driver side door lock

Paul56 · Post by **Paul56** » Sun Dec 20, 2009 2:01 pm

Put the key in the lock... it won't turn in either direction.

I've been keeping the locks lubed with graphite... in fact just did that for the winter 2 days ago and it has been working quite smooth until today.

I can still get in on the passenger side for now so this isn't an emergency.

Whats it gonna take to get this fixed?

Dealer, independent garage or locksmith?

New door lock cylinder assembly?

wiggyx · Post by **wiggyx** » Sun Dec 20, 2009 3:35 pm

Have you tried de-icer yet?

darthroush · Post by **darthroush** » Mon Dec 21, 2009 1:50 am

I popped the rod off of the lock when using a slim-jim to open it. You could check and see if one came off.

Donkeypuncher · Post by **Donkeypuncher** » Mon Dec 21, 2009 2:19 am

Even if the rod came off, the lock should still turn. Have you tried lightly tapping the end of the key with a hammer while it's in the lock? That worked when my ignition cylinder locked up.

Paul56 · Post by **Paul56** » Mon Dec 21, 2009 12:54 pm

I will gently try the hammer trick.

It was working fine when I was out at the car in the morning. Then I parked at a store and came back out about 15 minutes later... suddenly the lock would no longer turn. Not cold enough for it to be frozen... specially after the graphite.

Given it won't turn... I suspect something with the lock itself. Wondering if I should avoid the dealership and take it straight to a locksmith.

Post by **occasional demons** » Mon Dec 21, 2009 2:42 pm

Try another key, if you have a spare. My trunk lock is very picky, if the key is worn, or not cut perfectly. Or flip it over and see if the other side works better. You may be randomly using the side that is worn more.

Meh, it's just an option.

wiggyx · Post by **wiggyx** » Mon Dec 21, 2009 2:49 pm

Paul56 wrote:I will gently try the hammer trick.

It was working fine when I was out at the car in the morning. Then I parked at a store and came back out about 15 minutes later... suddenly the lock would no longer turn. Not cold enough for it to be frozen... specially after the graphite.

Given it won't turn... I suspect something with the lock itself. Wondering if I should avoid the dealership and take it straight to a locksmith.

If moisture got in there then it won't take much to fuxor it. Spray the shit outta it with some WD-40 and let it sit for an hour or so. Add more graphite afterward if all is well.

fixitmattman · Post by **fixitmattman** » Mon Dec 21, 2009 6:56 pm

Ironically my trunk lock just did the same today. Pretty normal for it to happen to various locks on the car so far, all the road salt gets in there and gums it up. A solid flushing with penetrating oil will do the trick.

Paul56 · Post by **Paul56** » Mon Dec 21, 2009 8:37 pm

5 gallons penetrating oil? ...check

sledge hammer? ...check

blow torch? ...check

...heading out to the car now. Will report results later.

wiggyx · Post by **wiggyx** » Mon Dec 21, 2009 9:35 pm

ROFL!

fixitmattman · Post by **fixitmattman** » Mon Dec 21, 2009 9:56 pm

Don't know about sledge hammer, but the torch is handy as hell. Get your key nice and hot and she melts right through.

Paul56 · Post by **Paul56** » Tue Dec 22, 2009 1:39 pm

fixitmattman wrote:Ironically my trunk lock just did the same today. Pretty normal for it to happen to various locks on the car so far, all the road salt gets in there and gums it up. A solid flushing with penetrating oil will do the trick.

Headed out this morning for errands... put key in lock and it turns!

Paul sez to himself... "whoohoo problem gone away"

Stop at first store and come out 10 minutes later... try to open trunk. Key won't turn. Hmmm

Try driver door again... now it won't turn again.

Oh oh... starting to get worried here...

Try passenger door... phew it turns and unlocks.

Start thinking... this is not a coincidence that both driver and trunk locks are getting balky. What have I done?

Sprayed all my locks with this "Jig-A-Loo Graphite Extreme" lubricant about 4 days ago. The stuff is supposed to be good down to about -50 F.

I head home... spray the driver lock with penetrating oil. Wait 5 minutes... now working smoother than ever. I spray all the locks.

Go back out and continue with my errands run... no more problems.

The penetrating oil was an excellent suggestion. Obviously that Jig-A-Loo stuff is crap to never be used on locks again.

Hell, it isn't even that cold here... hovering around 0 to 10+ F.

Anyways, thanks for the penetrating oil suggestion.

r/tguy02 · Post by **r/tguy02** » Tue Dec 22, 2009 2:01 pm

Paul56 wrote:Hell, it isn't even that cold here... hovering around 0 to 10+ F..

Post by **occasional demons** » Tue Dec 22, 2009 2:27 pm

Jig-A-Loo

That pretty much sums it up right there!

Try the Boo-Ga-Loo, it works much better! j/k

BigMac · Post by **BigMac** » Wed Dec 23, 2009 2:52 am

Was your "Jig-A-Loo Graphite Extreme" a liquid or a spray of some kind? My old bottle of graphite contains nothing but black dust, and works great every time.

Paul56 · Post by **Paul56** » Wed Dec 23, 2009 12:37 pm

BigMac wrote:Was your "Jig-A-Loo Graphite Extreme" a liquid or a spray of some kind? My old bottle of graphite contains nothing but black dust, and works great every time.

It was a spray... but lesson learned as I'm never using that again in the locks.

The penetrating oil on the other hand works fantastic... after sitting overnight all the locks are still working great with no binding.

Problem solved. Stealership and/or locksmith avoided.

fixitmattman · Post by **fixitmattman** » Wed Dec 23, 2009 1:04 pm

Graphite is meant to be dry, putting it in a lube that doesn't evaporate just turns it into a slurry. Hence either stick to a penetrating oil, or a dry graphite, but not both.

Donkeypuncher · Post by **Donkeypuncher** » Wed Dec 23, 2009 10:36 pm

Never had any problem with my door or trunk locks, but I have keyless entry so I've only used the key a handful of times. My ignition lock was my problem, and banging on the key worked quite well. I pulled the lock cylinder out and drown it with WD40. I held it upside down so all the dirt and crap could fall out while I squirted the WD inside with that little straw.

Swordfish2Cowboy · Post by **Swordfish2Cowboy** » Thu Dec 24, 2009 12:10 am

I asked around and heard about the hammer trick from a Chrysler mechanic. I ended up spending $100 on a new lock cylinder, and they probably just put it back into stock and fixed my old one.

BlackRoseRacing · Post by **BlackRoseRacing** » Thu Dec 24, 2009 5:26 am

This is the L112 formula that is the same as the Mopar penetrating oil, best stuff on the market

Paul56 · Post by **Paul56** » Thu Dec 24, 2009 2:45 pm

BlackRoseRacing wrote:
This is the L112 formula that is the same as the Mopar penetrating oil, best stuff on the market

^...this is the exact product I picked up at our "Canadian Tire" store up here and used on my locks.

The locks are ALL working better than they ever have.

From now on this is the product I will be using on my locks.

Caraudioholic24 · Post by **Caraudioholic24** » Thu Dec 24, 2009 4:36 pm

I use pb blast but it stinks. How does the liquid wrench stuff smell??

Paul56 · Post by **Paul56** » Thu Dec 24, 2009 7:13 pm

Caraudioholic24 wrote:I use pb blast but it stinks. How does the liquid wrench stuff smell??

Uhm... oily but not objectionable.

I sprayed both front doors and trunk. The interior smells the same now as it did before.

Don't asked how it smelled before.

Caraudioholic24 · Post by **Caraudioholic24** » Thu Dec 24, 2009 7:15 pm

So i take it it doesnt smell. LOL

the pb blast works awesome but it stinks so bad that when I walk in the house my wife wont go near me until I take a shower. LOL

Whitney09 · Post by **Whitney09** » Mon Apr 11, 2011 2:04 am

Door locks are good for all. For example, people lock my nasty hole.