Cars nowadays come with central lock system and automatic power locks which are very convenient, but how do they work?
Most car doors are unlocked by either a key fob or a remote and by pressing a button it will unlock.
The main Parts involved:
Body Control Module (BCM)
This is the brain of the system which is receiving signals from different sources and controlling different car functions like locks, lights and alarms.
Key Fob & Interior Switch
These initiate the locking and unlocking commands.
Actuator
This is a small electric motor located inside each door and it converts electrical signals from the BCM to lock or unlock the door.
How Car Power Locks Work?
- When pressing the lock button on your key fob a signal is transmitted to the BCM.
- The BCM analyzes the signal and sends a specific electrical current to the actuators in each door.
- The actuator receives the current and its tiny motor spins.
- A gear system inside the actuator translates the motor spin into a linear movement (pushing or pulling) and depending on the direction of the current it moves the lock to lock or unlock the door.
