Sticking Door Lock
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New User
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 13
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From: Raytown, MO
Sticking Door Lock
Does anyone have any experience with fixing a sticking electric door lock? '99 Explorer 4-door 4 x 4. The locks are electrically activated (you don't physically turn the lock mechanism when you turn the key, instead, it triggers the electric door locks). With my truck, you turn the key, and all of the locks open...except the drivers side door. It *will* open, but usually it just sort of moves without actually unlocking. Worse yet, when I use the passenger side door lock button, it won't unlock the door, either.
Help? And also, does anyone know if this system can be converted to remote operation?
Help? And also, does anyone know if this system can be converted to remote operation?
Junior User
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 99
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I've been fighting the same problem for months... And I met someone else with the same truck with same problem- and he has had the dealer replace the door lock actuator 3 times, costing him over $500 and its still broken. FORD doesnt even know how to fix this, it should be simple its just a friekin lock. I think its the actual latch assembly that attaches itself to the door jamb when closed. This assembly has some worn out looking pieces in it, and the actuator has trouble moving the locking portion. I greased the hell out of it with no luck.. one thing I found is that if you lock it, and then unlock it, it works fine. But if you lock it, then try and open the door handle while locked, then unlock it- it won't unlock now. So you can sit there and lock and unlock it 100 times in a row without a single problem, but lock it and then touch the door handle once, now it won't unlock without forcing it with the key.
Posting Guru
Joined: Apr 2003
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From: West Chester PA
I have that problem too. I haven't had a chance to look at it yet. When it happens, the only thing I can do is go around to the passenger side and open the driver side door from the inside.
New User
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 14
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See if there is has lost some spring tension (provided by the outside door handle I believe) on the linkage to the **** that is supposed to pop up on the top of the door panel. My son-in-laws '98 was doing as you all describe and we only stumbled on the solution by accident. (Due to some prior door work before he bought the vehicle, the outside handle springs are missing making the handle feel kind of loose.)
Anyway, while activating the locks with the door panel off, we found a slight (and I mean very slight is all it takes) lift of the linkage to the **** and it worked every time.
Apparently the linkage was falling slightly past the point where it would activate even though there was no binding or obvious reason why it would not work. He wound up placing a small spring on the linkage to keep a little upward pressure on the rod to the ****. We did this instead of fixing the bad outside handle springs because it would have required drilling and rivoting.
Good luck, Roy
Anyway, while activating the locks with the door panel off, we found a slight (and I mean very slight is all it takes) lift of the linkage to the **** and it worked every time.
Apparently the linkage was falling slightly past the point where it would activate even though there was no binding or obvious reason why it would not work. He wound up placing a small spring on the linkage to keep a little upward pressure on the rod to the ****. We did this instead of fixing the bad outside handle springs because it would have required drilling and rivoting.
Good luck, Roy
