Key won't work in door lock!?!?!?

[exploration1997]

Hi! I have a '97 XLT, and in the drivers door and the rear hatch the key doesn't work at all. The passengers door will work if you push all of your body weight into it and jiggle the key until it unlocks. My issue is that my mom occasionally drives it, and she can't remember the keypad code to get in if it's locked. How would In go about fixing at least the drivers door? Thanks very much in advance!

 

[koda2000]

if could be your key is worn out or if you don't use you key very often your locks may be dirty/dry. try using a different key (if you have one) or spraying some wd/40 into the key hole. my wife can't remember the key code either, so i wrote in on the back side of the gas door with a sharpy.

 

[alohamonte]

spray lubricant like wd40 into the key holes and try again.

 

[Flag Gibby]

I don't recommend WD-40 on locks it can make things worse. Instead use graphite lube that is made just for locks/tumblers.

 

[SoNic67]

WD40 is a little too much for the locks. I used Silicon spray in mine.

 

[Cranmaro99]

How can so many people not remember a 5 digit code? lol

Try a different key or spray some sort of silicon spray in the locks.

 

[steve101]

white lithium grease works my passager door lock was stuck til i sparyed it

 

[bobflood]

Hi! I have a '97 XLT, and in the drivers door and the rear hatch the key doesn't work at all. The passengers door will work if you push all of your body weight into it and jiggle the key until it unlocks. My issue is that my mom occasionally drives it, and she can't remember the keypad code to get in if it's locked. How would In go about fixing at least the drivers door? Thanks very much in advance!

You can change the code. Let her pick one. I use the last 5 digits of our phone number.

 

[budwich]

basically, "crud" has seized your lock "tumblers". Wd is ok to try dissolve some of the stuff in there but you will likely have to remove the tumbler and clean it to get it to work. Basically, from using the remote unlock system for most of your truck's life, the locks get well... locked... The usual culprit is "hard moisture" (water plus minerals).

 

[Varsity]

Errr... maybe I shouldn't suggest it then, but I've used WD-40 on mine awhile ago and its been great since. Probably not the BEST, but it should work.

 

[koda2000]

i've used wd/40 on locks all my life and have never had a problem with it.

 

[deweyville65]

The reason locksmiths do not recommend WD-40, is it attracts dust. Back East, you probably don't have as much dust as we do.
Possibility for key not working, is the ignition lock was changed at some point, and the door locks were not re keyed. Mine has the same exact problem. I use the key pad on the drivers door, and double twist the passenger door lock. Has worked for nearly two years.

 

[exploration1997]

The reason locksmiths do not recommend WD-40, is it attracts dust. Back East, you probably don't have as much dust as we do.
Possibility for key not working, is the ignition lock was changed at some point, and the door locks were not re keyed. Mine has the same exact problem. I use the key pad on the drivers door, and double twist the passenger door lock. Has worked for nearly two years.

Thanks 4 the info! I really don't think dust will be a problem, as I live in new england. The truck will be long gone before any substantial amount of dust can accumulate in there.

 

[exploration1997]

You can change the code. Let her pick one. I use the last 5 digits of our phone number.

I actually asked her if she wanted me to do that, but then she said she'd get the two confused.

 

[exploration1997]

white lithium grease works my passager door lock was stuck til i sparyed it

This is a weird question, but will it stain clothes? Because I don;t want to unlock the door, and put the keys on my pocket and stain my clothes.

 

[koda2000]

The reason locksmiths do not recommend WD-40, is it attracts dust. Back East, you probably don't have as much dust as we do.
Possibility for key not working, is the ignition lock was changed at some point, and the door locks were not re keyed. Mine has the same exact problem. I use the key pad on the drivers door, and double twist the passenger door lock. Has worked for nearly two years.

what do you mean by, "double twist the passenger door lock"?

 

[deweyville65]

koda 2000 good morning. By double twist the door lock, which is the only way I know how to describe it, when I unlock the passenger door from the outside, if I turn the key twice to unlock, it will unlock all doors and hatch. Which brings up another point I made. If the ignition lock was changed, why will my key unlock the passenger door, and not the drivers door or the hatch? Guess I wasn't thinking when I wrote that. Because if the ignition lock was the only one changed, the key shouldn't unlock anything else, right?DUH!!!

 

[koda2000]

koda 2000 good morning. By double twist the door lock, which is the only way I know how to describe it, when I unlock the passenger door from the outside, if I turn the key twice to unlock, it will unlock all doors and hatch. Which brings up another point I made. If the ignition lock was changed, why will my key unlock the passenger door, and not the drivers door or the hatch? Guess I wasn't thinking when I wrote that. Because if the ignition lock was the only one changed, the key shouldn't unlock anything else, right?DUH!!!

and a good morning to you deweyville65. i didn't know that turning the key twice would unlock all the doors. i have the key pad on my EB and i know that hitting the 3/4 button after entering your code will unlock all the doors and there are several other things other buttons will do (don't recall what with referring to the owner's manual). Thanks.

 

[exploration1997]

Thanks everyone for the info! I'll try WD-40 in the rear hatch first so if the problem gets worse it's on a door i dont need the key on anyway.