i have 09 hhr lt 2.2l
the other my inside driver door handle broke so i took apart the door replaced the door handle put it back together everything was fine. now theres a problem
when i lock the doors via remote or using the lock button the drivers door lock wont engage. i thought i forgot to plug something back in but i checked and all plugs are in. while trying to figure out what was going on i discovered that if i open the door all the way the drivers door will lock with the remote or lock button, as soon the door is nearly closed and when its closed the problem of not locking comes back.
anyone else come across this problem?
i read some other door lock problem threads but haven't seen one with my issue of door open lock works, door closed, or nearly closed door doesn't
any help would be greatly appreciated

 

Check the wire harness, if it’s loose the door position might put enough tension on it to disconnect it, or a broken wire.

 

When I did it, I didn't notice the slight channel in the insulation that the plunger rod is supposed to ride in.

 

Your door is open - the lock works. Your door is closed - the lock does not work. Did I get that right?
If that's really the case, it doesn't sound like an electrical problem.
Check how evenly you screwed the door trim on. Isn't it warped? Does it move from contact with body parts when the door is closed? Maybe the operation of the lock is mechanically blocked. Just because you can still close the door with the key doesn't rule out the possibility of this problem. Muscular force may be stronger than solenoid force. Pay attention to the "nail". Test to see if the force on the "nail" changes depending on whether the door is open or closed.

 

yes, you read it right
What is the "nail"?
When the driver door is open the remote and lock button will lock all doors. Then when I close the door, it will not lock with the remote or lock button nor will it unlock. This happens even with the panel off
there are 3 screws the one behind the door handle and 2 in the arm rest, they all threaded in without issue and not over tightened, the panel is sitting flush no bulges. the front passenger door handle broke also, but no issues happened with that.
another thing I forgot to mention was when the battery died in the remote i used the lock button to lock the doors all doors would lock. IIRC, I could manually lock the driver door and the rest of the locks would lock and if the car was running the driver lock wouldn't lock it would go down and pop right back up. This changed when I replaced the driver inside door handle and remote battery.
Well, the next test will be for a short in the wiring. What else could it be? The lock works as long as the door is opened, could the actuator be on fritz? I can close the door leave it unlatched and it will not work with the remote or lock button.
It doesn't matter if the panel is off or on. i checked all the electrical plugs they are secure. the lock will work until the door is several inched from closed
I appreciate everyone's help and welcome all suggestions, thank you

 

Nail is the plunger.
From your statement it must be either a wire in the conduit or a connector in the conduit/door interface.

 

Check continuity in the door harness

 

thanks for the definition of a "nail" i was thinking plunger but wasnt sure. the nail works as it should
hopefully i will have time today to trace the wires and check it with a multimeter.