Front door lock is partially functional

[markymarkchitown]

I am trying to trouble shoot the problem with my driver side door. Here are the symptoms:

- Key will only go in a quarter of the way (probably a new lock assembly, right?)
- Door will not stay unlocked with the remote. The door lock will pop up when I click unlock, but it drops back down.
- Door will unlock from the inside. In order to unlock the door, I have to come in from the passenger side and pull the driver door handle. Once I do that, the door unlocks and stays unlocked.
- Once the door is unlocked, the outside handle works as well.

Any ideas?

In case it matters, this is a 2001 Ford Explorer Sport.

 

[swshawaii]

Sounds like that failure prone "mystery" spring inside the door latch is broken. Physically look inside the latch for a small broken spring, it often falls inside the bottom of the door. Start by flushing out the latch and lock cylinder with penetrant and cycling both repeatedly to make sure they are not sticking or binding. Door panel removal and the glass run channel
is required to inspect the latch, rods, clips, and actuators. Added spring may help but often a new door latch is needed.

Sticky: door latch problem solved - temporarily maybe??
http://www.explorerforum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=207373