Door Lock Question

[LincolnQuestions]

I'm considering getting a keyless entry system put in, but there's no point unless all the door locks in my car work.

The driver's door lock doesn't lock the car. I can hear the mechanism working inside the door, but the lock doesn't catch. Is this an actutator problem or something else?

[ekooke]

Does it unlock by the switch (not plunger)?
If not, the linkage to the actuator may have come loose. What year/model is this car?

[LincolnQuestions]

The switch on the door works just fine; that's how I lock the car (it also works from the outside). Every once in a while the door will actually lock--it sure seems like the actutator works and the linkage is off, but I don't know. I haven't taken off my door to check it out because the nylon plugs are about to snap :( I'm waiting for a part to secure the door map pocket, so I'll check it out then.

My car is an '85 Continental.

[LincolnQuestions]

When you say switch, do you mean the power door lock switch? Or the black slider that manually locks the door? If you ask if it operates with the switch, it does not. Only manually using the slide. Sorry about my confusion.

[pro-five-oh]

Does it make a loud buzzing noise? Odds are the motor has fallen off the door because of a worn out rivet. I've done this a few times...you have to take off the panel, drill out the rivet, and replace the rivet with a nut/bolt to hold the door lock bracket in.

If it still unlocks, this is probably your problem.

[LincolnQuestions]

Sometimes it makes a loud buzzing sound, almost like a pnuematic drill (five fast, loud buzzes). But, like I said, it sometimes locks (it locked today), but it is rare that it does.

How hard is it to drill out the rivet?

[pro-five-oh]

Get a drill, start with a small bit, drill in the center...use larger and larger bits until the center part breaks up and the rivet falls out.

Odds are this is your problem, but you need to take off the door panel and have a looksy before you do anything. smile.gif

[H. Alan Hoover]

I have a 1998 Conti with a keyless entry and my driver door lock often does the same thing - will not lock (when you put the car in gear it automatically pulls down the door lock pins on all the doors except the driver door). Using the remote to unlock in most cases will not unlock it, must use the key. Occassionally it will work, but not often. I too must lock it by pulling the the driver door lock up or down (the chrome shaft at the top of the door panel).

Would this be a similar problem or is it just because the driver door is often the most used to lock / unlock it wears the motor out? No buzzing I can hear, quiet.

How difficult is it to take the door panle off? My past experience on other autos always results in disaster becuse I don't know if the clips are easily pulled out or if the require a tool or just firm tugging.

Appreciate any additional inputs on this.
thanks!

[Marshal]

sounds to me that you have an actuator problem.I removed the one on my drivers door because it was noisy & didn't lock properly,also the little plastic clip that holds the lock lever on was worn.Taking off the door panal was not a problem,its best with an extra pair of hands.Good luck hope the fix is easy...Marshal smile.gif