Central locking issues

[DougM]

Yesterday, my locking system decided to give me issues on my '86 930.
When I try to lock the doors, the actuator sounds(clunks) on both doors but they don't actually lock.
I can unlock each door separately with the key, but the opposite door will not unlock even though I hear the actuator.
The central locking button engages the actuators on the doors, but again, they will not lock.
Any suggestions?

[magic930]

Sounds like the actuater rod is broken, its a rod similar to the one in the heat controls, metal rod with a plastic cap which eventually breaks. It is strange that it has happened to both doors at the same time.

I am curious since I am troubleshooting mine at the moment...were you able to unlock your doors using the central lock button without the key in the ignition? I am not sure if this is an anti theft feature, but its wierd to me that if I am in the car with the doors locked I have to have the key switched ON to get out of the car! Next week I am installing a keyless entry and I hope this "feature" doesn't make it difficult.

[MattAlpha]

DougM,
As magic930 said your actuators rod inside of you door might be broken, but they plastic top may have just popped off the ball they insert to as well.
This is very easy to diagnosis. Take you door panel off and have a look at it. If the plactic top looks to be intact, simply push it back onto the ball. If it snaps in you are set.
If you have the Bentley manual it will help you see what you should be doing. It also tells you how to properly adjust the height of this plastic top on the actuator rod, which could be the reason they both popped off (if they both had worked themselves out of adjustment).