Door lock mechanism fritzed out

[porschpow]

...Also on my dad's GM. It appears the power door loock on front passenger door doesn't work, so I took apart the arm rest to fix the manual door lock rod (so I can at least lock it manually) . To my surprise....the manual lock lever doesn't even work...its jammed. I tried to lock it by key...Can't...its jammed...What gives?!?!?!?!? Anybody had this issue?!?!?!?

[trwp72]

Sounds like the lock mechanism is jammed / fried / or otherwise toast... Another cause could be the door lock cylinder it self... you need to take apart the door, and see what isn't working. Sounds like junk yard time, regardless!!

[1987cp]

What year vehicle are you working on? My only experience with that type of situation is with power-lock solenoids freezing up in the middle of the winter, which of course jams the whole lock mechanism. Worse still if it happens like it did to me - on all the doors at once while the car is locked! After that experience, I removed all the lock solenoids on that car, and never had a problem again.

But yes, if you haven't tried it already, pull the door panel off and disconnect the solenoid plunger - frozen or stuck lock solenoids seem to be a pretty common problem. With any luck, a new lock solenoid will fix things up for you.

[BerniniCaCO3]

By the way: if you do replace the door lock solenoid, it's one of those few items that the oem/gm part makes a difference. I had terrible experience with cheap chinese lock solenoids; they freeze up at 40F! But they're working this summer, I'll just save up for better ones before fall

[porschpow]

I think I have some of the power door locks lying aroun the garage. that is what I figured went bad! I will have to pull the door off and look at it. If not, JUNKYARD TIME!!!!!!!!!!!

[BerniniCaCO3]

By the way: they're not terribly strong little motors, it doesn't take very much to stall them out, and a stalled electric motor will quickly burn out (it's shorting between the brushes at that point).
Just double check that all the various pushrods move smoothly, maybe clean and re-lubricate the latch and all joints. I know on my station wagon, the tailgate has a reputation among others of burnt lock solenoids-- because it has a reputation of a sticky latch.

[porschpow]

Gotcha. my dad always told me make sure everything that needs grease...gets grease.....(always thought he had stocl in grease lol) If I remember correctly, doesn't the solenoid power door lock have a rivet... how does it disconnect????

[BerniniCaCO3]

yup, it's riveted.
You drill out the rivet.

Others try to re-rivet it, I'm lazy-- turned out there was some size (I want to say 5/16"-something on my locks?) that the rivet hole was the perfect size just to be tapped. A 1/2" cap screw threaded right in, and it's been holding for a couple months now anyway.

[87gtVIC]

You can also pop the solenoid out of the bracket that is riveted to the door.

[porschpow]

Great. I will look forward to this Thanks for the help guys!!!!