Door lock help!!

StayGold808 · 10:29 PM

Hi All,

Car is an 86 carrera. Just took off the door handles to have them refinished. Now after putting them back on, having some problems.

I have tested with the doors open, but the latch turned as though the door is closed. The plugs from the door handles are connected correctly at the base of the door.

The doors will unlock with the key, if locked from the inside.

However, if i turn the key to lock either side, nothing happens.

The central locking button in the centre console will only unlock the doors if they are locked. If they are opened, pushing the button makes the doors try to unlock (i can hear the sound).

I did take apart my door handles and removed the lock barrels. Not sure if it is caused by how i've put it back together.

On the inside of my door, I only have one arm that the door lock barrel's arm can push in one direction only. I've seen older doors that have an arm for the lock to push in both directions.

Can somebody help me please, as I can't lock the car, and therefore can't drive it.

Thanks for your help in advance,
Adam

RoninLB · 11-26-2009, 09:49 PM

wild guess is that the connection to the lock isn't correct

that switching the original right door lock & handle to the left door screwed up the operation

cary · 11-27-2009, 04:59 AM

Not a clue on power locks. But on manual. The end of the lock cylinder is a cap with a pointy thing sticking up. That can be assembled 180 degree out. That is the gadget that slides the lock plate up and down. 180 degrees out the cylinder will be doing nothing. The point isn't in the slot that moves the latch up and down.
My .02c. May be no help.

StayGold808 · 11-27-2009, 04:12 PM

After doing some reading, I understand how the locks work now. The system is electrical, with the microswitch in the lock cylinder. The mechanical mechanism is only a backup to unlock the door if the electricals fail.

I've taken the door handles off, and tested by operating the microswitch manually. Pushing the microswitchs to the lock position does nothing. Only opening activates the system.

Seems strange that both handles are doing the same thing. The plugs all seem properly connected. I'm thinking there is a problem with the central locking control unit in the front right fender. Man is that thing a ***** to access.....

carreradpt · carreradpt's Garage

If the door panels are still off, you might want to check the connector rods from the actuators in the bottom of the door to the dohickey just above them. The rods have a small cup piece that fits on a ball on the locking mechanism. Sometimes the cups get worn and the rods come off. The symptoms you describe sound like that could be the problem. Might be worth a look.

group911@aol.co · 11-27-2009, 07:12 PM

Don't forget that the doors will only lock if they are closed. You can do that manually for testing by rotating the striker at the back of the door manually to the closed position.
My guess is that you installed the nylon sleeve that actuates the micro switch in the wrong position. If you have the handle apart and activate the switch manually with the door closed and it doesn't work, you have probably damaged the switch.

StayGold808 · 11-27-2009, 09:16 PM

It's definitely an electrical problem, as the central locking works to unlock the doors. Just won't lock them.

I had an idea today to jumper the connection at the plug, to see if the switch is the problem. I'll try that later.

StayGold808 · 12-03-2009, 04:37 AM

Jumpered the connection at the plug, and the system operated fine. So I knew it was a problem with the microswitches.

After reassembling the lock tumblers on both sides, the system now works. Very happy.

However I did notice one mechanical issue. Please see the picture below, and the piece marked with the red arrow.

On the driver's side, moving this piece operates the lock mechanism, mechanically. It is connected to the rods some how.

However on the passenger side, this piece is free to move loosely. Hence, it only moves when the key is used to open this door. This means that the door can only be opened from outside, if a key was used to unlock that door.

Could somebody provide an exploded diagram, so I can see how this part connects to the mechanism.

Thanks,
Adam

StayGold808 · 02:29 AM

Really could use some help guys...

The only diagram i could find is for the older mechanism, where the piece with the red arrow above has two ears.

StayGold808 · 03:20 AM

I found this picture in another thread. I'll assume the older mechanism with the two ears is similar to the newer one in my car.

If i remember correctly, the horn in the top left corner connects to the actuator, and the one at the top connected the round knob in the door panel.

So what internally in this part, moves the horn in the top left corner when the part in the bottom right corner is moved?

Also, how hard is it to remove this part? Seems pretty dirty...