87 300D Body shop removed outside handles, now door locks dont work with key
 

My car just got repainted and they removed the outer door handles and replaced, when I went to the shop I tested the locks and there is no resistance on the key and the locks dont work.

Morons...
they obviously did not hook up the linkage...

Duh, right?????? Being a car guy that's would I would think, but not knowing the complexity of W124 vacuum locks with factory 1987 security alarm, I figured I should comment here on the forum before I started saying things that make me sound like "I know what I'm talking about" when in reality I wouldn't have at all. Lol. Now I can go with confidence.:D

the vacuum/pressure locks are off the pump, but they push/pull on the same linkage the key connects to...

okay, thank you once again very much, like I always say I don't know what I would do without this forum filled with such helpful people like yourself.

The lock cylinder pushes or pulls directly on the lock mechanism for that door.

Off the lock mechanism is a switch for the pump controls.

When you lock the door, you directly lock that door with the key and send a signal to the pump that applies vacuum or pressure to the actuators in the other doors. Sorry can't remember whether vacuum or pressure is lock or unlock at the moment.

So if turning the key in the lock does absolutely nothing then the cylinder is not hooked to the mechanism.

If you push the "golf tee" down with all the doors shut do the doors all lock? And if you pull up on the "golf tee" do the doors all unlock? If this is true then the lock system is working properly, you are just missing the connection to the lock mechanism from the lock cylinder.

If you remove the door card you should be able to see what is missing inside the door.