Driver's door will not lock

[Huskersforever]

My 2001 Sport Trac driver's side door will not lock with the key or keyless entry. When I push on the lock it will not move or go down at all. I have not taken the door apart yet, but was wondering if anyone here had an idea as to what is going on.

 

[swshawaii]

Only way to diagnose is by removing the door panel and window run channel fastened by one 13mm bolt. Sounds like a faulty actuator or cylinder lock rod issue. If the actuator is bad, the bracket can be pried open for removal, and drilling
out the rivet is not necessary. Are you getting any noises when hitting the lock buttons?

 

[Huskersforever]

Yeah the actuator is moving because it tries to lick the door but the lick won't go down. It acts like it is bound up on something. I will get a video today

 

[Huskersforever]

Here is a video of it, when using the key, it does not give any resistance, like the key is broke from the lock itself. But you can see the lock move when I use the key fob.
Click the picture and it will play the video

 

[koda2000]

Fords use metal rods connected by plastic clips inside all the doors. the plastic clips have been known to break/open/wear out. take off the interior door panel and peel back the weather shield. with the window up, take a bright flash light and check the rods connected to the door latch, actuator and lock. it sounds like the door lock isn't connected to the latch.

also, when the lock actuators get old they can weaken to the point where they don't have enough mussel to unlock the latch. the latches can also get full of dirt and require cleaning out and lubrication.

 

[Huskersforever]

Fords use metal rods connected by plastic clips inside all the doors. the plastic clips have been known to break/open/wear out. take off the interior door panel and peel back the weather shield. with the window up, take a bright flash light and check the rods connected to the door latch, actuator and lock. it sounds like the door lock isn't connected to the latch.

also, when the lock actuators get old they can weaken to the point where they don't have enough mussel to unlock the latch. the latches can also get full of dirt and require cleaning out and lubrication.

Thanks, I will tear into it this week. It is suppose to finally warm up and I have the week off of work to take a look at it. Can you buy the plastic connectors or is there a better way to fix it? At this point I just want the door to lock so even if I have to buy them from Ford I wouldn't care.

 

[koda2000]

Thanks, I will tear into it this week. It is suppose to finally warm up and I have the week off of work to take a look at it. Can you buy the plastic connectors or is there a better way to fix it? At this point I just want the door to lock so even if I have to buy them from Ford I wouldn't care.

i have purchased the plastic clips at Ford for around $3, you can also get an assortment of clips at most auto parts stores (found in the HELP section) but being an assortment, there will be many that you can't use.

 

[Huskersforever]

Finally dug into the door, come to find out somehow the 2-3 inch rod that attaches to the door lock came off and jammed itself into the door. This is why the lock moves freely, because it wasn't attached and then the rod jamming didn't allow the door to lock itself. Got it all hooked up and back working! Just clad the plastic clips weren't broken. Thanks for the help!

 

[lincolntowncar]

I had the same problem on mine. When I took the door panel off I found the lock mechanism rivet broke in the door frame. Because no one ever used the key to unlock the door I had to spay oil in the lock cylinder to free it up. Had to do that on drivers and passenger side.