A friends client has a 2008 Fit DX, with manual locks. He's telling my buddy that before, he used to have to hold the handle open from the inside before he could lock the drivers side door while it was open. Now, it doesn't work that way. Something has changed.

Can any one confirm if you need to hold the inside handle open when pushing down the manual lock mechanism in a DX?

If that is the case - any idea what has changed, and what could be the problem?

 

I don't think so....there's no lock that I've heard of that requires you to keep the handle open.

My Fit has auto locks, but I can push them down manually without touching the door handles at all. Just like in any other car.

 

Hate to say it dude, but I'm 100% sure my Civic was like that. Here's whole discussion about it with Japanese cars: Lifting the handle to lock older Japanese car doors, Why? [Archive] - Straight Dope Message Board

While the car door is open, you must pull the inside handle, then click the lock button to lock the drivers side. It's a safety mechanism so that you don't lock your keys in your car.

Anyone have a DX they can try it with?

 

Guess I don't know my Japanese cars too well....

I've never owned a car with manual locks to be honest, lol!

 

I know that some older Hondas would unlock the door if you manually locked the door while opened and then closed the door.

As said before, it was to prevent locking keys in the car. Holding the outside handle up while closing the door would allow the door to lock.

I don't recall ever trying or needing to hold the inside handle to manually lock it but the linkages are going to the same latch so it sounds reasonably possible.

 

Weird. I would always hold the inside handle while locking my 1991 Accord. It never occurred to me that I was supposed to hold the outside door handle.

 

The first question is... What do you mean "it doesn't work that way"?

Does it lock even if you don't pull the handle?

Or does it not lock even when you pull the handle?

Chances are, either way, something is broken. Could be a linkage, gear or sensor, depending on how the door lock mechanism/actuator works. Probably needs replacing.