My driver side door lock is acting very strangely. I'll try to describe it in detail, sorry if it's confusing but this problem itself is confusing:

When the door is closed, everything went better than expected. Manual lock and unlock works normally, as well as power lock and unlock.

However, if the driver door is open, problem. Power unlock only works for the passenger side and power lock works for both sides. Also, manual lock and unlock doesn't work when the driver door is open. Let me try to explain about the manual lock and unlock:

If the lock is initially in unlocked position and the door is open, if I try to manually change it to the locked position, I can't. There is resistance and the lock remains in the unlocked position. Same for the other way around. Now, strangely if I try to change the lock position while I'm pulling on the door handle, then it works fine.

Weird huh? I tried to take a look at it after taking off the door panel but there's really nothing to look at. No reason I can tell why there is resistance and why it doesn't change lock position when the door is open.

 

It's your door latch mechanism. There are rods connected to the door handle, the manual lock and the power lock. Opening the door must jam some of the other rods. I would source a new door latch mechanism.

 

The drivers door lock won't work with the door open, unless you pull the inner door handle. Honda designed it this way to keep you from locking keys in car...

 

Let me guess, this is your first Honda?

As tlarimer said, it's a safety mechanism so you don't lock your keys in the car. All 4 Civics I've had were this way. You get used to it quick and get used to explaining to other people that you have to do this and that it's not broken, it's a safety feature.

 

Try manually pushing it down with the door open, after trying that i figured it was a safety system. EGs, EKs and the 7th gens have this, idk about the rest.

 

Awesome, thanks guys :-)

 

I wish every thread had it's own Meme to go with it.

 

Having just bought my first honda 3 weeks ago, i went through this same thing. Thankfully the owners manual was in the glove box and I was able to read how to make it work. Deff scared me for 5 minutes or so thinking the door wouldn't lock.

 

my 1997 honda civic passenger doors wont open

 

and its not electric help

 

 

You should start your own topic. Give us some more info as well. I'm guessing it is a coupe civic. I'm hoping that you already tried opening from the outside latch and the inside latch and tried locking/unlocking it with both the key and the lock switch. What happens when you pull the handle?