Locks
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Locks
The other day I parked my truck and got out, locking my truck came back and the key wouldnt unlock the door...The locks seem to move about a quarter of the way but wont unlock the door..The time before the key unlocked the door fine. Any ideas why it would just stop working. I have a feeling the locks are wore out but i wouldnt think they would just stop working.
Posting Guru
Joined: Sep 2002
Posts: 2,420
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From: Langhorne, PA
Common problem with my 92 XLT, also my passenger side door is often hard or impossible to open from the inside. The latch assy inside the door is poorly designed or simply made with inferior metal. I am having trouble remembering exactly what I do to fix it, ( It is repairable, without buying anything new) I have had to repair the passenger side several times. When I bought the truck the latch was acting up and Ford never fixed it correctly while the warranty was valid. The lock would often fail after someone slams the door, that causes someting to shift inside.
I vaguely recall how one of the metal rods binds up as it touches the latch assy. The rod had a plastic connector on the end and that connector would rub on the wrong spot jamming the lock.
Odds are the key and lock are OK, it is the rod from the lock assy that is going to the latch relase that is binding up.
If you get in there and take a look you may see what the hang up is..
I vaguely recall how one of the metal rods binds up as it touches the latch assy. The rod had a plastic connector on the end and that connector would rub on the wrong spot jamming the lock.
Odds are the key and lock are OK, it is the rod from the lock assy that is going to the latch relase that is binding up.
If you get in there and take a look you may see what the hang up is..
Posting Guru
Joined: Oct 2001
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From: Culpeper, Virginia
I thought for sure the locks on my 96' were FUBAR. I got some graphtie lock spray, it took a couple good shots of it, and some wiggling back and forth with a key in there, but both locks work awesome now.
$3 for the little can of stuff.
$3 for the little can of stuff.
Mountain Pass
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 230
Likes: 11
Hey Guru,
My 92 XLT had the door latch problem on both doors and the fender washer trick in the link below fixed it like new. I used a fender washer on the inside of the skin and on the outside between the skin and the latch actuator.
https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/3...=fender+washer
My 92 XLT had the door latch problem on both doors and the fender washer trick in the link below fixed it like new. I used a fender washer on the inside of the skin and on the outside between the skin and the latch actuator.
https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/3...=fender+washer
Elder User
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 754
Likes: 1
From: Solon, Ohio
If you are having the same problem as I am, the jamming is brought on by trying to push the door handle button, before actually inserting the key and unlocking the door first.
To get the door open, you have to either remove the whole door panel, (hard to do with door closed), or remove the inside window wiper strip from the top of the door panel. With this off, and the window down, I use a 3/8's rod with a notch cut in one end to reach down in and press against the rod going down along the side of the window track that connects the button assembly with the lower lock assembly.
With pressure on this rod, I lift it back up. Before I do this, I first turn the key in the door lock to fully set the door lock to full locked position first.
I am quickly training myself to not try the door button before unlocking the door first.
Hopefully, in the spring on a nice day I will get in a proactive mood and tear the door apart again to figure out why the button causes the jam.
To get the door open, you have to either remove the whole door panel, (hard to do with door closed), or remove the inside window wiper strip from the top of the door panel. With this off, and the window down, I use a 3/8's rod with a notch cut in one end to reach down in and press against the rod going down along the side of the window track that connects the button assembly with the lower lock assembly.
With pressure on this rod, I lift it back up. Before I do this, I first turn the key in the door lock to fully set the door lock to full locked position first.
I am quickly training myself to not try the door button before unlocking the door first.
Hopefully, in the spring on a nice day I will get in a proactive mood and tear the door apart again to figure out why the button causes the jam.
Elder User
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 754
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From: Solon, Ohio
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Thanks for all the help guys..i am gonna tear it apart later on today and see what i can see and figure out and i will let you know how i fixed it...
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Ok so after messing with my locks for about an hour today i found out that the key isnt pushing one of the keys down inside the lock therefore not allowing the lock to unlock...my question is does anyone know where you can even go to get the lock re-keyed? does the ford garage do it or do i have to just scrap the locks and get new ones.
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Ok so i went today to get a new key made, obviously the guy said if he made the key it would be a duplicate of the one i already have which wasnt going to help me out at all. So i asked him if he could somehow leave some meat on the key to hopefully make the tumbler push down and let the lock twist. He said there was no way to do that so off to the ford garage i went. I asked the guy at the ford garage if he could make me a key from the vin number and he said he could only go back to 98 with the vin number but if i had the key code it would be no problem to make the key. My question is where could i even find the key code? I am not the original owner of the vehicle and dont have any records from where it was bought so does anyone have any ideas how i can get the key code?
Posting Guru
Joined: Jun 2007
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From: Des Plaines, Illinois
You might be SOL...from the owner's manual:
"Your keys come with a tag that has identification numbers stamped on it. If you lose your keys, these numbers will help your dealer replace the keys quickly. Detach the tag and store it in a safe place now."
"You can obtain the key indentification numbers by contacting the selling dealer's sales dpeartment."
You can always replace the lock cylinders, they come with new keys. Worst case scenario, that might be something to look into. They aren't all that expensive.
"Your keys come with a tag that has identification numbers stamped on it. If you lose your keys, these numbers will help your dealer replace the keys quickly. Detach the tag and store it in a safe place now."
"You can obtain the key indentification numbers by contacting the selling dealer's sales dpeartment."
You can always replace the lock cylinders, they come with new keys. Worst case scenario, that might be something to look into. They aren't all that expensive.
More Turbo
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 678
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Originally Posted by WV96FORD
The other day I parked my truck and got out, locking my truck came back and the key wouldnt unlock the door...The locks seem to move about a quarter of the way but wont unlock the door..The time before the key unlocked the door fine. Any ideas why it would just stop working. I have a feeling the locks are wore out but i wouldnt think they would just stop working.
It sounds like the tail piece of the lock broke. As far as locks go, these are pretty standard and simple. If the key turns, the locks not worn out. Has it been cold lately and did you need to force the lock at all? that could do it.