Idiot Door Locks?

[Buffman]

I did a search and think I found my answer but just want to be sure.

On my driver's side door (and pass just checked) if I get out and press the lock button, then proceed to shut the door, the closing of the door pushed the lock button back open, not locking the door. Is this the idiot door lock feature that requires you to hold the handle open to shut the door and keep it locked?

Matt

[ericem]

Yes that is correct.

[Buffman]

any way to disable them?

[93forestpearl]

It seems to be a common thing on older Japanese cars. My buddy's old Accord was the same way.

[ericem]

Whats so bad about it?

[kimokalihi]

I didn't know about this either and I kept wondering how my car was unlocked every time I came out to it after work. Then I realized what was going on and now I lock it with the key instead. Same thing on volkswagens and audis.

It's so you don't lock your keys in your car.

[Buffman]

usually just have better piece of mind knowing the doors are locked, and don't require some additional step to make sure they're locked Ohh well I'll just have to remember to lock it with the key or hold the handle.

[evolutionmovement]

You get used to it. Eliminating the stupid feature might be more trouble than it's worth. I believe the rear doors don't have the setup so you might be able to emulate the way the rods are rigged with that, but don't know how the lock cylinder would factor in.

[Buffman]

yeah, I figured I'll just leave it alone, otherwise it would probably break then I'd have to spend more $$. Had to rig the rear pass lock as it wasn't locking. Piece of plastic broke off. Got a screw and epoxy. Hopefully it's not too stiff not to function now

[entirelyturbo]

My car either has had this disabled or does not have this feature. Not sure why.

[n2x4]

I think the Legacy has screwy locks to begin with. You've got this, and the whole "locks the door when you try and open it from the inside" trick. I still need to fix that issue.

[kimokalihi]

Yeah I had a 90 legacy wagon that had messed up locks. The front passenger side only opened if you held the lock button in when you opened the door. The rear passenger side wouldn't unlock at all. You just couldn't open the door.

[evolutionmovement]

It's a plastic pin. It breaks. If you search it, the fix instructions will come.

[entirelyturbo]

After 8 years of ownership, I finally got around to fixing that on my Legacy last weekend. I didn't quite understand how it worked, so someone showed me how. Didn't know it was that easy.

You can do it with a strong piece of wire, or even cotter pins. But if you use cotter pins, you'll have to grind a section of the door frame out to make room for them to stick out from behind the door handle, or they won't bolt back up to the door.

Basically there's just a little spring inside that is supposed to return the door handle back after you open the door. That plastic pin that holds it breaks, and so when you open the door handle, that spring pushes the door lock back locked. All you have to do is pull the spring back and secure it and you've fixed your door locks.

[Legacy777]

Metal clothes hangers work fine......or tie wire.

I'm amazed this page is still around. I used it to fix mine back in 2000 or so.

http://www.geocities.com/hobiegary/legacy.htm