The lock on my 96 Explorer won't work with the key. The electric locks work fine. I was thinking of removing the door panel and monkeying around with it. Has anyone done this and if so, what should I be looking to do? Is this more trouble than it's worth?
No, its not more trouble than its worth. When you next take it into the shop for another repair, if they are like my dealership here in Raleigh, they will spring the actuator off the mechanism forcing it with the key and then give it back to you broken. So you are going to fix it anyway!
Take the inside door panel off. Poppers at the bottom, lift it at the top. With the window up, remove the plastic sheet if fitted and then unscrew the single bolt that holds the window rail in place. This now gives access to the lock innards. There is a rod linking the lock mechanism with the solenoid actuator.Its threaded or appears that way. It is held in place by a yellow plastic clip that can be sprung open with care. Move this clip up or down the threaded section of the rod until it opens correctly. It would help if you had someone outside helping you with trying the door opening. Keep adjusting it until it works how you want it. Reassembly is easy and the reverse of disassembly. There is nothing you can break, or at least nothing I have found yet having had this apart several times.
Other things to look for. Check the springs on the door handle itself. These can break!
Let us know what you find out.
Jethro
1998 XLT 126,000 miles
1994 Econoline
1994 Ranger Ex-1991 Eddie B.
----- Original Message ----- From: "a020024" Newsgroups: rec.autos.makers.ford.explorer Sent: Tuesday, March 02, 2004 8:25 AM Subject: Explorer Door lock problem
work fine. I was thinking of removing the door panel and monkeying around with it. Has anyone done this and if so, what should I be looking to do? Is this more trouble than it's worth?
work fine. I was thinking of removing the door panel and monkeying around with it. Has anyone done this and if so, what should I be looking to do? Is this more trouble than it's worth?
Does the key turn and not move the mechanism or is the key hard to turn. I had the hard to turn problem and fixed it with a shot of graphite.
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