Automated Door Unlock when placed in Park FEATURE?

[GettingOld2]

Armored SUV could not protect U.S. agents in Mexico - The Washington Post

"... Forced off the road in a well-coordinated ambush, surrounded by drug cartel gunmen brandishing AK-47s, Zapata and his partner, Victor Avila, rolled to a stop. Zapata put the vehicle in park.

The door locks popped open. ..."

"... The Bureau of Diplomatic Security, which is responsible for outfitting the secure vehicles used by American embassies abroad, declined to comment on the status of their locking mechanisms.

But when McCaul visited Afghanistan last month and rode in an armored State Department Suburban, he said he paid close attention to what happened when the vehicle went into park.

The doors unlocked. ..."

[DefensiveCarry.com]

[kapnketel]

Mine do the same by default, I can reconfigure my settings. Something I have worried about also.

[mcp1810]

It is one of those "helpful" things that can be disabled if you know how. The thing is making sure that anyone servicing fleet vehicles knows they are supposed to do it. The problem can be when you have some people that want it and some don't. Easiest thing is to make it a fleet wide S.O.P. that the feature be disabled.

[adric22]

It is one of those "helpful" things that can be disabled if you know how. The thing is making sure that anyone servicing fleet vehicles knows they are supposed to do it. The problem can be when you have some people that want it and some don't. Easiest thing is to make it a fleet wide S.O.P. that the feature be disabled.

Most vehicles can be reconfigured on this behavior, but it may require the OEM scantool to change it, which is typically only found at the dealerships.

[ksholder]

Interesting info. Sounds like poor planning on the part of those who design these vehicles. I wonder if they are using the same Chevy system that my Impala has. I can change the unlock feature from "Unlock when shifted to Park" to "Unlock when Key is Removed". This is an easy user-settable control. If they are using this system, it would be an easy and free fix - let's hope.

[Rock and Glock]

Easy to fix on personal vehicles. Either in the DCC or might be a dealer fix, but easy nonetheless.

[lordhamster]

Wow, that seems like a major design oversight. Makes me wonder if they did any field testing on these things before approving the contract.

[Speculator]

To defeat it you turn the car off THEN put it in park.

[Eaglebeak]

Mine do the same thing, and I never liked that happening when I stopped at a drive-thru ATM.

If you can't have them reprogrammed to lock/unlock with ignition on/off, my solution for ATMs is to simply put the shifter in Neutral instead of Park. Neutral keeps doors locked, and either hold your foot on the brake or punch the emergency brake to keep from rolling.

[Joeyguzzo]

Horrible construction on this situation. My doors do it and. Have changed it sense.

[HKinNY]

Any armored vehicle that I have seen has additional door throw bolts on the inside to prevent the jacking open of the door.

[Chesafreak]

To defeat it you turn the car off THEN put it in park.

Thanks!

[jlately]

Mine do the same thing, and I never liked that happening when I stopped at a drive-thru ATM.

If you can't have them reprogrammed to lock/unlock with ignition on/off, my solution for ATMs is to simply put the shifter in Neutral instead of Park. Neutral keeps doors locked, and either hold your foot on the brake or punch the emergency brake to keep from rolling.

Manual? I always just leave mine in drive at ATMs, but I have an auto. If my car did unlock when shifted to park I would get that fixed immediately.

[claude clay]

years ago i passed on purchasing a car that i was fairly set on...had put time into researching it and went for a test ride. only to find that the remote door opener did
both sides with one touch. salesman asked service and they said that was it and they could not change it. i didn't buy the car for the mrs and the next year the salesman
calls that they made it the way i wanted....too late for me though.

manual.....its the book you pay $30,000 for that they give you a car with.

im also hate'n drive by wire, brake assist, anti-plowing , lane holder, auto park ( whats next....auto wipe?)
and what started it all--anti lock brakes. if i wanted a car that though it new better than me id let the wife drive.

[AZ Hawk]

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