Doors Don't Stay Locked

[Sisko182]

I used the search function, but unfortunately didn't find anything that pertains to my exact problem.

When I lock my doors, whether it be from the inside, or close the door and lock the doors with the key, when I pull on the handle, it unlocks automatically. This is obviously a problem, considering anyone could just come up and open my door and get in my car no problem.

Done driving the mx3 for this season, since we just had a huge snow storm yesterday, so I have time to work on it. What could the problem be and how could I go about fixing it?

Thanks.

[Savin]

Are your locks hooked up? Also, you have to hold up on the outside handle when closing the door. If you don't, it will automatically unlock.

[Sisko182]

Are your locks hooked up? Also, you have to hold up on the outside handle when closing the door. If you don't, it will automatically unlock.

Yes they're hooked up. When I lock the driver side, the passenger side locks as well, etc.

Like I said, even when i lock the door using the key, it unlocks when I pull on the handle. Pretty strange.

[Ryan]

You're going to have to open the door and look for bent/seized actuator rods. I have a good idea of which one is seized... you should be able to figure out how it works.

[Sisko182]

Solved my problem. Managed to fix the seized actuator rod (so you were right on that one), so now, the door stays locked when I hold the handle up and then close it.

[MrMazda92]

Are your locks hooked up? Also, you have to hold up on the outside handle when closing the door. If you don't, it will automatically unlock.

Uhhh... Mine doesn't require that :/

Also, my passenger side can only be locked when it is shut. Shutting the door unlocks it, no matter what method I use to lock it. It's not a seized/bent rod, I've torn it apart multiple times in frustration, and honestly can't figure it out. I honestly do hate having to be impatient with anyone riding in my car, making them get out and shut the door so I can lock the car and get on with my day.

Edit: Previous owner was an idiot, the PS door requires the handle to be held.

[Ryan]

That doesn't make much sense.

You hold up the handle, close the door, release the handle.

If that isn't working, something is broken/bent.

[MrMazda92]

That doesn't make much sense.

You hold up the handle, close the door, release the handle.

If that isn't working, something is broken/bent.

I'll explain:

My DS door locks and closes without touching the exterior handle, no issues.

My passenger door requires the typical driver side door method to close.

The good news is, I have a minty PS door with handle and assembly. I'll swap the locks and install it as-is, thus having no silly handle pull required on either door.

[Sisko182]

That doesn't make much sense.

You hold up the handle, close the door, release the handle.

If that isn't working, something is broken/bent.

I'll explain:

My DS door locks and closes without touching the exterior handle, no issues.

My passenger door requires the typical driver side door method to close.

The good news is, I have a minty PS door with handle and assembly. I'll swap the locks and install it as-is, thus having no silly handle pull required on either door.

Its not really silly - its a feature meant so that you don't lock your keys in your car.

[MrMazda92]

I understand the intended purpose, however I simply don't do that

I locked my keys in the car once while it was running when I was 17, it was my mother's grocery getter. I had a 10 mile run(home and back) burned into my memory, I simply haven't repeated the mistake. Also, I'm putting a keypad on my car this winter.

[Evo_Spec]

That doesn't make much sense.

You hold up the handle, close the door, release the handle.

If that isn't working, something is broken/bent.

I'll explain:

My DS door locks and closes without touching the exterior handle, no issues.

My passenger door requires the typical driver side door method to close.

The good news is, I have a minty PS door with handle and assembly. I'll swap the locks and install it as-is, thus having no silly handle pull required on either door.

mine does that too, the passenger side requires the handle held but not the driver side

[Sisko182]

Both doors on my car require the handle to be held up.

[MrMazda92]

Weird, I hadn't noticed that on any of the MX-3s I've driven. :/

[Dragon1212]

That doesn't make much sense.

You hold up the handle, close the door, release the handle.

If that isn't working, something is broken/bent.

I'll explain:

My DS door locks and closes without touching the exterior handle, no issues.

My passenger door requires the typical driver side door method to close.

The good news is, I have a minty PS door with handle and assembly. I'll swap the locks and install it as-is, thus having no silly handle pull required on either door.

Its not really silly - its a feature meant so that you don't lock your keys in your car.

I know... It Never works I always remember to lift the handle and always forget my keys. Funny how that works huh

[ethand]

Both doors on my car require the handle to be held up.

Ditto. and

I know... It Never works I always remember to lift the handle and always forget my keys. Funny how that works huh

Ditto again...