door lock drama
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Joined: Apr 2007
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door lock drama
The day after replacing the failed driver's door handle latch, the driver's door locked in the closed position, refusing to be opened from the inside or outside. This of course happened at a restaurant, and I drove home with my wife in a car with no driver's side egress.
The door lock worked correctly a number of attempts the day that I replaced the handle latch. After the lock froze, success evaded attempts to combine central locking, door **** actions and key tumbler actions to open the door. I knew that removing the door panel would avail a 30 minute fix, but the door panel could not be removed from a closed door.
So, I removed the center portion of the door panel and extended my arm way up towards the lock mechanism and experimented with manually manipulating door lock components. After an hour of arm twisting and bending, I was able to swing the door open.
I fastidiously cleaned/lubricated every component and reassembled in stages, testing every stage. The door lock mechanism operates now without any binding. Indeed, when I first reassembled the door handle/lock mechanism with the new latch, I noticed a slight bind in the key tumbler and didn't think anything of it at the time.
So beware when doing the door handle latch job. Take your time to resemble with care.
The door lock worked correctly a number of attempts the day that I replaced the handle latch. After the lock froze, success evaded attempts to combine central locking, door **** actions and key tumbler actions to open the door. I knew that removing the door panel would avail a 30 minute fix, but the door panel could not be removed from a closed door.
So, I removed the center portion of the door panel and extended my arm way up towards the lock mechanism and experimented with manually manipulating door lock components. After an hour of arm twisting and bending, I was able to swing the door open.
I fastidiously cleaned/lubricated every component and reassembled in stages, testing every stage. The door lock mechanism operates now without any binding. Indeed, when I first reassembled the door handle/lock mechanism with the new latch, I noticed a slight bind in the key tumbler and didn't think anything of it at the time.
So beware when doing the door handle latch job. Take your time to resemble with care.
Team Owner
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 31,233
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From: Philly PA
if the lock is binding then the most probable cause is turning the lock **** surround too tight and or tightening the **** lock button screw too tight, .
The surround can be tightened with the palm of your hand just past snug, the lock **** screw is tightened to just past snug, use loctite on the screw.
Too test first install the surround then fit the lock **** no screw the lock button should be able to moved easily , then fit the screw retest after tightening
The surround can be tightened with the palm of your hand just past snug, the lock **** screw is tightened to just past snug, use loctite on the screw.
Too test first install the surround then fit the lock **** no screw the lock button should be able to moved easily , then fit the screw retest after tightening
Thread Starter
Rennlist Member
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 1,976
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I know what you mean, Merlin. This was different, however. I had the lock **** and the surround both removed. I had also disconnected the vertical lock shaft and the locking motor from the interior lock by "feel" (via the removed center panel) and the door was still steadfastly locked for some time.
When anyone has occasion to removed the locking hardware, make sure that the locking mechanism is sufficiently understood to operate it "blind folded" once it is reassembled, should the door become stubbornly locked.
When anyone has occasion to removed the locking hardware, make sure that the locking mechanism is sufficiently understood to operate it "blind folded" once it is reassembled, should the door become stubbornly locked.
