Trouble with door locks

[puddy]

I have a 1975 911 that I just bought. The drivers door won't lock or unlock from the outside with the key. If the door is closed it will lock from the inside. If the drivers door is open, the inside lock won't work. The drivers door was replaced with a newer door at some point. I believe it's from a mid 80's 911. Is there something internally with the handle & lock mechanisms that changed in newer doors? The newer door has the original door handle installed to retain the same lock & key. I pulled both door panels off and the tried to see where the problem is but I couldn't see much in the newer door, there a bigger plastic shroud on the window slider frame that hides much of the lock mechanism. When I pull the lock handle it only moves about 1/8" and seems to be binding on something. On my original passenger door I can clearly see the whole lock mechism and it works fine.

Does anyone have any thoughts or suggestions? Thanks!

[93nav]

Unfortunately I cannot offer a solution to your problem, but I also have the same problem. My driver side door will lock from the inside, but the key will not unlock or lock from the outside. The passenger door works fine.

I figure this for a winter project. I have a new tumbler set and the repair kit with the wafers, so we will see.

Note, that the left and right tumblers are not the same part number, or at least, that is how I am reading the PET. People who seem to know what they are talking about have switched the passenger side to the drivers side and it worked, or so I was told.

[DaveMcKenz]

The door on my 84 will only lock from the inside or outside if it is closed. That is to prevent locking the keys inside.
Good luck,
Dave

[cabmandone]

Two things come to mind. First, the cam that screws to the lock mechanism that turns the lock and unlock mechanism might have backed out and fallen to the bottom of the door. It isn't an uncommon occurrence as I understand it. The other thing you might want to check while in there is whether the door came off of a car with central locking. While it won't affect the unlocking of the door it will affect the locking because the central locks will unlock with the key but not lock because that was done electronically.

Here's a link to a thread I did while trying to fix my central lock. I went to the older style but it might clarify what I'm saying regarding the cam that came off the handle mechanism.
Door locking mechanism question, Is there something missing?

That part contacts the part in this thread.
WTB: Passenger side door latch Non Central lock (PN 911.531.054.01)

In that picture it is an older door latch setup that has the two ears that the cam on the handle contacts to lock and unlock the door. The central lock only has one ear that the cam contacts to unlock the door.

I read over your OP again and it sounds like you still have the central locking actuator connected to the door latch mechanism. When I was messing with trying to fix my central lock I could lock the door from the inside when the door was closed but the central lock actuator would keep it from locking while the door was open. I'm guessing if you take your latch off of your old door and install it on your new door, you problems will go away.

Hope this helps.

[puddy]

Thank Cabmando, sounds like I have the same problem as you. In the pics in the second link you provided, that mechanism matches my original 1975 door. But the other newer driver side door lock mechanism looks similar but only has 1 post that is meant to push the lock. The older door mechanism has 2 posts that the lock arm travels between.

Unfortunately the original door is long gone. It's too bad it wasn't the other way around so that I could unlock the drivers door then reach over and unlock the passenger door from the inside, I'd just leave it alone!

This helps tho, I'll do some more googling thanks!

[cabmandone]

What you're going to need is a new latch mechanism like in my second thread. I think even if you remove the central lock actuator from the newer door, that will let you lock the door while it's open but if I recall correctly, it will unlock as soon as you close the door. My new to me latch can only be locked with a key.

You've got a central lock latch mechanism on a non central lock car the way it sounds. Post a WTB on the used parts forum and you should fix your problem. The new door handle should still have the cam pictured in the first thread I posted for you as that doesn't change. What changes is the latch/lock mechanism tabs. 1 tab with central lock, 2 tabs with mechanical lock.

I removed my entire central lock system and installed the old lock/unlock with a key mechanism in both doors.

[DaveMcKenz]

Like I said, my 84 will not lock with door open, and it has no central lock system. FWIW
Dave

[puddy]

Ok a little update, when googling I found some other articles and one person said they could open the drivers door if they squeezed the latch at the same time as turning the lock. I tried and this works for me, problem semi solved!

[cabmandone]

Originally Posted by DaveMcKenz

Like I said, my 84 will not lock with door open, and it has no central lock system. FWIW
Dave

It won't lock with the door open by key or by the knob in the car? That's weird. I can lock mine but if I close the door it will unlock and I have to lock it with the key.

[DaveMcKenz]

Originally Posted by cabmando

It won't lock with the door open by key or by the knob in the car? That's weird. I can lock mine but if I close the door it will unlock and I have to lock it with the key.

Yours sounds like an improved lockout prevention idea, but similar to mine. What good is it to lock an open door that unlocks when you close it? Mine does not let you lock it in the first place.
Oh well.
Thanks,
Dave