Central Lock Failure? Check These Common Causes First

Had the same issue on my 2013 Chevy Equinox last month. The security system completely stopped responding, no central locking, dead key fob, nothing. Turned out the main door lock actuator had failed, plus there was a damaged wiring harness connection to the driver's door module. The repair involved replacing the faulty door lock actuator and rewiring the connection. It's actually a common problem with these GM locking mechanisms. The door module gets constant use, and the wiring can wear out over time, especially near the door hinges where the cables flex. Quick tip: Before going to a shop, check your key fob battery and the fuse box first. If those check out okay, it's likely either the actuator or wiring harness causing the keyless entry system failure. This isn't a catastrophic issue, but it needs proper diagnosis since it affects the overall security system functionality. The main components that typically need inspection are: Door lock actuator, Wiring harness connections, Body control module, Door latch assembly You'll want a proper diagnostic scan since there could be multiple failure points in the central locking system.

Yeah, I had pretty much identical symptoms with my Traverse last year, total failure of the remote locking and key fob stopped working completely. Our issue ended up being a fried fuse and a faulty door locking mechanism in the driver's side. Really frustrating when the car alarm kept going off out of nowhere before we got it fixed too! What did you end up paying for the repair? Just curious because the shop initially quoted me pretty high, but I managed to get it done for less at a different place. Have you had any other electrical gremlins pop up since getting it fixed? The car alarm on mine occasionally still acts up in cold weather.

Just got back from the mechanic and wanted to update on my central locking problem. Great news, everything's working perfectly now! Turns out it was exactly what I suspected from my previous experience, just a damaged cable connection near the driver's door hinge area. The repair was way simpler than expected. They found a worn-out wire in the door harness that was interrupting the central locking signals. Once they fixed that connection, the whole security system came back to life, remote locking, car alarm, everything's responding like new. Total cost came to 95€, which included the diagnostic work and fixing the wire connection. Much better than the complete actuator replacement I needed last time! So far, no unusual car alarm triggers or any other electrical issues. The remote locking works every time now, and there's no more error codes showing up. Quick note on your cold weather issues, might want to get those door seals checked. Sometimes moisture can get in there and mess with the connections when temperatures drop. These electronic door locks can be sensitive to that kind of stuff.

Thanks for sharing, finally got mine fixed! Went to a different mechanic this time and had a much better experience. My locking mechanism was definitely shot, but they also found some corroded wiring in the driver's door that was messing with the keyless entry system. Total bill came to €275 including parts and labor, way less than the €600+ quote I got from the first place. The mechanic walked me through everything they found and even showed me the damaged parts. The door locks now work perfectly, both with the key fob and the interior buttons. Best part is the car alarm finally stopped going off out of nowhere in the middle of the night! Apparently that was happening because the faulty wiring was sending mixed signals to the security system. Everything's been working great for the past week, no more error codes or electrical gremlins.