Warning--DX door locks

[the evil twin]

5000 posts to qualify for sarcasm.

... stand by for 757 newby welcome posts

[4bye4]

I've got my own sarcasm so I don't have to get mine off the forum.

[muz muz]

thanks for all the info.

[4Bee]

and a another thanks from me too!

[Cuppa]

Ever since I’ve had mine the drivers door lock has been a little ‘idiosnynchratic’, no issue with locking it at all, but generally to unlock it I have to first turn the key as though locking it before I can unlock it. (i.e. turn one way then the other). It always works, but has always struck me as a bit odd.

Hi Cuppa
Exactly how mine started to play up. Once it is difficult to lock from inside or outside, you may have a problem.

cheers

Finally got around to fitting the new lock today. In my hand pressing the lever operated by the door handle makes a slight click on the old one, but not on the new. The apparently problematic plastic pivot points are intact & I can't see anything different between old & new.

With the new door lock fitted & the door locked I often need to still turn the key as though locking it before I can unlock it (although not every time), but the mechanism does feel a lot smoother. I reckon it was probably wise to change it & can at least now not have to worry that I won't get it open.

If anyone can advise exactly what I'm looking for I'll break the plastic cover off the old one & examine it more closely (& take pics to post).

[Snook]

Since no one posts in these forums on these old threads, I thought I would give an update in 2025 on this problem to help anyone else out. It took me 3 nights of like 6 hours lying across my ute front seats probably getting a hernia to get mine open. It depends what your problem is as to how to fix.

Mine the mechanism was completely shagged, so it was stuck locked and couldn't unlock no matter what. Even pulling out the inside handle as per some guides to give it some force on the lock and handle opener to no go. Once I got the lock out later I can see why this didn't work as its completely shagged.

What worked for me was pulling away the inside door seals which opens a small gap that you can see into the striker with a torch. its awkward as fuck because most wire is too stiff or too loose or too thick to get in there and activate the mechanism to push DOWN and open the door on the bottom of the locking mechanism.

What finally worked for me was getting a piece of high tensile flat stainless steel wire from a coathanger at woolworths thats made for hanging shorts or pants with the press to open aligator style clips. Its flat bar and i was able to get this in and over or under the black striker and push down because it would bend but not stay bent, it was like a spring. THIS WORKED after hours of furiously spamming it around in there and the door popped open.

829600_8.jpg

Screenshot of the coathanger that worked.

Practice lots on the other door and remember the striker locks TWICE. I spent ages thinking i was doing the right thing on only the first click.... which puts the striker in a different position to fully locked.

[mudnut]

Since no one posts in these forums on these old threads, I thought I would give an update in 2025 on this problem to help anyone else out. It took me 3 nights of like 6 hours lying across my ute front seats probably getting a hernia to get mine open. It depends what your problem is as to how to fix.

Mine the mechanism was completely shagged, so it was stuck locked and couldn't unlock no matter what. Even pulling out the inside handle as per some guides to give it some force on the lock and handle opener to no go. Once I got the lock out later I can see why this didn't work as its completely shagged.

What worked for me was pulling away the inside door seals which opens a small gap that you can see into the striker with a torch. its awkward as fuck because most wire is too stiff or too loose or too thick to get in there and activate the mechanism to push DOWN and open the door on the bottom of the locking mechanism.

What finally worked for me was getting a piece of high tensile flat stainless steel wire from a coathanger at woolworths thats made for hanging shorts or pants with the press to open aligator style clips. Its flat bar and i was able to get this in and over or under the black striker and push down because it would bend but not stay bent, it was like a spring. THIS WORKED after hours of furiously spamming it around in there and the door popped open.

829600_8.jpg

Screenshot of the coathanger that worked.

Practice lots on the other door and remember the striker locks TWICE. I spent ages thinking i was doing the right thing on only the first click.... which puts the striker in a different position to fully locked.

Thank for the feedback. You might just have save someone else from having a real bad day.