2001 Explorer Sport Locks Won't open - Solenoid or something Else?

[SchollaGuy]

Hi Everyone!

I'm having an issue with the Driver and Passenger Doors on my 2001 Explorer Sport...

Current situation:

Putting the key in the lock and turning doesn't unlock either door, and the key barley turns. This has been going on for a while, so I resorted to using my punch code which let me in just fine (until now)...


Now when I punch in the code, sometimes it unlocks no problem and sometimes, I have to keep hitting the last digit and the lock finally pops up. Also putting the key in and jiggling it left and right while hitting the last digit of the code will sometimes get me in as well...

I've looked at a few videos online, and it looks like it might be the actuator/solenoid, but if the key isn't even unlocking it, I'm wondering if that is the only problem?

Any suggestions?

 

[swshawaii]

Sounds like the symptoms of sluggish door latches. Flush and clean the latches and key cylinders with penetrant such as WD40
or PB Blaster and cycle the locks by repeatedly locking and unlocking. If no improvement remove the inner door panels to diagnose.

 

[koda2000]

Sounds like the symptoms of sluggish door latches. Flush and clean the latches and key cylinders with penetrant such as WD40
or PB Blaster and cycle the locks by repeatedly locking and unlocking. If no improvement remove the inner door panels to diagnose.

^good advice. in addition, there are some other fairly common door latch/lock issues.

1. broken wires in the driver's door-jam bundle.
2. corroded splice on the pink wire that is located under the carpet near the driver's side rear seat.
2. tiny broken spring inside the latch mechanism.
3. there are relays for locking/unlocking the doors. they are located in the cargo area at the front of the jack storage compartment.
4. broken rivet that holds the lock actuator inside the door.

it's odd that the keypad unlocks the doors but the remote and key do not. i'd start by cleaning/lubricating the latches. you can spray them down well, from the outside of the door, with something like WD40, that may solve your problem.

BTW, the lock actuators are more like an electric motor/transmission rather than just a solenoid.