How Does Power Door Locks Work

The power door locks utilize individual solenoids in each of the doors that activate the door lock mechanism.

How does power door locks work.

Most traditional locks on entry doors are made with a mechanism known as a pin and tumbler. How door locks work. A key is necessary to release the tang. But in more complicated systems that have several ways to lock and unlock the doors the body controller decides when to do the unlocking.

A power door lock actuator is typically positioned somewhere below the latch. See more pictures of car gadgets. Key fobs such as this one activate the power door lock mechanism. The body controller is a computer in your car.

Power door locks also known as electric door locks or central locking allow the driver or front passenger to simultaneously lock or unlock all the doors of an automobile or truck by pressing a button or flipping a switch. To lock the doors the switch provides voltage to the two terminals of the solenoid. The door locks are electronically controlled and as is the case with many other automotive electrical circuits they will run their power through a relay. The mechanism allows for the rods to work in conjunction to power the actuator.

Inside the lock are pins and spring loaded cylinders which are only activated when the correct key is slid into the keyhole. Between the keypads keyless entry systems and conventional locks some cars today have four or five different ways to unlock the doors. A connecting rod attaches to the actuator and another one connects the latch to the manual knob that sticks out the top of the door. The cam then releases a spring which shoots the tang forward securing the door to the wall.

By an electronic card reader by a keypad or by a wireless remote control sensor. By a signal from a control center in some cars that have power door locks the lock unlock switch actually sends power to the actuators that unlock the door. The key turns the cylinder which in turn turns something called a cam. The motor is controlled by an electrical impulse which may be triggered in a number of ways.

How power door locks work. Electronic door locks also involve parts called actuators which connect the bolt or the cylinder to a small motor completely buried within the door or frame itself. Slide the wrong in there and the lock won t turn which means the door won t open.