Can't lock my doors....Help!

[RickM]

The other day I went to lock the driver side door (which also locks the PS door and trunk) and there was no way that key was turning. Oddly it seemed as if recently my door handle was a bit harder to actuate as I opened the door. Then all of a sudden.....I can't turn the key to the right. I tried the PS door lock but I get the same total resistance. I even tried to lock from the inside using the "button" and it won't go into a lock position either. ??????

Is this operation assited by vacuum or electric? Any idea as to what has caused this?

[ericdee]

It's vacuum. Take the driver side door panel off and see if anything is jammed or broken. Good luck!

[RickM]

Originally Posted by ericdee

It's vacuum. Take the driver side door panel off and see if anything is jammed or broken. Good luck!

OK, I'll do that.

Note:
Now the door won't always close properly. When I shut the DS door it bounces back like there's no catch or whatever it locks into the closed position. Think it's all related? Also, where does the door/trunk locking system get the vacuum from? If the engine is not operating I'd assume it comes from some type of holding tank...and wouldn't that limit the amount of times it could be locked/unlocked?

[tecqboy]

There is a vacuum motor and distribution manifold in the trunk on the right side above the battery. The motor runs any time vacuum is required by the locking system. Next time, listen very closely. Your problem is unlikely to be vacuum motor or manifold related. It sounds like you just may have a gummed up latch assembly holding something in the wrong position. After many years the grease dries out and gets hard so the pieces don't move freely as they should. Unfortunately, you'll need to remove the door panel to find out. You can search this forum for step by step instructions.