It is normal on my 06 . You can reach around and manually unlock the door with the car running and open it then. The auto unlock feature takes some time to get familar with it.

 

Its a security feature.

 

Every manual-transmission Solstice (and Sky) does that. There is no feedback from the handbrake to the door locks. As stated, you can use the manual knob to unlock the doors or, as I do, use the unlock button on the key fob.

Later year cars have interior lock/unlock buttons, and it is possible retrofit them to earlier cars. I always intended to do that, but adapted to using the fob so never completed the project.

 

Yes a real PITA! I have learned to pull up the door lock pin shortly after it locks itself. It will stay unlocked so you can open the door with the motor running. My Nissan allows you to shut the nuisance off but no luck on the Solstice!

 

Having the doors locked while driving is a safety and security feature that is reported to help keep the doors closed in the event of a collision. Regardless of whether it actually helps or not I don't see it as a nuisance since I rarely get out of the car without shutting it off first.

 

Each to his own!

 

True. Although in this case your choices are to accept it as it is or to be unhappy.

 

It is normal on my 06 . You can reach around and manually unlock the door with the car running and open it then. The auto unlock feature takes some time to get familar with it.

 

Thank you..I'll do the window open and open from outside that you suggested.

 

I think his suggestion is to just pull up on the lock pin, it is on the inside of the vehicle, not outside. This:

By the way. Is your car automatic transmission? If it is, shitfing to "P" (Park) should unlock the doors. (if it doesn't, you have to enable the option on the DIC menu).

 

Can the auto lock and unlock be set via the DIC?

 

On cars equipped with the DIC (Driver Information Center - the digital display that's inset on the lower speedo dial) the behaviour of the auto lock and unlock can be configured.

 

My driveway is about 350 ft. long. If I'm gonna check the mail on my way out, I'll leave the driver's door ajar so I don't have to shut the car off after driving just 350 ft. My driver's side door lock is very difficult to pull up, half the time I'm unable to do so. The passenger side operates easily.

On that note, I ask "Do the Lil' Chromies have a knob on top to facilitate pulling them up?"

 

The chromies have a ribbed end machined on them making grabbing the pin very easy.

 

It's annoying. On my '06, the DIC can configure locking pattern but you can't disable the auto-lock completely, so it will always lock the doors when you start moving. The best you can do it have it unlock when shutting off the ignition. I bought an interior door lock button for a newer Solstice to add it to my car but never bothered. Oddly the passenger side door panel on my car has a spot marked on the panel for the lock button, but the driver's side panel does not.

I would prefer it never lock the doors. The lock just disables the door handle, basically, so I can't see how that's much of a safety feature for collision. I suppose it could keep unauthorized personnel from opening the door while the car's running, but that's about it.

 

The doors lock while driving for safety. Without the lock activated there is just the latch holding the door closed which can be easily opened in case of an accident. Unlocked the doors do tend to fly open in certain circumstances. Having the lock on re-enforces the latch and helps keep the door closed except in the most extreme accidents. Ever seen an older car rollover and the doors fly open. Not that it would help with a convertible...

In the early days of NASCAR, before they started welding the doors shut or building cars without doors, drivers would tie ropes around the door pillars to keep them from opening.

 

You guys are all awesome....Thank you for the ideas. I love my 2007 Solstice in MEAN yellow.

 

On my '06, the DIC can configure locking pattern but you can't disable the auto-lock completely, so it will always lock the doors when you start moving.

I wasn't sure of that -- because I've never tried to disable auto-locking, I believe. I've grown used to all cars I've owned to have this feature so really didn't think of disabling it. On my '06 neither door trim panel has the stamping for the door lock/unlock switch so I've added a switch to the boomerang/dash. I'll post on a separate topic about how I did it; but think people here will find it anywhere between funny to hillbilly to ridiculous to sacrilege -- I've used an industrial rotating selector switch! It was the best option that didn't require hacking the boomerang (it fit on the dimmer switch position with to me is a useless switch -- I always leave it on the max position) and allowed for both lock and unlock on the same switch.

 

Our 2006 is the same way....hard to get used to, I agree!

 

OK, I've been educated. Thanks! Best to keep doors locked at all times during driving!

 

Don't most lock mechanisms also move a support piece behind the latch to keep it from moving/releasing under stress?

 

I'm curious to know the answer to this too. What I always thought is that it doesn't unless on certain car models that have the "additional safety lock" or "superlocking" feature. Let's hear from more experienced people.

 

I tore apart the lock mechanism from my 2004 Saturn Vue. When the actuator fired it pulled the door pull down and moved an internal piece to disable the latch from moving. Additionally, the handle was disabled. All this was done by one movement. The latch would not move at all when enabled, but when unlocked you could move the latch easily with your fingertip.

I don't think things changed that much in the mechanism in a couple of years, but you never know.

 

I tore apart the lock mechanism from my 2004 Saturn Vue. When the actuator fired it pulled the door pull down and moved an internal piece to disable the latch from moving. Additionally, the handle was disabled. All this was done by one movement. The latch would not move at all when enabled, but when unlocked you could move the latch easily with your fingertip.

I don't think things changed that much in the mechanism in a couple of years, but you never know.

Then you have mroe experience on the matter than I do. The only latch I've tore down into is for a domestic market Fiat sold here. It didn't have any additional safety (in fact the whole thing was second-rate, very disappointing and weak). It's good to know there is an additional layer of safety on the Kappas (and probably all US market cars in general)

 

Use the key FOB to unlock the doors even when the car is running.

 

Use the key FOB to unlock the doors even when the car is running.

Well now that certainly is an awesome idea i didnt think of thank you sir

 

Use the key FOB to unlock the doors even when the car is running.

Well now that certainly is an awesome idea i didnt think of thank you sir

That is a good idea. (See also post #4)

 

Even the automatic cars require you to put the transmission in park before you can open the door.