Modern technological conveniences have afforded many opportunities for advanced features in different vehicles. Electric sliding doors are the ones that can be opened or closed with the touch of a button. They literally slide along a set of tracks and automatically open and close at your behest. The sliding doors associated with minivans or midsize SUVs make it much more convenient to get in and out of the vehicle with bags, children, or a handful of goods, but there is still the chance for something to go wrong with the electronics.
The electric sliding door mechanism is very popular in many vehicles. Recent models of all types of SUVs and minivans use the touch of a button to open and close a door. It literally does not get more convenient than this type of advanced technology. However, when something goes wrong, fixing the issue can be a bit more complex. Most doors that do not have electric components can be much more easily fixed with simple tools. For example, if you are having trouble getting the car doors open because they are sticking or squeaking on an older pickup truck, you can probably apply some lubrication or some WD-40, maybe even replace some screws on your own and have no more problems in the future. However, if the problem is with an electronic component, things get a bit more complicated and you may not have the tools or the skills to identify the issue and fix it.
Benefits of Sliding Doors
Sliding doors provide many benefits. They are helpful for parents of children who need help getting in and out of the vehicle, and they are more accessible for disabled individuals, which makes them the perfect feature for ADA-compliant vehicles. They are ideal for transporting large groups of people or items, and they are incredibly convenient for loading and unloading.
How do electric sliding doors work?
Because these components are electric in nature, problems become a bit more complex to fix. Of course, everything begins with understanding how the components work in the first place. Electric sliding doors offer a simple design with a great deal of convenience for drivers. Whether you are trying to load or unload large packages, new furniture, pets, or passengers, having the automatic sliding door in the vehicle is great.
When your electric sliding door works properly, all it takes is the push of a button and the door will follow the tracks as it is pulled open or closed by a small motor. It extends slightly away from the vehicle before following the rest of the tracks until it is completely open or completely closed. In order to properly function, this mechanism uses a motor and a chain drive to move the heavy door. There is a pawl hook that hooks into the gears underneath the door which locks it into the open position.
Problems with Electric Sliding Doors
If the mechanism stops working properly and your door no longer opens and closes at the push of a button, it is important to bring your vehicle into one of our locations to have a skilled professional fix the problem. Nonetheless, there are things you can do at home to help prevent serious problems with your door. You can, for example, keep the tracks properly clean and lubricated. Debris and crumbs and all manner of dirt typically get caught in the tracks when the doors open, and if that isn’t removed on a regular basis it can build up and cause serious problems with the function of the door. If there is a problem you don’t want to let it get worse. Eventually, the door will not open or close at all.
When you bring your vehicle in because of an issue with the electric sliding door, we can help you to figure out the cause, provide repairs, and offer long-term solutions for you to help prevent future problems from arising. Our staff is very well-trained with handling electric sliding door issues and we specialize in all types of models, both domestic and imports. So, if you are having trouble getting your door open or closed, let us know. At Star Motors we are conveniently located to San Juan Capistrano, CA and other Southern Orange County areas.
