Door occasionally not locking/unlocking

[Steve McF]

My passenger's door lock seems to be getting a bit temperamental - sometimes not locking, sometimes not unlocking!!

Is there anything I can do to remedy this, or do I need to replace a part?

[sgould]

It's likely that the door lock needs replacing.  I did the passenger door lock a couple of weeks ago and the driver's lock last autumn.

I tried all the easy fixes which are cleaning the contacts in the connector's, starting with the big connector in the door hinge, followed by the ones in the door module.  In my case, that didn't work.  So I replaced the locks.

There are two types of lock.  One has 7 pins in the electrical connector, the later lock has only 5 pins.  The passenger door is more difficult, it has an extra lever for the key operation and the whole assembly is covered by a thick plastic anti-theft shield.  I couldn't get the shield out after unscrewing it, unless I removed the window mechanism, so I sawed it in half!

You need a T30 Torx screwdriver.

https://saabwisonline.com/b3/9-3/2006/8-body/doors-and-locks/adjustment-replacement-doors-and-locks/front-door-lock-unit/to-remove-812/

[Steve McF]

It's likely that the door lock needs replacing.  I did the passenger door lock a couple of weeks ago and the driver's lock last autumn.

I tried all the easy fixes which are cleaning the contacts in the connector's, starting with the big connector in the door hinge, followed by the ones in the door module.  In my case, that didn't work.  So I replaced the locks.

There are two types of lock.  One has 7 pins in the electrical connector, the later lock has only 5 pins.  The passenger door is more difficult, it has an extra lever for the key operation and the whole assembly is covered by a thick plastic anti-theft shield.  I couldn't get the shield out after unscrewing it, unless I removed the window mechanism, so I sawed it in half!

You need a T30 Torx screwdriver.

https://saabwisonline.com/b3/9-3/2006/8-body/doors-and-locks/adjustment-replacement-doors-and-locks/front-door-lock-unit/to-remove-812/

The last few days the passenger door lock didn't lock/unlock at all, so assumed it had finally died. However, this morning it worked again!!! Other than replacing it, what could I try first (eg lubrication etc)?

[sgould]

Clean all the contacts.  Door hinge connector and the ones to the door module and the lock.  The passenger side lock connector is trickier as it will have the security plate over it

[Steve McF]

Well i found a Youtube video where a guy suggested if your door lock stopped working, to lift and drop the pop up thing at the top of the door casing rapidly, over about 20 or 25 cycles, and it should then work again. I was very sceptical of this, but thought I'd try it as no tools required!!

Initially it seemed to have done nothing, but on the two days since then, it has locked and unlocked as normal every timr. So I assume it has cleared whatever was causing the lock to stick?

[sgould]

Could be a stuck or dirty microswitch.

I've got another sticky lock, so I might try that.

[Steve McF]

It stopped working again today, so I repeated the process and it seems to have come back to life again....but for how long???