driver door failure to open outside and inside

[readmccarty]

2022 lightening. The driver door (but no others) fails to open from the outside - very rare. Two time it has failed to open from the inside. Weather is cold but not always below freezing. I can not find a pattern but will be keeping a log. I tied unlocking with key fob, key pad - nothing works. Truck is running or not - no difference. Spontaneously the issue will resolve itself. The mechanical door patch is functioning normally.
Thoughts?

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[Heliian]

Hello and welcome to the forums! What trim is your truck?

Regardless of that, the door internals are basic f150 internals. The interior handle manually opens the door directly so if it's not functioning properly there is most likely something wrong at the latch.

Literally any mechanic who has worked on newer f150s can diagnose and fix it.

Since there have been little to no reports of your problem there is little to say except have someone pull the door trim and find out.

 

[Henry Ford]

The mechanical door patch is functioning normally.

Exactly what isn't working? It doesn't open from the inside? You pull on the door handle and the door doesn't open? That's a mechanical problem. If something else is happening please elaborate.

 

[readmccarty]

thanks for the replies.
first problem
the driver door is unlocked - the button is up.
the door will not open from the outside
used fob and door keypad to lock and unlock the door - no difference.
not sure why but at some point the door unlocked.
I did not make a note of the weather - but there was no snow or ice.
Once opened I used a pen to flip and unflip the door latch - worked just fine.
Second issue
couple of weeks later
I was inside the truck and the driver door would not open.
Used fob and inside buttons to lock and unlock door.
no change
had to exit from passenger side.
again not sure why but the door did unlock.
drove with door in semilocked postioned as i had to deliver meals for our local meals on wheels program.
the door than opened and closed normally at some point - again not sure why.
The problem with not being able to exit occured one more time the next day.
I will take better notes on what is happening if it happens again.
To me it seems like an electronic issue rather than simple mechanics due to the infrequency of the problem and also the way it resolved itself.
once i have more information i will post again.
Thanks
Read

 

[Henry Ford]

There are no electronics that are essential for normal door operation. If you pull the inside door handle the door should open whether locked or unlocked. When you pull the outside door handle the door should open if the door is unlocked. If this isn't happening the door mechanism is out of adjustment or broken. It's the exact same mechanism as the F150 so any dealer should be able to identify the problem and fix it easily.

If it happens again before visiting your dealer, take a video of what's happening. This may help the techs diagnose the issue.

Also, when you figure out what the issue is please pay it forward by reporting back here.

 

[jimfigler]

I don't know about the door but just an FYI it's a Lightning not Lightening. You have it spelled that way in the post and your signature. Lightening is something to do with pregnancy

 

[Heliian]

To me it seems like

As someone who has removed their door panels for window switch repairs I can tell you it's mostly mechanical and the inner handle is all mechanical.

This ain't no tesle.

 

[readmccarty]

There are no electronics that are essential for normal door operation. If you pull the inside door handle the door should open whether locked or unlocked. When you pull the outside door handle the door should open if the door is unlocked. If this isn't happening the door mechanism is out of adjustment or broken. It's the exact same mechanism as the F150 so any dealer should be able to identify the problem and fix it easily.

If it happens again before visiting your dealer, take a video of what's happening. This may help the techs diagnose the issue.

Also, when you figure out what the issue is please pay it forward by reporting back here.

Than ks for the input. Good idea on the video. Happened again this week - door opened from outside but not inside. Tried locking and unlocking etc - banged on the door to see if that would loosen things up - no help. Next day the handle worked just fine. In 20F weather, the driver side had been in the sun for a couple of hours before I tried the door again. Not sure if it is related to problem. I did buy an emergency glass breaker to keep in the driver door pocket just in case.

 

[mrau]

I did buy an emergency glass breaker to keep in the driver door pocket just in case.

Hopefully the "window down switch" will still work if door doesn't open.

 

[21st Century Truck]

This thread has caught my attention.

Two points to contribute:

1. I had the inner door panel off and on several times, for a different reason (power-folding mirror wiring). The mechanical linkage for the door latch system looks to me just like normal mechanical linkage on many car doors I've seen in the past. Therefore, I suggest manipulating it with the inner panel off to see what might be out of mechanical adjustment. Perhaps the passenger front door with its inner panel off can be used for a function comparison. These panels come off very easily on the Lightning.

2. The SecuriCode button panel on the driver's door B panel, my and my family teens' favorite feature of the Ford cars, on rare occasions fails to work although its buttons always visibly light up - hence it does get power. Then, a day or two later, the SecuriCode buttons start working again, all by themselves. This has happened three times since July, once again last week. Don't know if this is related or a separate issue... the only logical connection is that it's also at the driver's door.

Thanks,

 

[Henry Ford]

2. The SecuriCode button panel on the driver's door B panel, my and my family teens' favorite feature of the Ford cars, on rare occasions fails to work although its buttons always visibly light up - hence it does get power. Then, a day or two later, the SecuriCode buttons start working again, all by themselves. This has happened three times since July, once again last week. Don't know if this is related or a separate issue... the only logical connection is that it's also at the driver's door.

I replaced the driver's door wiring harness on an older truck because the speaker cut in and out. I was able to track it down something in the space between the door and the jam but just replaced the whole harness for ease.

If you are having intermittent trouble with multiple things in the door it's almost certainly a bad harness. When it happens, document it so you can show your dealership tech. If you show them two things they don't have to troubleshoot it and you'll get a new harness.

 

[readmccarty]

Hopefully the "window down switch" will still work if door doesn't open.

excellant point! I have to try the window next time it happens

 

[readmccarty]

This thread has caught my attention.

Two points to contribute:

1. I had the inner door panel off and on several times, for a different reason (power-folding mirror wiring). The mechanical linkage for the door latch system looks to me just like normal mechanical linkage on many car doors I've seen in the past. Therefore, I suggest manipulating it with the inner panel off to see what might be out of mechanical adjustment. Perhaps the passenger front door with its inner panel off can be used for a function comparison. These panels come off very easily on the Lightning.

2. The SecuriCode button panel on the driver's door B panel, my and my family teens' favorite feature of the Ford cars, on rare occasions fails to work although its buttons always visibly light up - hence it does get power. Then, a day or two later, the SecuriCode buttons start working again, all by themselves. This has happened three times since July, once again last week. Don't know if this is related or a separate issue... the only logical connection is that it's also at the driver's door.

Thanks,

thanks for the thoughts -mi will take a look at YouTube to study removing panel doors

 

[sshoaf]

2022 lightening. The driver door (but no others) fails to open from the outside - very rare. Two time it has failed to open from the inside. Weather is cold but not always below freezing. I can not find a pattern but will be keeping a log. I tied unlocking with key fob, key pad - nothing works. Truck is running or not - no difference. Spontaneously the issue will resolve itself. The mechanical door patch is functioning normally.
Thoughts?

You are not alone. I also have a 2022 and have experienced this a few times In the winters of Chicago. The first winter 2022/2023 nothing happened. Then last winter during temperatures below 0 degrees I could not get out of my truck after I pulled it out of the garage one morning. I had to roll down the window and use the door handle outside. Happened one or two more times during some more near 0 degree days. The door latch on the inside will typically not move without attempting to pull very hard which gives a feeling like it will break if I actually pull it. I have learned that something is freezing with the mechanism because I can direct the drivers side air vent to blow over it and it will thaw after a few minutes of blowing warm air on it. I mentioned it to the dealer early spring after that winter when I was there for a routine 10k maintenance Interval. They didn't want to take the door apart because they were blaming the extreme below 0 degree temperatures and spring was here.

I was ok with that at the time and figured if it happens again I will push for the door panel to be removed. Well, this winter was going well even in temperatures below 0 degrees and then one day when it was "warming" up to 6 degrees last week it happened again. I'll need to make an appointment with my dealer.

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