We own a Panda Trekking 64 plate which we have had from new,
Each winter the car doors start to play up. I live in the North East UK so I get colder weather I guess.

Usually form about freezing these problems pop up.

The door unlocking mechanism freezes so that the internal handles push inwards and stay pushed inwards even if you open the door.

Pressing the unlock button on the fob or using the key unlocks only the unfrozen doors.

Year 1, the back doors won't unlock - you can open them using the internal handle but the external handle does nothing.
Year 2, the back doors plus passenger
Year 3, all the doors - pressing the button a few times stopped the car trying to unlock - I ended up using my Volvo for the days the car didn't want to play.

Once the car heats up your allowed back in.

Ironic having the Winter pack but can't get in to play with it

I have a video from last winter of being locked out of the car as no doors wanted to play.

Fiat dealership wasn't interested in looking under warranty as they wanted the car when the problem happens which is hard to do as when you get to them the doors have defrosted and all it working.

Last Winter, we took it in for them to look at it, there response "we can't see anything causing it - however we can tell the doors are going to fail in a few years as our head technician has seen this sort of thing before" - " do you want us to pay us and fix it all " we declined since they already took £150 to diagnose the issue.

Just wondering if any one else has the same sort of bother when the cold weather kicks in.

I did notice there is a couple of posts about this each winter for the 4x4 types and no it's not the seals unfortunately.

Have you tried squirting some WD40 or similar into the lock mechanism, once the colder weather arrives?

Seems quite steep from the dealer to ask £150 just for diagnosis...

No i've not put any WD40 in to the locks. - I'm not sure what part really as you can open the locks from the inside of the car, just not the outside. - As the central locking fails to function.

and yup Fiat dealer up here is next to useless for any help.

If you think the Panda is bad try owning a VW new beetle. I had no end of issues with the door locking system.


Your comment "Year 3, all the doors - pressing the button a few times stopped the car trying to unlock" might offer a clue.
If it was attempting to unlock itself then a signal is being received correctly and the relays/motors are attempting to do what they should.

I'm thinking that the issue may be one (or more) of the internal door levers sticking so that the relay is insufficiently powerful to move the lever and unlock the door. Pulling it with your hand overcomes this and it senses the movement and will trigger the other doors to unlock if they can.

As a starter, try spraying WD40 into the mechanism of the internal levers. Work the levers to get it right in there. Even better, if you can identify how to remove the door cards do it and clean everything when exposed.


Logically, if it's trying to operate itself then it suggest a physical obstruction rather than an electrical problem.

perelaar said:

Have you tried squirting some WD40 or similar into the lock mechanism, once the colder weather arrives?

Seems quite steep from the dealer to ask £150 just for diagnosis...

Click to expand...

Not steep. Totally outrageous.

I have found automotive locksmiths are very good and know most of the tricks. I have some expensive lock lube £13 for a 50ml spray. It is like liquid magic.