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For those who love to drive and need an instant boost of power, the all-electric Nissan Leaf has the appeal to give you the thrill you want. But as advanced as it may sound, no car is perfect—sooner or later, your vehicle is bound to run into some issues. For Nissan owners, one such problem is that the Nissan Leaf won’t lock.
Fortunately, there are steps you can take to troubleshoot the problem and get back on the road.
In this post, we will break down exactly what causes the Nissan Leaf not locking car issues—as well as what you can do to fix them. Sometimes some of these fixes are DIY and you don’t have to see a mechanic.
5 Common Reasons Why Your Nissan Leaf Won’t Lock
If your Nissan Leaf won’t lock when you leave the car or it’s preventing you from getting into your vehicle, there are several reasons why this might be happening.
Here are the five most common issues and how you can fix them:
The Key Fob Battery Is Dead
Cause: This is perhaps the most common reason your car lock is not working. To know if your key fob battery is dead, check out the following signs:
- Low battery warning sign on your car
- Multiple clicks are needed for the key to work
- Weakening signal strength
- Inconsistent results – This means one moment the key fob is working correctly—but in another, the key can’t seem to function properly.
Solution: When you find out that your key fob battery is dead, getting fresh batteries is the easiest way to fix this. If this doesn’t work, you may need to replace the key fob.
The Key Fob Is Faulty
Cause: If the battery is charged, but you’re still having trouble locking your Nissan Leaf, you may have a malfunctioning key fob. This is detected when your key is not even transmitting a signal to the car.
Solution: The best solution is to visit your dealer. To solve this, your dealer will probably connect the fob to a computer to confirm that the programming is still valid.
If it’s not transmitting any signal, it’s a sign you’re due for another key fob.
The Car’s Locking System May Be Malfunctioning
Cause: It’s possible that the problem is not related to your key fob. Rather, the car’s locking system might be faulty, leading to the car not locking properly. This may be due to obvious reasons: Wear and tear of the car or poor maintenance, and lack of regular checkups.
Solution: To solve this issue, it’s best to have a certified technician inspect the car. This way, the technician can diagnose the cause of the issue and offer a solution to the problem.
You May Have A Blown Fuse
Cause: If you’ve tried all of the above and your power locks still aren’t working, it’s possible that you may have blown a fuse. Usually, some doors may be working when you have a blown fuse while others don’t.
Solution: To know for sure that the vehicle has a fuse problem, check your car’s manual to see where the fuse for the power locks is located. You can then go ahead and replace it.
Fuses are cheap to replace, so you don’t have to worry about incurring a lot of expenses for this.
Faulty Solenoid
Cause: The solenoid in your lock may have failed if you are having difficulties with one of the doors/locks in your automobile’s central locking system.
Solution: Since the central locking system is very complex and consists of very complicated components, we recommend getting your vehicle inspected by a mechanic in case your solenoid has failed.
Unless you are a mechanic, trying to fix this problem yourself might lead to other complications that might cost you later.
Next Step: Scheduling A Vehicle Diagnostic
Of course, the next step is to schedule an appointment with your dealer.
To diagnose your central locking system, your mechanics will:
- Test the functioning of your door lock
- Test each circuit’s fuses one by one to see if they’re blown
- Check the electrical relay’s functionality
- Replace any locked central door locking system that has failed
- Choose the most effective answer to fix any faulty door lock switches
- To ensure that the system is fully functional, test it after it’s finished
- Diagnose the key fob
The cost of repairing or replacing your car’s central locking system typically depends on the model of your car as well as what needs replacements.
Here are rough figures just to give you an estimate:
- To program a key fob – $45-$125
- Key extraction – $75 – $125
- Car key replacement – $95 – $350
However, always check in with your dealer before the fix is done to avoid any inconvenience caused.
Conclusion
There is no denying that Nissan Leaf is a popular choice for electric car buyers. But as seen above, Nissan Leaf won’t lock is a common occurrence that can leave your car vulnerable to theft.
The good news is that some of the causes of your car won’t lock can easily be fixed even without visiting a dealer and for free.
However, other causes related to Nissan Leaf lock problems can prove complicated—and unless you are a mechanic or have specialist knowledge in cars, it’s always advisable to take your car to an experienced specialist. This way, you can save both time and resources.
FAQs:
Why is my Nissan Leaf car not locking?
There are several reasons why your Nissan Leaf won’t lock, including a blown fuse, damaged electrical wires, a bad solenoid, faulty key fob, and bad programming of the key fob. However, the most common culprit why the car won’t lock is a dead battery in the key fob.
How do you program a Nissan Leaf key fob?
Although it might require the assistance of a professional, the process is quite straightforward.
Open the driver’s side door and shut it. Then, hold down the lock and unlock buttons on the key fob simultaneously. The car should start beeping, and the key fob will be programmed.
How do you tell if you have a bad key fob?
Some of the symptoms of a bad key fob include weak signal strength, multiple keystrokes needed to lock/unlock the doors, and inconsistent functioning of the key fob. Apart from the locking issue, a faulty key fob won’t even let you start your Nissan Leaf. You will be a “Key is not detected” in the dashboard.
How much does it cost to replace a Nissan key fob?
The cost to replace a Nissan Leaf key fob will depend on the model and year of your car. That said, expect the cost to range anywhere between $45-$125.
How long does a Nissan Leaf key fob last?
Typically, key fobs last between three to four years. However, you will need to replace your key fob’s battery and check for any faults to keep its lifespan longer.