Car Door Locks fix/replace

K

klattman

Joined
May 5, 2004
Messages
1,055
As I went to lock my car this morning, I head a snap. Now the key spins freely. :barf:

Of course, I can get in through the passenger side, but here's the question.
If I want to replace the lockset (I think it's toast), do I go to a mechanic, or someone who specializes in such things?

It's an older car and there's no need for anything fancy to be done. I just want the cheapest/easiset way to fix it.

Thanks for any advice!
 
You could try a salvage and see if they have your make and model or something comparably close. It may be cheap and easy depending on what the salvage asks for the part and if you can install it yourself.
 
Most likely the linkage broke. Take the interior panle off and take a look at the mechanism. You can proabbly figure it out. A lot of times it's as rasy as a pin fell out if something broke a junk yard can hook you up.
Patrick
 
Pick up the parts and do it yourself. Should be cheap and easy. Working inside of car doors can be a pain depending on the car and how its put together, but it's shold be do-able. Most of the cars and trucks I've had have had pretty good access.

Reminds me of the time my wife and I were sitting in the drive through at Sonic. She was getting ready to pay and was figiting with her $20, sliding it along the window seals... She lets out a "whooooop!" and then starts yelling. She'd dropped the twenty inside the door! I paid and we went home and I went to work. After I took the insdie panel off I found that her door was extra re-inforced and there wasn't a way to get into it without tearing the whole thing up (97 Grand Am, iirc). I got where I could see the bill, but not reach it. I told her I had to figure somehow to get it and she crams her arm in and pulls it out! I thought for sure she was going to get stuck!
 
Grim/Don said:
Pick up the parts and do it yourself. Should be cheap and easy. Working inside of car doors can be a pain depending on the car and how its put together, but it's shold be do-able. Most of the cars and trucks I've had have had pretty good access.
Click to expand...

Yep, I guess that's the real trick. It's a '91 Subaru legacy, so I'm hoping I can get the panels apart without destroying something in the process.

I suppose it could be the linkage, but the key is loose and just spins in the lock. Guess I won't know until I get it apart.

I wonder which is cheaper or eaasier to get, linkage parts or a new lock cylander? I know there aren't very good salvage yards nearby.
 
Keep in mind that if you need to replace the lock cylinder (most likely), you'll now have two keys for that car, like an older GM. And this can be a bit of a pain. Just making sure you realize that...

Mark
 
Minjin said:
Keep in mind that if you need to replace the lock cylinder (most likely), you'll now have two keys for that car, like an older GM. And this can be a bit of a pain. Just making sure you realize that...

Mark
Click to expand...

Ha, two keys is easy. While I was saving to buy my own car I often made use of my father's '92 Oldsmobile. It had three keys, one for the doors, one for the ignition, and one for the trunk. Plus a key for the club, which I saw no real point in using as the car is a piece of junk that barely runs.
 
Minjin said:
Keep in mind that if you need to replace the lock cylinder (most likely), you'll now have two keys for that car, like an older GM. And this can be a bit of a pain. Just making sure you realize that...

Mark
Click to expand...

Yeah, not really a big deal though.
 
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