Driver side door lock
#1
Instructor
Thread Starter
Driver side door lock
The user manual for my 'new' 65 Corvette was left at the sellers warehouse, I need to go and pick it up, this will not happen for a week or two. (I have shop manuals coming from one of the vendors shortly).
Thus I don't have any docs to help me understand what is wrong with the door lock on the driver side: I have the window open, so I can open the door from the inside once I lock it with the key from the outside, BUT the key only turns to lock the car (straight up to left direction). When I try to unlock from the outside, the key will not turn right. Is this just a stuck lock? (I have dealt with a lot of old cars and restorations and refreshes, and if the lock moves at all, I've always found it moves both ways). I know this might sound like a strange question, but could it be something else wrong other than the lock? (I have put WD-40 into the cylinder, but that has not helped).
thanks,
Mark
Thus I don't have any docs to help me understand what is wrong with the door lock on the driver side: I have the window open, so I can open the door from the inside once I lock it with the key from the outside, BUT the key only turns to lock the car (straight up to left direction). When I try to unlock from the outside, the key will not turn right. Is this just a stuck lock? (I have dealt with a lot of old cars and restorations and refreshes, and if the lock moves at all, I've always found it moves both ways). I know this might sound like a strange question, but could it be something else wrong other than the lock? (I have put WD-40 into the cylinder, but that has not helped).
thanks,
Mark
#2
Team Owner
Those locks have some oddly bent rods to make them operate and if somebody installed it wrong or used the wrong attachment clip that could be your problem. It'll prob be real apparent if you just look inside the door and compare it to an AIM manual...
Something is amiss because both my '61 and '63 UNLOCK turning the top of the key towards the engine bay. Unless a '65 is very different...
Something is amiss because both my '61 and '63 UNLOCK turning the top of the key towards the engine bay. Unless a '65 is very different...
#3
Instructor
Thread Starter
Those locks have some oddly bent rods to make them operate and if somebody installed it wrong or used the wrong attachment clip that could be your problem. It'll prob be real apparent if you just look inside the door and compare it to an AIM manual...
Something is amiss because both my '61 and '63 UNLOCK turning the top of the key towards the engine bay. Unless a '65 is very different...
Something is amiss because both my '61 and '63 UNLOCK turning the top of the key towards the engine bay. Unless a '65 is very different...
Thanks. I am thinking that it was installed upside down. The passenger lock unlocks towards the front and locks towards the back; and the key goes in 'upside down' from the driver side.
This would hardly surprise me: The last car I bought from this fellow (an MB 190sl) also had a beautiful paint job, all new shocks and springs, etc etc, gorgeous interior, and a rebuilt engine and transmission. That car had the trunk lock in backwards. It took me hours to fix, since it was a royal pain to put it back in.
Mark
#4
Team Owner
Truly - this is an easy fix and a non-issue. 10 minutes taking the door panel off; another 5 minutes diagnosing and prob flip lock around and that alone might make the rod work correctly...
Some restorers just get in a hurry during final assembly and get things wrong.
Don't EVEN ask me how I know
Some restorers just get in a hurry during final assembly and get things wrong.
Don't EVEN ask me how I know
#5
Melting Slicks
Truly - this is an easy fix and a non-issue. 10 minutes taking the door panel off; another 5 minutes diagnosing and prob flip lock around and that alone might make the rod work correctly...
Some restorers just get in a hurry during final assembly and get things wrong.
Don't EVEN ask me how I know
Some restorers just get in a hurry during final assembly and get things wrong.
Don't EVEN ask me how I know
The attached PDF shows what you will be looking at inside the door. The pics are from our '65.
As Frankie indicated, turning the top of the key toward the front unlocks the doors.
Hope this helps.
Dave Z
p.s. That little black thread you see under the lock **** is the end of a short length heavy duty fishing line hooked to the horsehoe clip and wrapped around the shaft for stowage. The hope is it will make removal of that clip rather easy next time (if there is one) I need to remove the door panel. Unwrap line, pull off clip (fingers crossed)
#7
Team Owner
I wish Dave (DZVette) would offer CDs for sale with all his vette PDFs. I want a C1 and C2 copy please !
#8
Melting Slicks
Let us know what you find.
Dave Z
#9
Burning Brakes
just checked mine, to the front to lock and to the rear to open.
I have been told in the past NOt to use WD40 near fiberglass. I had some bubbles around my door locks and had used WD40 in the locks in the past. Apparantly it can seap into the fiberglass and over time can cause the paint to bubble??
Don't know if this is a fact but that was the only spot on the car that bubbled.
#10
Burning Brakes
During college many, many years ago for a summer job, I worked for a locksmith.
One of the first things he drilled into me was for automotive locks, (fiberglass body or not), house locks, any kind of key locks - do not use WD40 in them. In time it will just gum up the lock.
He instructed me to always use a dry graphite lubricant.
There are many products out there to lubricate locks these days, but for the more than 40 years since I held that job one summer, all I've ever used in any lock is dry graphite and I've never had any issues with it.
If you ever need to lubricate a lock that you can't get graphite into, LPS 1 works well, a dry, grease-less lubricant.
It's a good practice to lubricate your locks periodically.
Don't forget your ignition lock too.
Just remember, if you read it on the internet........it must be true.
Thomas
#11
Instructor
Thread Starter
Mine is upside down. The teeth are facing upwards. I *will* have to fix this. My mechanic friend was over yesterday, he is going to work with me on a refresh of the car, he said it should take us less than an hour to fix. He also put a light into the gas tank, and good news: It is new, and there is no gas in it. And the carb has no evidence of gas sitting in it for 10 years. This will save us some time and effort too.
Mark
#12
door locks in my "66" coupe( could not turn either way.) From my Audi days of recoding locks, I put Lock ease (Graphited fluid) on keys and worked keys locks Lt&Rt and eventually could lock & unlock doors