Passenger Door Doesnt lock. EVER

[SubCool]

Hey guys,
I had become part of another thread with this subject, but this is more direct for me. ANd VERY important.

My passenger door wont lock. No matter what. If i use the key, it doesnt lock. if i take off the keyrod, and lock it. it doesnt lock. If i use the button, it moves, but doent lock. No matter what i do. I cant open that door, from the outside. I believe the thing that all the rods goto is messed up. Cause it also sounds a lil funny when i close the door, and open the door. It just doesnt feel like the others. The rods aren crossed when going to the handle. I tried to take the "thingy" (actuator?) off. with the 3 screws, to realize... i cant detach the other rods.

Now the important part about this is. Other than it is a LOCK.
I just moved to the city. People check your door locks for the giggles to hope to get lucky. I have cleared out the car, but that doesnt mean i wont get vandalized.

How do i go about replacing/fixing this lock?

Thanks.

 

[SubCool]

Anyone? any insight? I just had my friend's father take a look at it. He isnt a pro or anything, but its not just me.
How do i fix this? Is Changing the door the only option?

 

[Bizzy]

When you turn the key in the tumbler unit the black button inside the car moves up and down?

Sounds to me like the connections between the tumbler and the locking mechanism has been separated. Pull the door skin off along with the sound dampening plastic and take a look. You can use the door on the other side as a guide as to what it should look like providing that the other side works properly. Make sure you have a good light because even on the brightest day it's a pain in the neck to see inside the door.

As for replacing, I think you can replace the locking part from a j/y door, but I'm not sure if the parts are riveted in or have sheet metal screws holding it in.

 

[ohfosho]

i had problems where my passenger door lock was jamming, preventing you from opening the door. i thought just the power actuator was toast, but it was the latch assembly (3 large torx screws, brass color) that was jamming things. i would go to the junk yard and pick up all the parts you think you could need... from a regular taurus or sable... just make sure it has power locks. there is one wire possibly left over when you are done the swap... it is for the dash light 'door ajar', however it is not lit after the swap... leave the wire hanging/tie it up somewhere.

it is tricky playing with the rods... try not to bend them much, or twist them much too, it will adjust things wrong... my passenger door is tougher to open when its locked now (the ford setup, when the door is locked, you can pull the handle and it will unlock and open the door), mine needs one good pull of the door handle or 2 pulls now... and the outside door handle is sticking up ever so slightly... these arent big deals to me, so i just left it.

good luck.

 

[SubCool]

i had problems where my passenger door lock was jamming, preventing you from opening the door. i thought just the power actuator was toast, but it was the latch assembly (3 large torx screws, brass color) that was jamming things. i would go to the junk yard and pick up all the parts you think you could need... from a regular taurus or sable... just make sure it has power locks. there is one wire possibly left over when you are done the swap... it is for the dash light 'door ajar', however it is not lit after the swap... leave the wire hanging/tie it up somewhere.

it is tricky playing with the rods... try not to bend them much, or twist them much too, it will adjust things wrong... my passenger door is tougher to open when its locked now (the ford setup, when the door is locked, you can pull the handle and it will unlock and open the door), mine needs one good pull of the door handle or 2 pulls now... and the outside door handle is sticking up ever so slightly... these arent big deals to me, so i just left it.

good luck.

I had already tried to take the latch out, But the rods are almost permanent with the outside door handle. I tried to see if i could detach the rods from the Latch it self, but i'd have to almost break the thing to do it. From what i can tell. I am quite sure that the latch can be disconnected from the at least one of the connecting parts, more importantly.. the Outside door handle. It might be because i have a 92. Thats why i was asking if i have to just change the door. The only thing good about this is, is that my car has never been cleaner. I dont want ANYONE taking anything. Sadly i wont have the ability to look at it till this weekend, its supposed to rain all week. AND i just reinstalled the trim and such to the door. I could easily take it all off again, but i need new plastic anchors.

Thanks for the help, but i am still unsure how to take the latch out without breaking something, I was going to take it out already, i had to do this to my mom's car, and giving what these lil parts do, i think i may also just have a pro do it. I dont know. I just spent 500$ on two outter T-Rods, and tires. After getting stuck 150miles away. Nowi have to go BACK cause its pullin to the left!
What a headache.

 

[ohfosho]

i cant recall how i pulled the rods out and which end i pulled them out of. i think it would have been the latch though. you can bend them a bit, but make sure not much, and get them back to shape