Power door locks - wikipedia Power door locks Animation of how power lock system works ( simple relay operation ) Power door locks ( also known as electric door locks or central locking ) allow the driver or front passenger to simultaneously lock or unlock all the doors of an automobile or truck, by pressing a button or flipping a switch. Power door locks were introduced on the luxury Scripps - Booth in 1914, but were not common on luxury cars until Packard reintroduced them in 1956. Nearly every car model today offers this feature as at least optional equipment. Early systems locked and unlocked only the car doors. Many cars today also feature systems which can unlock such things as the luggage compartment or fuel filler cap door. It is also common on modern cars for the locks to activate automatically when the car is put into gear or reaches a certain speed. Remote and handsfree See also : Remote keyless system Pressing a button on the key unlocks all of the car doors. Another button locks the car. In 1980, Ford Motor Company introduced an external keypad - type keyless entry system, wherein the driver entered a numeric combination -- either pre-programmed at the factory or one programmed by the owner -- to unlock the car without the key. Early - to mid-1980s Nissan Maximas could also be installed with a keypad, which would also retract the windows and moonroof once the car was successfully unlocked by pushing a specific button on the keypad. During the 1990s the Subaru Legacy could also be opened by pulling the drivers external door handle a specific number of times to enter a passcode number that would unlock the driver 's door only. Today, many cars with power door locks also have a radio frequency remote keyless system, which allows a person to press a button on a remote control key fob, the first being available on the French made Renault Fuego in 1982. Currently, many luxury makers also allow the windows to be opened or closed by pressing and holding a button on the remote control key fob, or by inserting the ignition key and holding it in the lock or unlock position in the external driver 's door lock. The remote locking system confirms successful locking and unlocking through either a light or a horn signal, and usually offers an option to switch easily between these two variants. Both provide almost the same functionality, though light signals are more discreet while horn signals might create a nuisance in residential neighborhoods and other busy parking areas ( e.g. short - term parking lots ). Some manufacturers offer the ability to adjust the horn signal volume. Other cars have a proximity system that is triggered if a keylike transducer ( Advanced Key or handsfree ) is within a certain distance of the car. See also Automobile accessory power Child safety lock Power window References Jump up ^ `` 1980 - 1985 RENAULT Fuego Turbo ''. Octane. Archived from the original on 27 October 2012. Retrieved 27 February 2012. Car interior Part of a series of articles on cars Interior equipment Instruments Automotive navigation system Global Positioning System Automotive night vision Backup camera Blind spot monitor Boost gauge Buzzer Carputer Check engine light Electronic instrument cluster Fuel gauge Head - up display Lidar detector Odometer Parking sensor Radar detector Speedometer Tachometer Telematics Idiot light Trip computer Controls Bowden cable Brake Cruise control Electronic throttle control Gear stick Manettino dial Parking brake Power steering Steering wheel Throttle Anti-theft Automatic vehicle location Car alarm Immobiliser Power door locks Remote keyless system Smart key VIN etching Safety Seating Airbag Armrest Automatic seat belts Bench seat Bucket seat Child safety lock Rear - view mirror Rumble seat Seat belt Other elements Air conditioning Automobile accessory power Center console Dashboard Glove compartment Sun visor Convenience Car phone Cigarette lighter receptacle Cup holder Vehicle audio Commons Portal Retrieved from `` https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Power_door_locks&oldid=817865190 '' Categories : Automotive accessories Automotive technologies Locks ( security device ) Vehicle security systems Talk About Wikipedia Čeština Dansk Deutsch Español فارسی Français Italiano Nederlands Norsk Polski Português Русский Suomi Svenska Українська 7 more Edit links This page was last edited on 31 December 2017, at 00 : 55. About Wikipedia

Question: what is the central locking system in a car
Answer: Power door locks