** Keyway Protector-Doors "Fell Off"... **

[mgburg]

Car: '77 280E

Problem: Driver's side door - Keyway Protector-Door - Fell off inside the keyway...I was able to "fish" out, what I believe to be, all the "working" pieces.

How does one, if possible, go about replacing these little doors? I have a "sticky one" on the trunk's keyway and I might as well do the passenger-side door while I'm at it...

Should I see a professional lock-smith for this problem?

Is it a "door/lock-an-afternoon" type of project?

Am I risking my neighbor's (and mine) sanity if I start this project, unguided?

And last, but not least, do I have to buy the whole handle/lock assembly, or are the little doors/springs available as a "rebuild kit" at the "aftermarket" shops or on/off-line?

Thanks for any response...I'd like to, definately, get this problem addressed before winter comes around...This past winter, I was forced into carrying around a few of those little tiny "coffee-stirring" straws for the purpose of forcing "warm breath" into keyways a few times...I don't want to be reduced to hyperventilating myself silly EVERY time I need to get from Point A to Point B this coming winter...

[JimFreeh]

Last time I had one break, I picked off another good handle and had the locksmith swap cylinders or rekey.

With the availability of cheap W123 parts (back field in my case), I did not bother to check if new was available.

Jim