door lock problem

[matthewb]

I have an 86' 944 and my key wont unlock or lock the doors. The key does turn in the barrels and the passenger side makes noise like it is trying to lock or unlock. The drivers side does nothing. I pulled of my interior door panel and could not noticably see anything wrong on the drivers side. It didnt look like there was any direct mechanical linkage between the lock cylinder and the locking mechanism. Is this true or is my car missing something. Does anyone have any hints for me to look at with this problem. Like I said the drivers does nothing and the passenger side motor makes noise but doesnt unlock or lock the car. Kinda makes me uncomfortable to drive it anywhere. any help is apprecitated.

[Todd157k]

There's some plastic arms in there that always break. Look on Clarks Garage for a few tips.
http://www.clarks-garage.com/

[matthewb]

does that mean that there should be a direct mechanical linkage on the drivers side?

[fireboy92k]

I just worked over my driver's door lock this weekend. What fun.

Yes, there are in fact TWO connections from the outside door handle the inside mechanism. One is for the lock and the other is for the latch. Both are BEHIND the wide upper part of the window track (assuming you have auto windows), so they are hard to see.

The metal one for the latch has a plastic cup on the bottom that goes over a matching ball on the inside mechanism. Feel around for it behind the window channel. To SEE it you have to put a flashlight or something in the bottom of the door and then on the rear part of the door there is a small square hole that you can look through that will JUST BARELY let you see the hook up. It takes a screwdriver pushed through the plastic piece and twisted slightly to free it. If you can't see it, take out the screw at the bottom of the window channel and push it in ever so slightly (make sure the window is up of course).

As for the lock, there is a much smaller but similar type setup that goes from the lock solenoid on the door handle to the the locking part of the inside door mechanism. It is ALL PLASTIC, and probably breaks alot (mine wasn't thankfully).

Make sure you door lock isn't bound up first though, as that is what created most of the problems on my door it seems. I had to take the entire lock mechanism out of the door and thoroughly clean it to get it functioning again.

Let me know if that doesn't make sense.

Here is the plastic door lock part. Like several things on the 944, $4 bucks to fix, tons of frustration to get too.

http://www.944online.com/cgi-bin/ASI_Store.cgi?Product+skukey_1121284695+9441+body-9441

[fireboy92k]

http://www.944online.com/cgi-bin/ASI_Store.cgi?Product+skukey_1121284695+9441+body-9441