The Chevy Silverado is an amazing vehicle that people love. I mean, what’s there not to like about the vehicle? It gives amazing on-road and off-road performance is fuel efficient, and most importantly can be adjusted to your liking. It is one of those rare trucks that respond great to any modification made.
Unfortunately, like any other good thing in the world. The Chevy Silverado has some issues. One of the main issues that users face is the Chevy Silverado Door Lock Problem.
Sometimes the automatic lock on the doors doesn’t work properly. In almost all of the cases, the issue remains in the key remote control and not in the vehicle. If you do unfortunately face the issue with the door lock, it will be later on in the truck’s life; not immediately. Another issue that you might face with the Chevy Silverado door lock is the doors unlocking on their own. Now, this is quite a serious issue.
I’ve discussed the root causes of these issues down below with some possible fixes to help you through this journey.
Chevy Silverado Door Lock Problem
Chevy Silverado users sometimes face issues with their door locking. Most of the newer models of the Chevy Silverado have an automatic door lock system. This door lock can be programmed to automatically lock the door when the key fob isn’t around. The feature can be quite useful if you ever forget to lock the car door.
While the automatic car door lock has a lot of benefits, it also has some disadvantages. Sometimes the door lock system can open and close the lock on its own, without any command. This happens most often when the car is driving. But a few users have also said that the problem occurs when the car is parked. Now, this raises a more severe issue since the car is exposed to the threat of theft.
The issue is not an immediate one though. Meaning, a brand-new Silverado will seldom have this issue. Vehicles that have gone over 16,000 miles of driving can sometimes show this problem.
This problem can be caused by bad wiring, problems in the actuator, or even a bad switch. Sometimes, it becomes difficult to pinpoint where exactly the issue originated.
Faulty Wiring Causing Door Lock Issue
One of the main reasons why the door lock could have problems is that there is faulty wiring. A fool-proof way to check whether or not you have faulty wiring is as follows-
1. Open The Switch Panel
First, you will need to get access to the wiring. To do this, you need to pop off the door lock switch panel.
2. Unplug The Connectors
After you have opened the switch panel, you need to unplug the connectors for the door lock. If there is any fault in the wire, you will be able to see some hints here. For example, some strands of wire might stand out.
3. Inspect The Wire
Then, you need to follow a lead wire here that connects to the actuator. Inspect the wire carefully and check if there are any tears. Sometimes the wires can also be tangled and therefore malfunction. If you see any tangles, try to get the wires straight.
Lock Switch Causing Door Lock Issue
The door lock switch might be outdated and no longer functional. This can then cause problems with the automatic door lock.
Check the switch and see if it is functional. If you cannot open the switch on the driver’s seat, try the passenger seat. If you are having trouble opening the door lock switch, you can try and watch a YouTube video on how to get access to the door lock switch to better to visualize the process.
You will be able to trace wear and tear and decide whether the switch needs replacement.
Actuator And Automatic Door Lock
A lot of the time, with older cars, the actuator gets worn out or jammed. It is considered to be one of the most complicated components in a vehicle. It works with a hydraulic system, so when you push the button, it moves the door lock physically.
Sometimes, issues in the actuator can therefore cause malfunctions in the lock system. If this is the issue, all you have to do is replace or fix the actuator.
Key Fob Issue
At times, the issue with the door lock is not that complicated. The problem may lie in the key fob itself.
If the key fob is the issue, you will have to reprogram it since there is a possibility that the problem lies in the controls.
If you want to know how to do this, you can take a look at this writing of mine on programming a chevy Silverado key fob.
Can You Disable The Automatic Door Lock Feature?
A lot of people prefer disabling the automatic door lock feature to avoid this issue entirely.
Contrary to popular belief, yes, you can disable this feature. If you take the vehicle to a registered dealership, they will disable the feature instantly.
Be careful not to take your vehicle to any third-party shops, since they can charge almost twice as much by claiming that this is illegal.
In reality, disabling the automatic lock feature is a completely legal procedure given the owner’s consent.
Fixes To A Few Common Issues In The Chevy Silverado
All the windows and doors of a Chevy Silverado are powered. They come with individual control modules.
I’ve already discussed a few common reasons why the door lock might be acting up. But here are some more not-so-frequently occurring reasons why you might be facing this issue.
Power Supply
The automatic door lock can start to act unnatural if there is an issue with the power supply since this is what feeds the functions.
If none of the above-mentioned fixes work for you, you can try and reset the battery connection. Replacing or fixing the circuit connection will also be helpful.
Control Module
If the locks on your chevy Silverado door are automatically turning on and off, there might be an issue with the control module.
You can give the control module a quick reset to see if it fixes the issue.
Fuse Box
Although not common, a damaged fuse box might cause the wires in the chevy to act weirdly. This might be what is causing the doors to lock and unlock without command.
A quick fix to the fuse box issue is just replacing the fuses.
Switch Assembly
With us, you might have put pressure on the switch assembly. This in return can cause problems in wiring and also misunderstanding in commands.
A damaged switch box cannot be repaired. It has to be replaced.
Frequently Asked Questions
Sometimes if the Chevy Silverado has issues with the immobilizer, it can show signs of problems with the lock. The lock might not be responding to all your commands, and might also unlock and lock on its own.
Issues with the immobilizer can also cause problems with the key and ignition compatibility. If the immobilizer is not fixed, sometimes the key will fail to turn the vehicle on. If this happens, you need to take the Chevy Silverado to the mechanic as soon as possible.
Luckily, with the right technique, you can turn on a chevy Silverado with other methods. You can even use high-quality screwdrivers such as the Amazon Basics 12-in-1 Magnetic Ratchet Screwdriver without putting a scratch on your vehicle.
If you want to learn more about this, you can read my writing on starting a chevy Silverado without a key.
Given that the procedure is not that complicated, an immobilizer can be replaced at home quite easily. But yes, you will need the right tools and skills to do so. The Idatalink Compustar BLADE-AL Web-programmable data immobilizer bypass and doorlock integration cartridge is a good quality immobilizer that you can purchase online and install on your own.
Even if you can’t get the immobilizer changed at home, you can take it to the mechanic since the fix doesn’t cost that much.
Yes, you can use tools such as the slim jim or even a sturdy piece of plastic to open the Silverado door. The process is a bit complicated but can be done easily if you follow the steps correctly.
If you want to know more, you can take a look at my writing on how to open chevy Silverado doors without a key.
Final Words
Having a Chevy Silverado Door Lock Problem? Don’t worry, there are a lot of solutions to this issue.
Before jumping into the fixes, you need to first identify what the issue is. Sometimes the door lock problem is caused by a damaged key switch box, and sometimes it is as simple as an issue with the key fob.
The cost of repair will also depend on what is causing the issue in the first place. So don’t fret. The door lock problem can be fixed. And if you’re still not satisfied with the fix, and the door lock problem continues, you can just disable the automatic door lock feature entirely.
