automatic locks

[ChrisJ]

That's all fine and well.

However, has anyone though maybe this is some kind of federal implemented safety feature like air bags?

Either way, I've got more important crap to worry about then tapping an unlock button.

 

[sx sonic]

Oh while working on my car today I recalled another BIG inconvience of "auto locks" If you move you're car double pull the door.... get out... try to open another door and BAM it's locked.... You've got to run around to the door and reach in and unlock the door.... to run around and get in the other door...... Or how about getting the groceries at a rural store/gas station..... or picking up a case of beer, I've given up on throwing beer in the back anymore, I just throw it in the backseat or frt seat now; yea it's illegal but I sadly get frustrated thinking about how this worthless this feature is to me when I hit the unlock button.

I also think wouldn't it be more logical to be able to disable this feature if so desired. Or how bout letting the smaller minority of people that are "safer" (dr evil laser beam voice) with doors lock hit the door lock button while driving.... It is easier to hit while you're driving then when you're in the process of attempting to get out.

If this was easily disabled I would not give 2 shats this feature exist. The fact that many of us are FORCED with something that serves us absolutely zero purpose and we HAVE to live with it and be ANNOYED by it does not sit well with me...

 

[sx sonic]

That's all fine and well.

However, has anyone though maybe this is some kind of federal implemented safety feature like air bags?

Either way, I've got more important crap to worry about then tapping an unlock button.

I'm sure you're well aware of how pragmatic the federal gov't is

Educate people or enforce mandates hmmmmm

free $0.60 tire psi guage or ^$100 worth of TPMS.. history has spoken enough already that I suspect you're right :sadbanana:

 

[ecohauler]

Back on topic, I read somewhere (can't find it now) that the auto lock feature can be disabled at the dealer. Apparently, at least some dealers will change the setting once for free on a new purchase and charge labor for the service if you want to change it back. Like many on here, I am uneasy about my car automatically locking me in (What if I'm injured in an accident that also takes out the OnStar system or after I no longer subscribe to that service, or maybe the battery dies in the accident, or any other countless unpredictable things that could go wrong in an accident, and I'm unconscious or something and unable to unlock the door, and it takes precious minutes for rescue workers to pry open a locked door that would otherwise open just fine, and that ends up being the difference between life and death, or the difference between a full recovery and never being able to walk again?), and I want it out. I'm going to ask my dealer about disabling the feature when I take the car in to get fog lights installed next week. I'll report back when I know something.

 

[sx sonic]

Thanks Ecohauler, I hope this is turns out to be correct.

 

[ColonelPanic]

If one is unconscious and unable to unlock the door...

Per the owner's manual, the Sonic will do this after a crash:

The vehicle has a feature that may
automatically unlock the doors, turn
on the interior lamps, turn on the
hazard warning flashers, and shut
off the fuel system after the airbags
inflate. You can lock the doors, turn
off the interior lamps, and turn off
the hazard warning flashers by
using the controls for those
features.

Of course yes, this does necessitate that everything is still in place to get power and signal to the BCM to unlock.

Many cars are like this today. Even my previous car, which had old fashioned lock-only-if-you-want power locks. an unlock signal was sent from the SRS to the BCM after a crash. So if a loser like me drove around manually locking the doors each time like he always did, the car would unlock for him if it were necessary.

 

[ecohauler]

That's good to know, ColonelPanic. I hadn't read that part of the OM yet. But as you said, that would require that system to still work, which I'd rather not trust with my life if I can help it. Bottom line, legitimate fears or not, the car automatically locking me in makes me uneasy and I'd rather have it disabled. On the rare occasion that I drive through the ghetto, I'll lock my own doors.

 

[poncho167]

Back on topic, I read somewhere (can't find it now) that the auto lock feature can be disabled at the dealer. Apparently, at least some dealers will change the setting once for free on a new purchase and charge labor for the service if you want to change it back. Like many on here, I am uneasy about my car automatically locking me in (What if I'm injured in an accident that also takes out the OnStar system or after I no longer subscribe to that service, or maybe the battery dies in the accident, or any other countless unpredictable things that could go wrong in an accident, and I'm unconscious or something and unable to unlock the door, and it takes precious minutes for rescue workers to pry open a locked door that would otherwise open just fine, and that ends up being the difference between life and death, or the difference between a full recovery and never being able to walk again?), and I want it out. I'm going to ask my dealer about disabling the feature when I take the car in to get fog lights installed next week. I'll report back when I know something.

I think your on to something here. A few months ago when I had my truck in for service I was given a Sonic loaner for the night. Without even thinking about it I parked it in the garage and went into the house. The doors didn't lock and I didn't receive any kind of buzzer noise from leaving the keys in the ignition.

 

[pighair47]

I'm going to see if I can change the program in the settings. As for car jackings, good luck with that because if you pick on this gray sonic your gonna have a 45 shoved in your nose. I also steer way clear of cities. I live out in the country and if you manage to break in my garage and get past the dogs and take my car, its insured.

fully agree with you, minus the .45 haven't gotten the money around to get my permit and pick my self up a sidearm. :sadbanana:

 

[Swordsmith]

Oh while working on my car today I recalled another BIG inconvience of "auto locks" If you move you're car double pull the door.... get out... try to open another door and BAM it's locked.... You've got to run around to the door and reach in and unlock the door.... to run around and get in the other door...... Or how about getting the groceries at a rural store/gas station..... or picking up a case of beer, I've given up on throwing beer in the back anymore, I just throw it in the backseat or frt seat now; yea it's illegal but I sadly get frustrated thinking about how this worthless this feature is to me when I hit the unlock button.

Drive to store, doors lock automatically, get out (with keys in hand because you aren't enough of an idiot to leave your keys in your car), the doors are all unlocked. You open any door you like, put anything in the car you want, get back in, start driving, doors all lock again.

I am incapable of picturing how this is the sort of inconvenience you are talking about. The only way it would work would be if you insist on leaving the keys in the ignition whenever you get out of the car. Keys in, drive more than 8mph, doors lock, keys out, doors unlock.

It -is- a legitimate annoyance if you have a passenger who wants to put their things in the back seat, and get in, but you drove to get them and still have the car running. Yep, I get that. Minor one, since you are in the car and can tap the unlock button on the dash, but yeah, it's there.

And I can see paranoid fantasies making you OCD about leaving the doors unlocked while you drive so you can escape the car if it gets disabled but you somehow are still fine. Yep, that's crazy, very low odds of it ever happening, but understandable, just as understandable as those who would never want the doors unlocked so they aren't accidentally thrown out of their moving vehicle. Bughouse crazy. But I can see it.

I just can't see your scenario, where it seems to me the only thing you encounter is a clicking noise when you go faster than 8mph, and another clicking noise when you pull the keys from the ignition on arrival.

I also think wouldn't it be more logical to be able to disable this feature if so desired. Or how bout letting the smaller minority of people that are "safer" (dr evil laser beam voice) with doors lock hit the door lock button while driving.... It is easier to hit while you're driving then when you're in the process of attempting to get out.

If this was easily disabled I would not give 2 shats this feature exist. The fact that many of us are FORCED with something that serves us absolutely zero purpose and we HAVE to live with it and be ANNOYED by it does not sit well with me...

I also grant you this. It doesn't matter WHY you want to be able to turn this "feature" off, you should be able to, there shouldn't be an absolute requirement for you to accept some added safety feature some wonk at GM has dreamed up. We have access to lots of settings via the installed menu, including ones related to the power locks, and this should certainly be among them.

If it was an option, I would keep it as is, but I would applaud them for thinking about people who don't want it.

 

[ChrisJ]

Drive to store, doors lock automatically, get out (with keys in hand because you aren't enough of an idiot to leave your keys in your car), the doors are all unlocked. You open any door you like, put anything in the car you want, get back in, start driving, doors all lock again.

I am incapable of picturing how this is the sort of inconvenience you are talking about. The only way it would work would be if you insist on leaving the keys in the ignition whenever you get out of the car. Keys in, drive more than 8mph, doors lock, keys out, doors unlock.

It -is- a legitimate annoyance if you have a passenger who wants to put their things in the back seat, and get in, but you drove to get them and still have the car running. Yep, I get that. Minor one, since you are in the car and can tap the unlock button on the dash, but yeah, it's there.

And I can see paranoid fantasies making you OCD about leaving the doors unlocked while you drive so you can escape the car if it gets disabled but you somehow are still fine. Yep, that's crazy, very low odds of it ever happening, but understandable, just as understandable as those who would never want the doors unlocked so they aren't accidentally thrown out of their moving vehicle. Bughouse crazy. But I can see it.

I just can't see your scenario, where it seems to me the only thing you encounter is a clicking noise when you go faster than 8mph, and another clicking noise when you pull the keys from the ignition on arrival.



I also grant you this. It doesn't matter WHY you want to be able to turn this "feature" off, you should be able to, there shouldn't be an absolute requirement for you to accept some added safety feature some wonk at GM has dreamed up. We have access to lots of settings via the installed menu, including ones related to the power locks, and this should certainly be among them.

If it was an option, I would keep it as is, but I would applaud them for thinking about people who don't want it.

 

[poncho167]

The auto lock feature is not to prevent car jackings. It is specifically for roll-overs and keeping the occupants inside.

 

[ecohauler]

Alright, I talked to the service department and they said no problem. Seemed like they get this request all the time, which I'm sure they do. Barring any complications, my doors will remain unlocked as of tomorrow.

 

[sx sonic]

Alright, I talked to the service department and they said no problem. Seemed like they get this request all the time, which I'm sure they do. Barring any complications, my doors will remain unlocked as of tomorrow.

wonderful news :banana:

 

[Chevrolet Customer Care]

According to the manual the auto locks is a feature that cannot be disabled. I understand you guys concern about this. Unfortunately I did not design the car.

FloSonic I live and work in Detroit. It's a lovely place. I have never had a problem. The media just makes us look bad.

Jackie
Chevrolet Customer Care

 

[Izzytoo]

Personally, love the security of having only the driver's door unlock when I stop. It is occasionally annoying to hubby when he is along for the ride and has to pull the door lever *TWICE* before he can exit. But I thank my lucky stars every day that he is a grownup and can deal with life's little disappointments. And we have quickly learned that we CAN retrieve those groceries from the back seat with just one magical touch of a dashboard button.

My old car did not automatically lock the doors, and he would insist I lock them before setting out because, you know, safety.

He is a keeper.

P.S. Good luck with being able to get to your .45 in time to do yourself any good.

 

[ecohauler]

Jackie's right, I don't think they can be disabled. The dealer tried to turn them off, but they're still on. I was in a hurry and so were they, so I didn't get to talk to anyone about it when I picked the car up. Wanted to wait until I knew something more conclusive, but since Chevy is telling us directly I thought I'd go ahead and redact my contradictory evidence.

On the plus side, I'm pretty used to the locks and they don't really bother me anymore.

 

[Chevrolet Customer Care]

ecohauler

I am glad that you have changed your mind about this safety feature. I did as much research as I could to find a way to disable the locks but was unable to find a way.

For 2013 Sonics there does seem to be a way to program the locks to some degree but still no way to disable them. For those interested in this program feature there is information found on page 5-27 of the 2013 Sonic manual. I hope that it can be helpful to someone.

Jackie
Chevrolet Customer Care