murphy928S

Thanks for the tips on the front license plate mounting options for my 1986.

I've got a 1981 as well and the locking mechanism sticks. The key inserts and turns, but the lock doesn't make the full rotation and the door won't open. I end up having to go around and climb in through the passenger seat. I pull the driver door leather off and blindly mess with the mechanism until it opens. Then it works like a charm and I can't find anything wrong......so I button it up.... and a few days later...same thing and it won't open. Any ideas?

Rob M Budd

Murphy,

I just went through that with my 80, same symptoms except that you could watch the **** turn toward the lock position as you pulled the inner or outer door handles. Drove me nuts for a while.
I spent a lot of time cleaning, adjusting, lubricating, and had the door panel off, countless times, all to no avail.
I finally replaced the mechanism with a good used one which fixed it. Took about 15 minutes.
Lesson learned, excessive tinkering time is just not worth it sometimes.

murphy928S

Thanks Rob. I hear you with tinkering. Just "fixed?" it again, but it looks like a never ending battle. I'll have to see what I can do to get another locking mechanism. Appreciate your advise.

Gregg K

I had the same problem. Oh, my problem was that the door would open about two or three times, and then it would refuse. After comparing to a new one, I found it was the injection molded link that goes to the outside door ****. Being the mechanical genius that I am, I had no idea what the problem was, and just got lucky. My advice is to buy a new link for a kings ransome of about one dollar. I took a propane flame to mine and bent it a tad, and that was all it took to fix the problem. Who knows, that might be what's wrong with yours too. Good luck.