Driver door locked & wouldn't unlock, then magically fixed itself

[jtab4994]

Greetings, today my 2011 Focus SES decided to engage the latch on the driver's door while it was open, then I couldn't close it. Tried the key, the fob, and the unlock-all button mutliple times but no luck. I ended up driving home with the window rolled down and my arm on the door to kepp it from flying open.

Well when I got home I was going to tie it shut, to keep the wind from blowing it open and run down the battery, when it decided to disengage the latch and shut OK. Tried it a few more times and it seems magically fixed - for now.

It seemed like something mechanical, but mechanical stuff doesn't usually fix itself like that, does it? Any ideas what went wrong? Anyone ever have this happen?

[Sponsor]

[ZeeXfive]

Well I highly doubt this is the same scenario, but when its really cold outside my door will open abruptly. Then when I close it, it will bounce off because the latch is still closed, but all I do is just reach down in the latch and move it up. I don't know if that's the same problem, but try moving it the next time it happens.

[whynotthinkwhynot]

Lube the latch with lithium or silicone spray grease. Do not lube the latch with WD40, unless you want this problem to happen permanently.

That might help you, it's uncertain at this point. Did you try opening the door handle from the inside? Fords typically unlock automatically when the handle is pulled from inside.

[jtab4994]

Originally Posted by ZeeXfive

Well I highly doubt this is the same scenario, but when its really cold outside my door will open abruptly. Then when I close it, it will bounce off because the latch is still closed, but all I do is just reach down in the latch and move it up. I don't know if that's the same problem, but try moving it the next time it happens.

Thanks for the reply. Actually it may be related to cold and wet weather. The afternoon before, we had about an inch of wet snow. I had parked outside but I did drive the car in the evening and parked it under the carport. Next morning when I opened the door it made that crackling sound when there's frozen precip on the door but I forgot about that until now.

So, it's possible some water got into the door, froze, then thawed, then froze again in such a way as to prevent the latch from moving. Hmm, that would explain why it "fixed itself", i.e., that the ice melted again. The door was fine this morning.

Without knowing what the mechanism looks like on the inside, though, I can't know for sure.

[jtab4994]

Thanks, I'll keep that in mind about the WD-40!

I think I tried the door handle from the inside but I'm not sure because I was concentrating on the latch. I know I did not try the handle from the outside. Next time, (which hopefully never happens) I'll try the moving the handle both inside and out.

[FordCustomerService]

Originally Posted by jtab4994

Thanks, I'll keep that in mind about the WD-40!

I think I tried the door handle from the inside but I'm not sure because I was concentrating on the latch. I know I did not try the handle from the outside. Next time, (which hopefully never happens) I'll try the moving the handle both inside and out.

Hi jtab4994,

You can always have your dealership take a look. If you don't want to make a special visit for this concern, you can always combine it with an upcoming maintenance appointment. Let us know if there are any changes; if you need my assistance, I'm just a PM away.

Crystal

[jtab4994]

Thanks Crystal, I'll wait until my next trip to the dealer. I'm 99% sure it was some melted precipitation that decided to freeze inside the door at an inopportune moment. I'll try running the heater for a while if it happens again.

[FordCustomerService]

Originally Posted by jtab4994

Thanks Crystal, I'll wait until my next trip to the dealer. I'm 99% sure it was some melted precipitation that decided to freeze inside the door at an inopportune moment. I'll try running the heater for a while if it happens again.

Sounds good, jtab4994. Keep us posted!

Crystal