spaceman_spiff

hey guys, i'm glad to say that i'm the proud new owner of a 1994 black touring FD as of yesterday. however, i'm confused as to how the door lock system works. maybe my locks are faulty, but when I press the lock button from the inside, both driver and passenger doors lock and I hear a beep, and the security light on the arm-rest flashes. but when I step out and close the door, I'm still able to open it back up without the key. only when I physically insert the key into the driver door and turn it to the right does it lock the doors from the outside. am i doing something wrong?

DaleClark

iTrader: (55)

You're close . The power door lock system is simple - there's a motor on the passenger side that makes the passenger side mimic the driver's side.

If you press the lock button and close the door, the lock will unlock. Mazda did this for ages, I guess to keep you from locking your keys in the car. If you hold the door handle up as you close it, it will stay locked - that's how you're "supposed" to do it. But, this is REALLY hard on the already brittle door handle.

Better method is to get out, close the door, then use the key to lock the door. This will lock both doors (remember, the passenger side will always mimic the driver's side) and arm the security system. It's much kinder on the door handle.

The link at the top of the forum with the tech manuals also has the owner's manual - one of those books that has many answers in it that many overlook.

Dale

spaceman_spiff

wow thank you so much...that makes sense

SLOASFK

iTrader: (5)

neat...

My drivers side lock is jammed on the outside, and my exterior handle is more effort than it's worth to open it, so I never knew this..

thx Dale

DaveW

Dale, that's how I thought it should work (and my FB did require that), and I did it like that for years, but mine for at least the past three years, locks from the inside, and DOES NOT require the exterior handle to be held up to lock. To be honest, I don't remember if it ever did.

So, did something change in my car, or were '93's different from 94's?

Dave

FDdragon

my 93 requires the exterior handle to be held up too.

yeah, those handles are sensitive (already broke one...well two because the mechanic on base broke the one i replaced) i just use the key.

spaceman_spiff

yeah, i just tried it out (i heard an extra beep when i closed the door while holding the handle), but it's too difficult to hold it up while PUSHING the door closed. it's almost like i'm trying to pull the door in opposite directions at the same time.

dontlift

Hold the handle up with a finger or two while firmly pushing the door closed with your thumb above the handle. Or use Dale's method of locking it after it's closed...