Driver Side door lock?

Trebor · 03-18-2008, 01:01 AM

Well as it seems that every so often when i go to open my driver side door with the key, i get resistance and have to play with the key a lil bit or often times i can turn the key torwards the front of the truck and back twice which then opens all the doors. but i cant for the life of me get the key to turn torwards the back of the truck to just open my driver side door. and this is becoming a pain cause it wouldnt open at all the last time it rained and i got drenched.

seems to me it only does this every so often though cause just this morning it worked fine then it wouldnt after i came out of the store.....ggggrrrrrrrrrr this is aggravating

is there anything i can do to fix this or is this a common problem? also i got the truck with only one key so i cant try a different one.

mtrsprt43 · 03-18-2008, 06:06 AM

replace the latch assembly...it fixed mine..there is a post on here with instructions on doing it took me about 45min the first time...Good lUck

Trebor · 03-18-2008, 09:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mtrsprt43

replace the latch assembly...it fixed mine..there is a post on here with instructions on doing it took me about 45min the first time...Good lUck

is there any other way to fix this without having to change the latch assembly? i dont have the money right now to get a new one, or even a used one at that.

m4dc0w · 03-18-2008, 10:35 AM

wd40

-mc

alohamonte · 03-22-2008, 01:11 AM

try that idea first ^^^^^ might be that easy

i had a similar problem where i had to jiggle the handle to open the door with the key, but the power locks worked fine.

turns out a spring in the latch assemby gave out. to check if this is your problem, open the passenger side front door. put the key in the door. now with the door open, look at the moving parts carefully. you can see a spring in there. check if the drivers door has this spring intact.

i bought a pack of various sized springs for about $4. Using the passeneger door assemby as a working guide, i found a near match spring and installed it. works fine now.

Trebor · 03-22-2008, 06:40 AM

hey guys thanks for the post . i tried WD-40 and it worked good for a day or two then the same thing, so i was reading up and decided to try graphite lube as it doesn't dry up supposedly and now it works like a charm

03-18-2008, 01:01 AM	#1
Trebor Wannabe Elite Explorer Bridgeport,Ct '98 Explorer 4X4 Join Date: Mar 2008 Posts: 232 Vehicle Specs (Original Poster)	Driver Side door lock? Well as it seems that every so often when i go to open my driver side door with the key, i get resistance and have to play with the key a lil bit or often times i can turn the key torwards the front of the truck and back twice which then opens all the doors. but i cant for the life of me get the key to turn torwards the back of the truck to just open my driver side door. and this is becoming a pain cause it wouldnt open at all the last time it rained and i got drenched. seems to me it only does this every so often though cause just this morning it worked fine then it wouldnt after i came out of the store.....ggggrrrrrrrrrr this is aggravating is there anything i can do to fix this or is this a common problem? also i got the truck with only one key so i cant try a different one.

03-22-2008, 01:11 AM	#5
alohamonte Wannabe Elite Explorer Glendale, AZ 1998 Explorer 4.0 4x4 Join Date: Oct 2007 Posts: 598 Vehicle Specs	try that idea first ^^^^^ might be that easy i had a similar problem where i had to jiggle the handle to open the door with the key, but the power locks worked fine. turns out a spring in the latch assemby gave out. to check if this is your problem, open the passenger side front door. put the key in the door. now with the door open, look at the moving parts carefully. you can see a spring in there. check if the drivers door has this spring intact. i bought a pack of various sized springs for about $4. Using the passeneger door assemby as a working guide, i found a near match spring and installed it. works fine now. __________________ 1998 Xplorer 4.0 OHV 4x4, 3.73 L/S, 31x10.5 Good Year Silent Armor A/T, All Synthetic Fluids, Sony Audio System, Yakima Roof Rack w/ 3rd Crossbar, Bilstein Shocks, Silverstar Ultras, Clifford Alarm & Keyless Entry, Throttle Cable Mod, Moog Front End

03-18-2008, 06:06 AM	#2
mtrsprt43 Wannabe Elite Explorer moline il 98 AWD v8 Limited Join Date: Dec 2006 Posts: 28 Vehicle Specs	replace the latch assembly...it fixed mine..there is a post on here with instructions on doing it took me about 45min the first time...Good lUck

03-18-2008, 10:35 AM	#4
m4dc0w Wannabe Elite Explorer Edmonton, AB, Canada Explorer 97XL Join Date: Sep 2006 Posts: 670 Vehicle Specs	wd40 -mc

03-22-2008, 06:40 AM	#6
Trebor Wannabe Elite Explorer Bridgeport,Ct '98 Explorer 4X4 Join Date: Mar 2008 Posts: 232 Vehicle Specs (Original Poster)	hey guys thanks for the post . i tried WD-40 and it worked good for a day or two then the same thing, so i was reading up and decided to try graphite lube as it doesn't dry up supposedly and now it works like a charm