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Door unlocks with key only

S

SoopaCooga

Veteran CEG'er
Joined
Jun 19, 2001
Messages
662
Location
Fairfax, VA
Now that it's Winter, my driver-side door is acting up again. The door can be locked with the key, switch, or remote; however, it can only be unlocked with the key or interior handle. Trying to unlock it "electronically" rather than "mechanically" results in the door "making the unlock noise" but then locking immediately, as if someone toggled the switch from lock to unlock.

Seems to me like something is either sticking or otherwise not free to move. I suppose I'm trying to determine two things: is the power door lock actuator at fault or is it something else? Both Haynes and AutoZone claim that to remove the actuator, I'll first have to remove the door handle assembly, which isn't particularly quick or easy. I don't want to spend the day disassembling my door only to learn that I need to reassemble it and go buy an actuator somewhere.
 
I had the same problem with my 1998. It only happened when it was really cold out. I fixed it by spraying Lock Ease (sp?) brand lock cylinder lubricant into the lock cylinder and on the latch assembly (where the door latches to the post on the body) that actual latch. I never had a problem with it again, but I always made sure to lube those two spots before it got real cold.
 
lube is the most common recommendation for stuck locks, but i never had a problem unlocking the door with the key.

UPDATE:
i pulled off the door panel today to poke around. interestingly, i had better success when using the lock toggle switch with the panel off. however, it would still get stuck occasionally during both lock and unlock. watching the cable move when toggling the switch suggests to me that the actuator is doing its job, which would mean that the latch is suspect. this is further supported by the fact that after i put the panel back on the door, i was unable to open the door 50% of the time. so, it seems i should repair or replace the latch itself. i'll start by squirting lube in there. what's frustrating is that i paid to have this fixed last year. :\
 
Bear in mind that the electronic actuator is nowhere near as strong as you physically unlocking the door with your key. It probably wouldn't take much of a bind to keep the automatic mechanism from working correctly.
Karl
 
this is still an issue, hot day or cold day. the actuator no longer moves the latch.

i have hosed down the latch with WD40 each week, which helps. is there something better i should use?
 
Considering WD-40 is not a lubricant, ANYTHING would be better than that.

WD-40 is a water displacer and rust inhibitor. Lithium grease would be better...
 
Check out the snopes page on WD-40 for a "straight from the horse's mouth" revamp of that very list.. They removed the ones they wouldn't recommend you using it for.
 
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