuators (little linear motors that move the
lock arms) get triggered simultaneously by the fob receiver of the
keyless entry system. I'd be somewhat surprised if the OEM keyless
entry system had separate channels for each door lock actuator.
That's what would be required in order for the system to order just
one door to open. I'd be even more surprised if the wiring of the car
itself supported independent actuator activation.

One thing I wonder -- do the interior door lock switches, when
activated, lock the driver's door?

If not, it would be less an issue of keyless entry system being
confused, and more likely a wiring fault or actuator burnout problem
on the driver's door.

I'd probably take it to the dealer during a slow period to see if
anyone had a bead on this rather interesting puzzler.

 

[Blair Baucom]

If the power door lock switches inside the car function correctly, then I
would try reteaching the remotes.

Blair

 

[John]

Thanks for the comments.

The inside power door switch locks and unlocks all doors Except the driver's
door. It does seems like a problem with the electronic mechanism for the
driver's door.

John

 

[Todd H.]

Thanks for the comments.

The inside power door switch locks and unlocks all doors Except the driver's
door. It does seems like a problem with the electronic mechanism for the
driver's door.

Okay--that narrows it down. If other switches and stuff in the
drivers door are okay, then one could take a calculated guess that the
wiring connections at the door are probably okay. I might start with
taking the door panel apart and testing the door lock acuator motor
itself.

If you know someone who's an auto alarm or auto sound enthusiast,
they'll know how to debug this. Otherwise, any mechanic who's taken
apart a Subaru door before should be able to get to it in short order,
test it by appling voltage to it, and replacing it if it's defective.
Or if it tests fine, track down what the wiring issue that's causing
it to not actuate when installed in the door.

Best Regards,

 

[Bob Noble]

This all sounds real fishy to me, since it seems to have been caused by the
other car.
I think I'd try disconnecting the battery for a minute or so to reset the
computers and reconnect to see if it helps.

 

[AS]

I am leaning to think that the problem was caused by having used the key.

 

[John]

I disconnected the battery for 5 minutes. After reconnecting there is still
a problem. I can hear the electronic actuator in the driver's door move
when the Fob is used but it doesn't lock or unlock the door. Apparently
there is something broken inside the door. I'm beginning to think we had
this problem for some time and just didn't know. My wife experience in the
parking lot was likely just a coincident. Maybe a go practice to try to
open doors if you leave something of value inside.

Thanks again for the comments.
John

This all sounds real fishy to me, since it seems to have been caused by
the other car.
I think I'd try disconnecting the battery for a minute or so to reset the
computers and reconnect to see if it helps.