Drivers side door won't lock

[CzNutz]

Starting today my drivers side door will not lock manually or with the key or button. If the actuator was bad shouldn't I still be able to push the lock down manually. I've seen other threads on here about the actuator but unsure if this is the issue. It's a 99 explorer xlt

 

[1997LT1]

Starting today my drivers side door will not lock manually or with the key or button. If the actuator was bad shouldn't I still be able to push the lock down manually. I've seen other threads on here about the actuator but unsure if this is the issue. It's a 99 explorer xlt

Its obvious this is a common problem, but I have not really found a answer to what is going on with mine. It quit working and doing the exact same things as you describe, but then started working all of the sudden and has not acted up yet.

What is odd is that something will keep you from engaging the lock even with the key. It is like there is something in the power lock system that gets jammed or something. I am guessing it is an aging actuator that locks in a position. The question that I have not found an answer to is if the actuator wil keep the lock from locking manually with a key when it is jammed. If that is the case, then it points to the actuator. My lock acts as if nothing is wrong whatsoever now.

Check out my thread on this and see if you can get any info from it.

http://www.explorerforum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=250362

 

[CzNutz]

It started working again yesterday and then a couple hours later it stopped locking again. This is very frustrating. I can see that the lock is attempting to move but it seems stuck. I don't know if this would be the actuator sticking or something jammed or binding in the door.

 

[made126]

A bad accuater will keep your door from locking. I don't know why but if it goes bad or becomes loose the door will not lock. It being loose happened to me and it drove me nuts until I figured it out. Hope this helps out.

 

[CzNutz]

Now I'm getting really frustrated. I took the door panel off yesterday. I noticed a short metal rod was just laying to the side. I moved it around and it seems connected at the bottom to the door lock somehow. After moving it around enough the door lock moves up and down manually and with the switch. Then I looked at the door latch and there was the spring that I've seen described on this board. The long end was broken. Now the door lock moves up and down but the door doesn't actually lock. Where does the other end of this metal rod belong? Should I replace the door latch? I've seen others are using extra springs they might have but I'm not having an issue with the lock moving up and down (well at least right now). The latch is only $43 but I don't want to buy unneeded parts.

 

[made126]

theres 5 metal rods inside the door that are all connected in some way to the latch. the actuater rod connects to the lock rod with connects directly to the latch. the handles each connect to the latch assemby directly as does the key lock. theres these weird plastic clips that hold the rods to the latch and also one that holds the actuater to the knob rod. i can't remember exactly how the spring works but it is needed for the lock to work properly. its a pain in the a** to hook up all them rods in such a tight space. i hope this helps and good luck. http://www.explorerforum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=165081 this link has a few pictures that show the rods and clips and where they are attached to the latch.