Driver and Passenger doors won’t lock, but I hear them click and see the locks twitch.

My car has four doors. The key-fob will unlock and lock the back two passenger doors, but not the drivers side door, nor the front passenger door.

When I click the fob or on the lock switches (all 4 will do this) in my car the front 2 door locks will make a clicking sound and I will see them twitch a little, but they won't actually lock. There is a way to manually lock and unlock the driver side door from the outside with my car key and that works fine, and I can manually lock both doors by flipping the locks by hand.

I don't think a fuse is blown and I am praying that I don't

Experienced mechanics share their insights in answering this question :
If the same problem is happening even when you use the inside door lock switch then the most likely cause of the locks not moving is going to be weak actuators. You should replace the drivers lock actuator first since it is used the most and you will see it fixes the problem. Then you can replace the other doors as needed.

How to Identify and Fix Common car Problems ?

Our sources include academic articles, blog posts, and personal essays from experienced mechanics :

A blown fuse is the common hurdle in locking doors properly. Car doors rely on this fuse`s command to lock or unlock. The fuse is usually located under the glove box (passenger`s side) and can get blown due to high voltage. The fuse is cheaper and can be easily replaced at home.
If only one door isn`t working, there`s likely a problem with a door switch or sensor. If this is the case, you`ll need to have a mechanic take a look at your car. If all of your doors don`t open, you could have a blown fuse.
Press and hold the lock side of the driver`s door-lock switch within 20 seconds of switching the ignition ON, and make sure a beep sound is heard about eight seconds afterwards.
Lack of lubrication. Moving parts always experience friction, so a possible cause of the driver-side door locks not working is a poorly lubricated door latch. For this issue, check if the latch mechanism on the door has any corrosion that could be hindering the lock.
Door lock problems are often caused by a malfunctioning lock mechanism or latch assembly, but there are several common reasons why locks stop working: The lock is dry or dirty. It doesn`t fit in the door properly. The latch and strike plate don`t align.
In most cases, there will be a button or switch near the door handle. Once you have found the correct door, press and hold the button or switch for a few seconds. After a few seconds, the door should auto-lock function. If it does not, try pressing and holding the button or switch for a longer period of time.
A door lock relay can be located in four different places on a vehicle, including: Under the dash on the wall by the brake pedal. Under the dash in the middle of the cab behind the stereo. Under the dash behind the passenger air bag.
Five of the most common reasons for a car door lock not working properly are a dead battery in the key fob, bad programming in the fob, a blown fuse, a bad solenoid or a broken wire.
Remove the fuse from its holder. In some cases you may need a small screwdriver to unscrew the fuse holder cap. Look at the fuse wire. If there is a visible gap in the wire or a dark or metallic smear inside the glass then the fuse is blown and needs to be replaced.
The key fob battery is dead: This is one of the most common reasons why your car door lock is not working. If your locks aren`t working, replacing the battery in the key fob could solve the issue. The key fob is faulty: If the battery isn`t the problem, the issue may be with the fob itself.

Relevant Questions and Answers :

the most relevant questions and answers related to your specific issue

Driver and Passenger doors won’t lock, but I hear them click and see the locks twitch.
ANSWER : If the same problem is happening even when you use the inside door lock switch then the most likely cause of the locks not moving is going to be weak actuators. You should replace the drivers lock actuator first since it is used the most and you will see it fixes the problem. Then you can replace the other doors as needed.

Driver side door lock button not working, and passenger side sliding door makes a buzzing noise
ANSWER : Hi there. These door issues are common on this vehicle. Most of the time the main issue is the master door lock switch on the driver door. It sounds like you already replaced that. As for the sliding door problem, most of the time, this is a failure within the door module or it can be a connection issue.

I typically take the door apart and check the connections on the module and inside of the door just to make sure that there is nothing apparent in there. If the connections and the wiring are fine, then I use a scan tool to check the module to see what the inputs and outputs are doing. If you need to have this looked at, consider YourMechanic, as a certified mechanic can come to your home or office to diagnose your door problem and recommend a repair.

all doors lock only by inserting key in passenger side door and locking
ANSWER : Your central locking system may have been designed with a control module in the circuit. This is a small computer that is responsible for controlling the different functions of a particular system. It is possible that the module for your central locking system may have shorted out internally preventing particular functions from working properly. I would recommend having a certified technician test your central locking module to determine if all of its functions are working properly.

My 2003 ford explorer wont start up just get click click click click click click click click
ANSWER : If the battery is weak and the voltage is dropping to below 9 volts you will get the clicking without the starter turning the motor. Have the battery voltage checked and if battery cannot hold a load then replace it and clean the battery terminals and recheck system to see if it starts.

Having problems with door locks on 08 Cadillac CTS. Driver side door especially and will not lock or unlock with key. Others loc
ANSWER : This is often related to a malfunctioning door lock actuator, a blown fuse or a faulty power door lock switch. When you use the door lock switch in the car it sends a signal to a relay which then activates an actuator inside the door. The actuator is the final step in the process in that it is a small motor with a set of gears that actually locks and unlocks the latch mechanism inside the door allowing the door to open. When this motor is bad, the latch mechanism will fail to operate and cause the door not to unlock as it is designed to. In the case of a bad door lock relay, the power, normally needed to send the signal from the switch when you activate it to the actuator motor is not there. This means the relay is not allowing the circuit to be completed and the actuator motor is not activated. Any of the above may cause your power door lock switches not to work properly and should be diagnosed by a qualified mechanic. I would suggest having a professional from YourMechanic come to your location to take a look at the door locks in your vehicle.

My window on my passenger side won’t roll down and the lock button doesn’t lock the doors.
ANSWER : Hello, thank you for writing in. Your issue is most likely a switch. The window motor would not effect the door lock functions. The only true way to know is to test the power available to the switch and see if it is passing through, or making it to the motor. Where the power stops and is not utilized, is the component that has failed. If the power supply is not making it to the switch, then you have another wiring or fuse issue. Without doing some electrical testing, you may want to start with replacing the switch. For more help with diagnosis and resolving the issue, contact our service department to schedule an appointment.

Front Passenger Lock sometimes does not lock with a remote control or by locking button located on either doors.
ANSWER : The solenoid is on the door latch and is most likely the cause of the problem for your 2005 Toyota Tacoma. If you want to have this inspected and repaired, a certified technician from YourMechanic can come to your home or office to diagnose your door lock and perform the correct replacement.

Doors wont lock or unlock with fob or switch?
ANSWER : Hello. Further testing should be done to help solve your problem. Being that the door unlock reprogramming procedure has already been done and the fuses have been checked there’s not much left it could be. When you hit the unlock button you should hear a little noise in each of the doors. If you hear the noise that means that the motor inside of the door actuator is working therefore it is likely the actuator itself as the problem. Though if you do not hear any noise that means it is likely the motor inside of the actuator. The actuator motors are very common failure on Lexus. The Lexus Community is almost an uproar because the a L in Lexus should also stand for luxury but there have been widespread simple problems reported such as this. A technician such as those we have here at yourmechanic will be able to diagnose your door lock issue for you firsthand. But if you consider following the test I suggested that should help you narrow down to a solution as well.

It may also be a beneficial to take a door panel off and probe a multi meter to the door actuator connectors to ensure they are receiving the proper power and ground when the buttons are pressed. If they are that only leaves two things that can be at fault. The door actuator or the motor inside of the door actuator.