Help with door lock problem...

[toddetch]

Hi everyone,

So for some time, my driver's side door lock on my '80 SC Targa has been a bit finicky. It would be hard to unlock, didn't want to turn, but then if I turned the key the other way then back to unlock it would work. One evening last week I locked it and something kind of popped and the door wouldn't lock. I had to crawl over the passenger side to lock it from the inside (and unlock it later...).

I took the panels off both doors yesterday to see if I could find anything obvious that could be causing it. Here are my observations:

• Nothing obvious looking inside.
• The passenger side can lock and unlock with both the key and the internal knob whether the door is open or closed.
• The driver door cannot lock at all if the door is open.
• The driver door can unlock and lock using the interior knob if the door is closed.
• The driver door cannot lock or unlock using the key if the door is closed.

I was hoping to find something without completely disassembling the door, taking out the windows, etc.

Has anyone ever experienced this? I'm wondering if it could be some type of adjustment that is needed or something. Anything I can check without that complete disassembly?

Thanks in advance!

Todd

[steely]

This is just a guess, but it could be that the metal tang(?) on the door handle lock tumbler isn't engaging with the assembly inside, OR, the assy inside is loaded with crud - which a removal and cleaning would fix. I don't know if the tang could pop out of the locking assy.

Window removal wasn't necessary on my 87, although the interior skin would have to come out. There may be a desired window position (I forget) that allows you to get in there without either the glass or the window regulator hw being in the way (Its been a while for me).

There are a couple small round white plastic guides that press fit in here and there, they might pop out, but I don't think they're the culprits b/c your interior knobs work. These guides are used to support the linkages to those knobs, and since they're working I'd lean away from them (they r cheap to replace/refresh tho while u r in there.

Also, since the interior stuff works, that could be an indicator that the interior assy is in fact ok, coz it's a pretty neat little piece of mechanics, but anything could happen.

and as you probably know, over time the lube/grease tends to dry into hard crud, so unfortunately a visual inspection and cleanup might be beneficial.

here's my before and after ( I may have gotten carried away w the new grease).
I've never needed to remove the handles/tumblers, so I don't have a pic of them.
obligatory recco here to do a search here or check bentley manual for more info.
Someone else may chime in. HTH and Good luck.

[toddetch]

Thanks Dan. Yeah, I had the Bentley out yesterday. I ended up putting everything back together because I realized it was likely to be a much longer job and given I only have a little time on the weekends to work, I didn't want to spend the summer driving season with my doors disassembled on the garage floor. I was kind of hoping that someone had an idea for something easy, but doubted it. Your post is helpful!

My guess is that I end up working on it this weekend and doing an overhaul of the doors in the process (window switches, mirror switch, etc., etc.).

[DRACO A5OG]

OP,

From what you posted, it appears you may have busted off the post off of the tumbler arm, the arm is made of casted pot metal:



That is probably what you heard drop in your door. All other components are stamped steel.

Your description of locking is PAG design to keep from locking the key inside. I know strange, but kinda makes sense.

As far as being finicky, it is possible the latch mechanism may be out of alignment. After you verify the tumber arm is intact or not, loosen the latch from the outside, grab the latch and move it around and test with the key.

I recently, went thru this prior to me powder coating my handles. My d-side was acting up and not fully unlocking until I turned to re-lock position with key ( which does not lock btw) then I turned the key back to unlock and I can push the arm past the sticking point then it would release lock to unlatch.

I grabbed to latch and noticed it was loose, I turned it and used my keyless entry remote and VOILA it finally fully engaged. I re-torqued the screws on the latch. All is well.

Hope this all make sense?

[JRSIII]

Todd,
Note that the symptom you are describing as "The driver door cannot lock at all if the door is open" is intentional. It's supposed to prevent you from locking the keys inside the car. The large cam that engages in the door activates or deactivates the anti-lockout lever. See photos...





Note also that if you have a targa, you can get the latch mechanism out without removing the windows. You just need to remove the rear window rail, which is held on with three screws through the back of the door that are covered with rubber caps. Of course you have to remove the door card. Once the window rail is out, raise the window all the way up (use your hand to guide) and you can access the latch mechanism. It helps to have small hands on one of those mirrors on a stick. Oh and the cam just barely fits through the hole and you have to jimmy it around to a specific orientation to get it through.

[toddetch]

Thanks, everyone, good info. Below is a picture of the inside of the door. I'm pretty sure the tumbler arm that @DRACO A5OG referred to is still in place. Obviously I had the door panels off to look into it and I did check the bottom of the door to see if any loose parts were down there, but didn't see anything.

John (@JRSIII) - I do have a Targa so I'll try what you suggested. So I get what you are saying about not having to remove the window completely.

Does anything jump out at anyone from the pic? I actually grabbed it from a video. I didn't include the video since it wasn't great and it didn't seem like it showed much. It does look like it is in Position A from John's pics.

[toddetch]

Oh, having a hard time getting the pic to load. Will keep trying...

[toddetch]

Okay, I think this worked...

[DRACO A5OG]

Yeap, it looks good so far, I wonder what you heard that dropped???