My 03 Durango SLT has the factory security system. Everything works fine except when you open the driver door with a key. The door switch or sensor does not "see" the grey key and the alarm goes off. This is not the case with the hatch, the sensor sees the key and disables the alarm. My service manager gave me a price of $161.00 to replace the door switch, saying that the switch does not recognize that the door is being unlocked by a key, thinking that the door was opened by breakin.

Does anyone know what this door switch is? And is it easily replaced or should I seek a mechanic? Just seems to me that 161 bucks is a bit steep to replace a switch in a door. Any help appreciated.

TazKing
2003 Durango SLT

 

this is very interesting. My 2000 Durango does this same thing? I just naturally thought that you cannot manually open a locked door with security turned on by simply using the key. Now I have to check with the dealer to see if indeed by inserting my factory durango key to unlock the door will turn off the security system. Currently it will go off if i insert my key to open the door while the security system is on.

 

our 98 does it on drivers side too. I have to unlock on passenger. Hatch works to

 

I have the Chrysler EVSII alarm syst... I just tried it on mine, and it also go's off if I unlock the drivers door with the key. And if I unlock the back hatch with the key also. I think this is the way it is designed. Unless other models have a key-lock sensor.

Hope this helps.

 

I just played around with mine and the alarm goes off on any door, (driver, passenger, hatch). I agree with Digitoxin, I think this is by design and prefer to keep it this way. That way, if someone were to make a duplicate copy of my key, they still cannot disarm the alarm without the remote.

 

that is true the alarm will go off if you unlock any door but the pass.side front door that door has the alarm switch in. so if your alarm go's off and you can't shut it off with your key fob us the key and lock and unlock the pass front door

 

Sounds like my Service Advisor is full of s@#t and looking for some extra bucks. Too bad, was hoping I could replace this switch myself. The '03 doen't have a key lock on the passenger side and it's weird that the hatch does not set off the alarm. My wife would rather carry just my spare key on her ring, but I guess she will carry 2 key fobs now. Sucks for her!

Thanks for the help.

 

I seen alot of the newer cars, not sure if Chrysler has this feature yet where the car can detect the key and automatically unlocks the doors. That would be very convienent and cool especially when you have your hands full at times.

 

Ya, the newer corvetts have it. Its called Passive Keyless entry. When you walk up to your car it unlocks
within a certain distant, and locks as you walk away from the car.