Door locks removable?

[Viscouse]

Now that the weather is (somewhat) nice here in Michigan, I've finally cracked the window open to enjoy the pleasant sounds & smells of road construction.

When I hang my arm out the window, or even prop it up on the windowsill, the door lock pokes into my arm though. Why is this even here if there is a button on the door & remote? It seems to serve no purpose (that I can see) except maybe a manual backup if the battery died & you can't get out (the pull handle doesn't automatically unlock the door).

It's not like the old Olsmobile ones where you can just unscrew it. Has anyone found a solution to this? Or found it annoying? Or just think I'm overly picky?

I don't want to take a hacksaw to it, but I feel there may come a day (before winter rolls around)...

[cbl]

I wouldn't mind the door lock so much, if it actually served a purpose. Since it doesn't allow you to manually lock it when you get out of the car (my number one complaint about the Saab...drives me absolutely crazy!!!), I don't see why it's there at all. I'm tempted to take the door apart and find out what mechanism prevents the lock from being depressed, and ripping it right out of there!

[CleveSaab]

I don't like that either. My buddy has a Suzuki Vitaro and it's the same way. He's going to somehow CUT them.

[Viscouse]

Saabologist, if you're reading this, do you have an opinion?

Failing that, anything we need to know before we take a crowbar to the doorpanel?

I'm all for experimantation, but I'm slightly terrified of ripping apart a car I just got. But it irritates me...

We'll see if I can screw up enough courage to start tinkering.

[NickA]

Originally Posted by cbl

I wouldn't mind the door lock so much, if it actually served a purpose. Since it doesn't allow you to manually lock it when you get out of the car (my number one complaint about the Saab...drives me absolutely crazy!!!), I don't see why it's there at all. I'm tempted to take the door apart and find out what mechanism prevents the lock from being depressed, and ripping it right out of there!

I think the "feature" is there to stop you locking your keys in the car. I have a '74 BMW with this feature and once you are into the habit of locking the car with the key I found it second nature. From memory most of my friends have locked their keys in the car whist I never have.

I have noted in the manual it says you can lock the car using the remote and then shut your car door, this prevents the doors from deadlocking, so you can still lock your keys in the car if you want to. I have not tested this myself yet.

[RobH]

I drive into and out of a parking garage every day and use a smart card that I have to wave in front of a reader to enter and exit. Every time I do it I get poked by the lock. It is just a little too far forward.

[Spacer]

I think there is a safety issue for the lock- if you are in an accident, or god forbid your car is underwater, on fire or in some other nasty situation, your instinct will have you reaching for the lock peg to unlock and flee, not mucking around with the remote, which may not work if there is damage to your electrical system during the emergency- I think there is a good safety reason to be putting these on the cars, even in this day of electrical locking.

[CleveSaab]

It IS there to keep you from locking your keys in your car. Thank God for that, I say (having locked keys in previous cars many times). That's just one more reason I love my Saab.



"I think there is a good safety reason to be putting these on the cars"

-Excellent point, Spacer!

[deniss]

i think if you cant figure out why something is where it is in your Saab, blame it on the safety concerns. having recently read a few things about saabs, these people (saab engineers, designers, ...) seem too meticulous and too attentive to detail and safety to just leave something _completely_ useless in their car.

new advertising campaign for Saab:
"Saab - a reasonable car for a reasonable person."

heh.

[Viscouse]

All fixed! I found a solution to this minor irritation, and now I love my Saab even more! (who'd think it was possible?)

Here's how...
1: Remove door panel, hints are here
2: Unscrew kn0b
3: Dremel (or hacksaw (or chew, hey they're your teeth)) off about 15mm (measure to suit your needs)
4: Screw kn0b back on to desired height in locked or unlocked position (I chose for a flush mount when locked, sticking up when unlocked. You can also take it dowm more and make it flush when unlocked, and recessed when locked).
5: Pop door back on.

Additionally, I added a peice of tubing to guide the rod & secured it duct tape. God I love duct tape. This isn't really necissary, but I had the tubing, and it seemed more stable, so, why not. The tubing had a 4mm ID & 6.5mm OD & was aluminum.

I looked into trying to remove the rod completely, but it would have required removing more of the door that I was prepared to do, and would've left a hole in the door sill.

This works admirable, and hopefully Saab Service won't notice.

Good luck... 8)

[Viscouse]

More pix of the unlocked & locked positions.

[J-Ride]

That is so nice!!!!

I would love to do that to mine. I am not at all skilled in the inner workings of vehicles. How difficult do you think it would be for a complete novice to do the exact same modification without doing any damage what so ever to the interior or exterior of the door and car itself???

Beautiful work! Great pics!

[Viscouse]

I've never ripped a door panel apart either If you follow the directions, and take it slow & careful, and don't be afraid to experiment, you'll be fine. Just be prepared to accept the consequences of your actions.

Just like life 8)
Seriously, if you have any questions, let me know.

[oslowley]

I'm really really tempted to do this mod, it annoys me to no end when I drive with the windows down and the knob is poking me in my arm.

[deniss]

oslowley, do you drive an auto or a stick? sorry, i forgot...

i think if one drives a stick, this lock kn0b doesn't bother at all, since you'd be busy holding the wheel with one hand and shifting with the other or something like that. in all the time i've been driving, i've never let my hand rest on the window sill. i guess it's just the matter of driving preferences but i like to be able to move my driving hand(s) readily in any direction as the situations arise on the road. i prefer to keep both hands active, even when i'm not shifting.

maybe it's just NJ - roads are very narrow and you have to be ready for evasive maneuvers whenever you are in traffic. maybe in FL or CA driving is a little more laid back.

i think a stick-out door kn0b is a feature many euro cars have. in us, i was a little surprised how locks are flush with the panels - makes it tough to quickly reach and unlock if you have to get out in an emergency.

Admins - why does the word "kn0b" get "***"?? Hm.

[koho33]

i also am irritated by that lock sticking out into my elbow. with that thing in the way, there's really no comfortable place to rest my left arm. being 6'3" i have the seat all the way back, and the lip on the door that sticks out for normal people to rest their elbow on it is too far forward, so i have this 1/2" space to try to support my arm. i like to drive with my arm on the top of the door like many. i think i'm going to try that mod to the door lock also. good tip!

[ianaphillips]

Taken the protectors off removed the plastic cover
cut the metal rod and refitted the plastic cover and the trim
now the pins are flush with the door top when locked stops you catching your arm on the dam door pin and as with my 1st ss i killed the central locking somehow by shorting it out as i managed to depress the button only half way when i caught it with my arm
no more sore elbows on this one or my 2nd ss

Originally Posted by Viscouse

Now that the weather is (somewhat) nice here in Michigan, I've finally cracked the window open to enjoy the pleasant sounds & smells of road construction.

When I hang my arm out the window, or even prop it up on the windowsill, the door lock pokes into my arm though. Why is this even here if there is a button on the door & remote? It seems to serve no purpose (that I can see) except maybe a manual backup if the battery died & you can't get out (the pull handle doesn't automatically unlock the door).

It's not like the old Olsmobile ones where you can just unscrew it. Has anyone found a solution to this? Or found it annoying? Or just think I'm overly picky?

I don't want to take a hacksaw to it, but I feel there may come a day (before winter rolls around)...