Not sure what has happened but the driver’s door would not open - funny not - as it was raining and i had to climb in from other side! Recently fitted new regulator for electric window which works fine. Key works in lock but winding down window and watch mechanism it seem to move but not enough - not sure if it is covered in gunk. Thought it was cold weather but now doing it again.
Any suggestions? The lock turns fine and clunks on lock and unlock but both outside and inside handle feels like it is not engaging. Managed to get it open the other day by thumping it from inside whilst using key in the lock. Checked it several times and seemed fine - at first thought it was the cold but now think it could be fouled on something.
Not being a car thief or a mechanic wondered if there is a tip on what i should be pushing when placing a coat hanger inside the door from the top to help the mechanism. Can see the internal mechanism fine but obviously cannot remove the inside door trim panel with door shut. Not got central locking.
On occasions, I have a similar issue with the drivers’ door lock on my Mk 1; I’ve had it where no amount of wiggling the key will open the door (or so it seems) but if I then take out the key and put it back in, then slightly angle it up or down, the lock then opens?
I’ve also noticed that if I lock the door from the ‘inside’, I cannot open it from the inside, I then must unlock it from the outside with the keys (which is quite fun, dangling out the window!)
I guess - when the better weather comes - I’ll have to take the door card off (it just pops off with plastic fasteners) then remove the plastic weather/moisture shield and have a look at what the lock/door handle is doing. I did find that popping the door card off and liberally squirting WD40 over the lock mechanism seems to have improved things, though.
Thanks guys. I managed to get it open by winding down the window, lifting off the inside panel which fits to the top of the door which the previous owner/garage kindly pulled apart from the rest of the door card! Then standing outside the car with a torch and coathanger I managed some how to pop the locking mechanism up and it opened fine. Will not make a very good car thief! Checked inside and it looked fine and everything was moving as it should be, I even opened and closed it and locked it again no problems…that is until after 4th or 5th attempt and it did it again! Gave up now as it is dark and raining. Fortunately it is my spare car so I will take a look tomorrow. No sure about the spring but well worth taking a look. The handle outside and inside pulls the rods fine and the lock mechanism locks and unlocks but there does not appear to be much movement inside the door. May consider taking it all apart and have a closer inspection outside the door.
When you come to look at it again, if weather/light conditions permit you could take a couple of pictures & describe what you did and we could add it to the FAQ, since it doesn’t seem to be a unique issue.
It is a horrid time of years for things like this, because even if it is not raining, it is always cold, which can make fiddly jobs impossible. At least you are not having to use it to go to work or whatever.
I took a look today and noticed that there is no spring! However just by moving the internal handle very slightly (looks like 1 bolt missing and being held on by just 2 bolts). This seemed to work and the door opens no problems! Have ordered a spring to fit later this week so that this does not happen again! I will take some pics when weather is a bit better. Thanks guys.
