I just had my driver door latch break. Called Sunset and the only way to replace the latch is to replace the whole lock mechanism ($200+). They don't sell just the latch.

So now does anyone know how to swap the key cylinder out? I don't want to start ripping apart my nice new latch / lock.

p.s. - For what its worth (maybe $250), if you have the door panels off and your digging around in there, might not be a bad idea to get in there and lubricate the latch / lock mechanism. I'm sure after the all the years it just lost its lubrication and gave up and broke.

Thanks for any advice.

 

Well, this was embarrassingly simple. The hardest part is getting the door panels off, and getting the latch out of the car to swap the cylinder put the new latch mechanism in.

Here is the video of the latch and the cylinder for future reference.

In the video I didn't show that you take the screw off the end of the mechanism. Once you take that out (have the key in) the cylinder just slides right out, and you can slide in your old one and your good to go.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B3Ok4CN1Rmc

 

Aha ... you had the 'eureka' moment .... good fix!