I have been having trouble with unlocking the drivers side door for years. Sometimes it's hard to turn the key. Sometimes I'm locked out. Sometimes it works fine for months. I have replaced the power door lock, with a used one.
This is what happens when I can get the door open. I can't remove the key until the door is open. Then, to remove the key I have to turn the key to the right to lock the door. I have power door locks they work from the inside, I don't have a remote. Any idea for what could be wrong?

 

Not sure about automatic door locks but I have
3 fords with about 6 different keys.
Some copies work in one direction only, some need to be wiggled out slightly but seem to work on passenger side.

As a pointless side note, a locksmith told me that we can cut one side of the key for the door and the other side of the key for ignition...or he was just looking for a laugh but one key can supposedly fit both.

Does the opassenger side work normally?

 

I have trouble with my driver's door too, so I'm watching to see if there's an easy fix. It's not too big of a deal for me because my key doesn't get stuck, it just won't turn. So I open up the passenger side and use the power locks to unlock the driver's.

As far as the "pointless" info goes, I've heard that the tip of the key does the door locks while the inner part does the ignition (or that could be reversed).

And I do know that both only use one side. So if you have two trucks that use the same blank but different cuts you can cut one side for one truck and the other side for the other and use one key for both trucks (although you have to put it in the correct way then). I did this with a '93 Explorer and a '95 F-150 when we owned them.

 

I had a similar problem with my truck when I bought it. I sprayed some WD-40 into the keyhole and then repeatedly tried to unlock/lock with the key for about 2 minutes. (Or until it had a smooth operation)
It's been working great since then.

That's exactly what mine used to do.

 

ooh, thought, and as always, may have nothing to do with question but...
any extra weight on ignition keys / ring can mess up delicate tumblers after a while.

Seen lots of key rings with flashlights and garage door openers on them.
jiggling around the ignition switch for years.

 

This probably won't be true if the power locks work but I'm pretty sure the electric part of my lock is what keeping me from locking it I took the driver side door panel off and greased it all to no avail

Windows worked after that though

 

My pass side door is sort of like this, it didn't work when I got the truck and I never bothered with it till I got bored one night. I just took a can of PB with a spray hose and pushed it into the key slot and hosed it down till all sorts of grime ran down the door. Put the key in and worked it around for a bit. Hosed it some more wiggled key and it started to work. Then I sprayed in some gel silicone lube and cycled the key both ways about 30 times. BUT the odd thing is it only works when the key is inserted a certain way, so I just notched the black plastic part of the key on the edge that needs to be up for the key to work.

 

Usally I just climb over the seats. Ok so I opened the passenger door and tried unlocking the drivers door. It didn't work, I can see the door **** go up 1/16". So I kept pressing (about 30 times) the unlocking an locking button for the drivers door. The **** kept going up 1/16" at a time, until it was all the way up and it unlocked the door. This is the only way to open it with the power PS door power button. I'll try spraying lube in the key hole today. Thanks!

 

Got it to work! I added a lot of wd-40, about 10 seconds. A tip....use a rag around the stray to keep the lub going into the key hole. Thanks!

 

A little lube always works LOL