'03 Base, rear power door lock question

[Cara]

One thing I just realized that I hate about my new/used Vibe is the location of the door handles/manual locks on the rear doors.

I bought this car for my dog. When I take my dog on errands, and leave him in the car (don't worry, not in summer, not in any kind of heat, not without water), I roll all windows down part-way and open the sunroof for him, so he has air.

If I roll the rear door windows down even slightly, I can easily reach my arm in there and unlock the door. My dog will likely not bite anyone doing this, suspecting that they may have food

(We previously had a Sienna minivan, which has MUCH taller doors -- we could leave the window practically half-way down and no one could get their arm far enough down to open the door.)

I get that I can use the "rear door security locks" (the ones on the inside of the door) to prevent anyone from opening the doors - even a passenger -- without a key or without using the inside FRONT control.

Unfortunately, that will still mean that I can't leave the FRONT windows cracked much (I haven't double-checked how far down those locks are, but I'm betting not far enough.

Anyone else regularly transport their "best friends" in their Vibe, and find a good solution for this?

Thanks
Cara

[sideshowalan]

The child locks in the rear do just this, prevent the rear doors from being opened from the inside. They're so small kids can't open the door on the highway.

There's nothing similar for the fronts though, just don't roll them down as far.

[Cara]

Stinks, but something I will get used to. Thanks for the reply!

[KITT222]

Buy a set of window vent visors. I have them on my Vibe, and can keep the window rolled slightly down with it not looking like it's down.

[vibenvy]

Buy a set of window vent visors. I have them on my Vibe, and can keep the window rolled slightly down with it not looking like it's down.

x2! If you get the WeatherTech in-channel ones like I have, you can keep the window down even further. I can leave my windows down a good inch at least without it looking like they're down from the outside.

[Cara]

I've read a few not great things about the in-channel window vent visors - we DO plan on putting vent visors on, but have always used AVS, in the past. Are the in-channel ones BIGGER?

We're talking about giving my dog air, here -- I'm used to leaving the windows down a good 6", which I will definitely NOT be able to do in the Vibe. But he likes it, otherwise, so we'll adjust. (And it's all about what the dog likes...)

[vibenvy]

I've read a few not great things about the in-channel window vent visors - we DO plan on putting vent visors on, but have always used AVS, in the past. Are the in-channel ones BIGGER?

We're talking about giving my dog air, here -- I'm used to leaving the windows down a good 6", which I will definitely NOT be able to do in the Vibe. But he likes it, otherwise, so we'll adjust. (And it's all about what the dog likes...)

Well, the WeatherTech in-channel ones aren't bigger, but they go down further because they are in the window channel instead of above the window on the door frame. I had read all the negative comments about the in-channel ones and decided to give them a try anyway. I ended up re-taping the rear window deflectors with some 3M Super Strong Molding Tape that I got at Walmart for under $5.00 and I've had no problems with the rear ones falling out or anything. They're nice and snug in the channels and don't appear to be going anywhere anytime soon. We have them on both our 2009 GTs and love them. I prefer the sleeker look of the in-channel ones over the stick on ones, but it's all personal preference.