Advantages and Disadvantages of Manual and Power Door Locks

The power door locks were designed as an enhancement to the manual ones. Although they resemble the manual door locks and are made of the same materials, the power door locks include an automation system. The central locking system enables the locks to operate without any physical effort.

While you need a key to operate the manual door locks, either one control point or keyless remote system is used to operate all the automatic door locks. Many car doors use both systems, meaning that you can either use keys or remote system.

Manual Door Locks

It is relatively easy to operate the manual door locks, which are not complicated. Ironically, the simple design is what makes them prone to damages. Another problem is that they are earlier designs, which means that you may find it difficult to get the suitable parts or technicians for them.

Although you may lose the key, you will still find it relatively easy to pick the lock.

Power Door Locks

These locks offer more convenience, as they may lock automatically when you reach a given speed, so you won’t worry about forgetting to lock them. You also do not have to go round and open each door at a time.

This ease of operation also means that a problem in one door may affect the operation of all the doors. They also have a tendency to lock themselves, which is not much of a problem until you forget the key fob inside the car! In addition, the power door locks are relatively costlier to maintain.

Many new vehicles use door lock button systems that make it easy to unlock or lock the vehicles by just clicking a button. The Central Timer Module (CTM) and Body Control Module (BCM) control how the door lock button system operates. The following methods will help you to program the system on your own.

Method One

• Synchronize the transmitter by pressing the ‘lock’ button 5 times after every 2 seconds.
• Put the ignition switch on the ‘run’ position and let the ignition chimes stop.
• Press the ‘unlock’ button on any functioning transmitter for between 4 and 10 seconds.
• Press the ‘panic’ button for a second while you still hold the ‘unlock’ button and then release both of them. This will take you to the transmitter programming mode, which you will determine by a chime that you should leave for 3 seconds.
• Press the ‘lock’ and ‘unlock’ buttons for a second simultaneously. You will hear a short chime.
• Press any button on the transmitter and release it. A chime will indicate that you have succeeded in the programming.

Method Two

• Synchronize the transmitter as above and check whether it is functioning well.
• If not, put the ignition to its ‘run’ position and let the ignition chimes stop.
• Press the ‘hold’ button on the original transmitter and hold it for between 4 and 10 seconds.
• Press the ‘panic’ button while still holding the ‘unlock’ button to enter the transmitter programming mode.
• Press a button on each of the transmitters you want to program. You will hear a chime after each transmitter has been programmed.
• Turn off the ignition to exit from the transmitter programming mode.