Door lock problem

[pine box]

I'm posting here because the body section seems to be closed.
Heres the deal: 88 Grand Marq, drivers door. Power lock works great. Manual lock moves when you hit the power switch, but the effort is too high to move it by hand.
Key is VERY difficult to turn.
6 months ago I took off the door panel, sprayed WD 40 on everything, let it sit an hour, then squirted in 30 wt.
I put it all back together, no improvement.
Today, I had to open the door up to repair the power window [works great, now]!
Not only do the non electric door locks not work, now the outside door handle no longer works.
I'm thinking I may have broken/dislodged a plastic clip @ the latch while I was working on the motor, but I can't see in there.


Any ideas, anybody?

[gabegt90]

when I first got my car the front door locks did not work I just made it manual locks

[86GmLsCoupe]

If the lock motors or original or you've never replaced them, I'd say they're starting to wear down and weaken. This will cause the key being hard to turn and sometimes you'll have to press lock/unlock a few times (quickly) to get the door to do what you want. Also there is always the off chance that when you reinstalled the door panel you, pinched/bind or held down the lock rod down with the panel or armrest. I've done this before being careless when putting the door back together. The others will fill in on getting a new actuator like the aftermarket ebay ones.

[pine box]

Thanks guys.
The power lock works fine.
The KEY and MANUAL locks arent working.
And the outside door handle, now.
WTF?

[mrltd]

Sounds like something came off. Since the manual was such high effort, something could have easily bent or broke one of the clips or linkages. And the high effort is due to a bad door lock solenoid 99% of the time.

[86GmLsCoupe]

I just removed/reinstalled both my lock cylinders today so I got to see what it looks like. Since you said the motor was fine, my bet then is that the linkage popped out from its connector on the cylinder. It's an easy fix. If it is of, you obviously have to get access (remove door panel) and just the upper right corner of the paper barrier. When you look in near the handle, you'll see the two rods, one should be connected to the cylinder (you sort have to look through or under the glass). If its not, you just have to reach in, lift it up and push it right into the cylinder clip. A little flap on the clip pops over the rod to hold it in place once it's pushed in. You can move the clip around on the cylinder with the tip of your finger to get it in the right spot if you need (it only fits in one way).

[gadget73]

I'm betting on bad lock motor. My car did this, lock motor was seized up. New motor and its like brandy new again. It might function, but probably it doesn't turn as freely as it should. Unhook the linkage to the lock motor and see how the manual locks work. If its normal effort, replace the lock motor.

[P72Ford]

I had a similar problem with my car. The front doors had some major issues (I don't have power locks). Locking manually was requiring too much effort. Also, I was hearing things rattling around in the door. When I took the door apart there was major carnage. I just took the lock rods out in their entirety. No problems anymore. Of course... you can't lock the front doors anymore either. However, theres nothing to steal in my car... there isn't even a radio.

[pine box]

Thanks for the response, guys.
I DID knock the door handle actuator rod out of its hole in the outside handle while I was wrestling the window motor back into place. I put it back, and everything is like it was before. Except the window works now.
The key is still nearly impossible to turn. If I unlock the passenger side door, I can hit the button and unlock the drivers side door.
I guess I'll replace the motors on both doors, since the pass. motor is DOA.
Its counterintuitive, but after examining the mechanism, I can see how it COULD be the motor beginning to seize that causes everything else to feel 'tight.'

[OldBlue1981]

when I first got my car the front door locks did not work I just made it manual locks

Same here...I removed my power locks. The manual locks are easier to maintain and you won't have as many problems.

[gadget73]

ugh, the hackjob method of fixing things, if its broke, don't bother to repair it, just rip it out!

[86GmLsCoupe]

I guess I'll replace the motors on both doors, since the pass. motor is DOA.

That doesn't sound like a bad idea, If I remember correctly the service manual said if the one goes, replace the others as well. Now, I wouldn't do that for a newer car, but the old ones I guess it makes some sense.

Its counterintuitive, but after examining the mechanism, I can see how it COULD be the motor beginning to seize that causes everything else to feel 'tight.'

Yes,when my lock actuator pretty much seized, you'd have to open the door from the inside to unlock or snap off the key in the cylinder.

[OldBlue1981]

ugh, the hackjob method of fixing things, if its broke, don't bother to repair it, just rip it out!

I personally believe that power locks are just a waste of time and money. People shouldn't be so lazy...it doesn't take much effort at all to manually lock your doors. The manual way is the way to go in my book.

[yucatec]

Dear Panthers,
Can't agree. I'll go even farther and praise my remote door lock/unlock. When I've four dogs lying down outside my motel room door in West Boondocks, North Dakota at five in the morning, icey rain and I've got one suitcase slung over one shoulder and another over the other, it is very very nice to touch that button, hear the "clunk" and be able to get into every door and the tailgate.

Donald McCaig

[CheeseSteakJim]

I personally believe that power locks are just a waste of time and money. People shouldn't be so lazy...it doesn't take much effort at all to manually lock your doors. The manual way is the way to go in my book.

Laziness is the entire idea behind luxury.