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When I open my drivers door using a key I have to jiggle it up and down before I can get it to turn and open. The same key opens the passenger side easily. Any cure or fix for the drivers side?
Have you tried lubing it? I had a really bad sticking problem on the driver's door lock on my 97 Ranger not long ago. I went to Advance Auto and found a small aerosol can that was alcohol and graphite. The alcohol cleaned the gunk out and the graphite lubed it. Now it works fine.
Sounds almost like something is loose in there. Does it open ok from the inside? (i.e. lock the door while you're inside the truck then open it just by pulling the handle). How does it lock using the key from the outside?
It opens fine from the inside. Locking it with the key is the same as opening with the key. Insert the key try to turn one way then the other, usually won't go either way, then jiggle it up and down and then try turning it again. I haven't tried lubing it.
Try lubing it, if that doesn't work you'll have to pull the door as I said. I believe you pull the main door, then a cover/insulation peice and the lock should be behind that. Pulling the door is actually very straightforward.
Best lube I've tried so far on locks is PB Blasters' Teflon Dry Lube. Great stuff for that purpose. I had the same problem on my Ranger's driver's door lock. A couple of squirts of the PB Dry Lube and it was like new. That was two years ago.
I had the same problem with my 1999 Ranger 4X4 Sport. I bought it used and the first two months the engine key/door key worked fine, then slowly it stopped working in the door. It worked in the pasenger side but not the drivers side.
I went to a locksmith and he made me a seprate door key to use. He told me the key I was given was a vallet key(?) and was only ment to work to start the truck. I just carried two keys around for my Ranger, one for the door, and the other one to start it.
Mind you, the door key would only work in the door because of the computer chip Ford puts in the key. Also the locksmith made door key gave me problems with the passenger side door and not the driverside. Go figure.
Try that lube with the graphite- you will probally have to do it a few times. we had that problem with our 1997 f-250 LD with all three locks (both doors and tailgate). we have the factory ford key but the key would not unlock or lock anything. put some of the lube in it and haven't had a problem yet. makes you wonder..... was the guy that was spraying that stuff in the locks from the factory out sick that day?
-Matt
Just got some of that PB Blaster this morning. A couple of sqirts and the lock works like new. Did my wifes van right away, seems to have helped there too. Thanks.