Lock jammed

2010 HYUNDAI ELANTRA
8,700 MILES • 4 CYL • AUTOMATIC
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INMYHEART28
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I have a situation with my car where the lock on the door will jam every now and again. It doesn't happen often. It mostly happens if you lock and unlock the door a few times in a row (I tested this to find out and it took about 4 locks and unlocks. This is not an issue because this is not something that I would never do in normal operation of the car.) However, tonight, I went to unlock the car using the automatic button and the door only opened part way. It was stuck until I pressed unlock again. I have known of this problem for a long time but it has never surfaced because I don't lock and unlock the door 4 times in a row. However, the issue of it happening on the one unlock of the automatic button concerns me. Does this mean that it is getting worse or it is maybe just a once in a thousand thing since it's never happened before and didn't happen in about 5 times of unlocking it with the automatic button since? Or is the only way to know monitoring it and seeing what happens in the future?
Sep 8, 2016 at 5:44 PM
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SATURNTECH9
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When you lock and unlock using the power locks your can overheat the door lock actuators sometimes cars have thermal protection where the locks get disabled.You could have a failing actuator they get weak or inop when they fail.
Sep 8, 2016 at 9:01 PM
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INMYHEART28
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So is this a case of just being disabled (normal) or a failing system? Or would that be something that only a professional who looked at it would know?
Sep 8, 2016 at 10:11 PM
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SATURNTECH9
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The part of locking and unlock many times and the locks stop working I would say normal.But just one with the first unlock would be a problem.
Sep 10, 2016 at 6:38 PM
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INMYHEART28
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But it's only happened once an been okay many times since. Could this remain for a while with no issues?
Sep 10, 2016 at 9:59 PM
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SATURNTECH9
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If it only happened once I would not worry about it actuators sometimes die very slowly.
Sep 10, 2016 at 10:01 PM
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INMYHEART28
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As in over a period of a year or more before I would see any real issues (sometimes)?
Sep 10, 2016 at 10:02 PM
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SATURNTECH9
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Then I would leave it alone if it was my car or even a customer's car I would recommend to wait till it gets worse.
Sep 10, 2016 at 10:11 PM
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INMYHEART28
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Thank you for your advice. That is what I will do. I assume I will have to fix it in the future but nothing for now.
Sep 10, 2016 at 10:14 PM
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SATURNTECH9
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Exactly spend your money on things you really need.
Sep 10, 2016 at 10:18 PM
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