My driver side door lock was never perfect.. but after time the keyhole mechanism got worse, and now I cannot even get my key into the hole to unlock the door... I was wondering If you guys could tell me how to take of the door strip, so I can get into the lock, and straighten it out, or replace it.

Hey Hippy,

Don't worry about the door strip. The lock is actually removed from the inside of the door, not the door strip. Don't even bother removing it because it won't help you one bit. You'll need to remove the inner door panel. As you may know, the door panel is held in by three screws (philips head). One on the top of the door handle (remove that rubber plug), and two underneath the door handle.

Once you've removed that, then you can remove the door handle cover. The lock button needs to be removed first. Unlock it so that most of the red is showing and then pull as hard as you can from the end of it. Basically, it snaps onto a metal rod, so you want to break it free from the metal rod. Once the lock button is off, it should expose a metal rod behind it. Open your door and push it in to lock it.

Then remove that little Fiero emblem using a small fine flat head screw driver. (the one on the door handle plate). You will then expose a small philips head screw. It's foggy here for me, but I believe there is still another screw... maybe behind the door handle? There might be a panel that comes off... it's been a while since I've done it, but I could be mixing that up with my Porsche or my Volkswagen Bus.

Either way, once you've removed the screws holding it in, you remove the door handle plate by sliding it to the front of the car while pulling it outwards as well (like at an angle). The door handle should slide through it and you will then have removed it. You may also need to unplug the wiring for your door lock buttons if you have electric locks (they just pull off... you can pry them off with a flat head screw driver). You may also need to remove the manual mirror adjuster if you don't have power mirrors. It's a small allen key which is used to loosen the ball control (slides out through the bottom when free). Also, if you have crank windows, you'll need to remove the crank window handle as well (there is a special $4.95 tool at the local auto parts stores to remove it).

Now you can remove the door panel. It's just held in by clips. The door panel is hard card-board, so be careful when you remove it.

Once you have the door open, you should be able to see the lock. There is a circlip or something that holds it in place. Once you remove that clip, it basically just slides right out and you can replace it with a different one (not too difficult).

Oh yeah, you'll want to have the window up when you do this.

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Todd,
2006 Pontiac Solstice
2004 Volkswagen Beetle Convt. (Wife's)
2002 Ford Crown Victoria LX
1987 Pontiac Fiero SE / V6
1984 Porsche 944
1981 Pontiac Trans Am WS6 / 455
1981 EZ-GO Xi875-A "Miami Dolphins" Medical Cart
1973 Volkswagen Type-2 Transporter

thanks allot for the info! unfortunately being the impatient person I am I already removed the black trim strip from the door... now I'm trying to figure out how to get it back on... theres some kind of white plastic clips that it grabs onto but I cant figure out how to make it grab... any help would be appreciated..


NEVER MIND I GOT IT!

[This message has been edited by hippy99 (edited 07-12-2008).]

The clips break pretty easy, I broke all but 1 of mine on both doors.

http://www.fierostore.com
CENTER DOOR MLD CLIP KIT (FOR ROUNDED MOLDINGS)
Part # 81017
Price: $8.95

I managed to take the door handle and lock off of my old car by just removing the top 3 bolts on the door skin and pulling it out, I didnt have to take it all the way off.

This might be a good time to tell everyone what I do EVERY MONTH. I am sure you all do the same, but:

Grease from a grease gun works great on locks. Every month, I put a small dot of grease on the end of my key, slide it in and out of the lock (about 20 times) then lock and unlock the doors about 5-8 times. On the trunk, I do the same, except I just unlock it about 10 times (while the trunk is open). This also works awesome with home doors. My front door is in the weather all year long. When I first moved in, the door lock was very tricky. Now it is smooth and easy.

I have never had to replace a lock on MY cars. Customers.... another story!!

Myke

I clean my ears with my keys and it seems to work pretty good

quote Originally posted by Jake_Dragon: I clean my ears with my keys and it seems to work pretty good

Hahah... nasty.

I just shoot a little bit of lock graphite grease into the lock. It comes in a small spray can with a teeny tiny straw that I stick in the key slot and just spray. A little comes out and I just whipe it up. It's probably best to use grease, but this has also worked for me so far. I've only had to replace locks on some older cars that I've gotten 2nd hand. Like for example... my 73 Volkswagen Bus. The ignition lock on the steering column was the original... hah... that's 35 yers old!!! It still worked if you jiggled the key while turning it... but I figured it had it's use...

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Todd,
2006 Pontiac Solstice
2004 Volkswagen Beetle Convt. (Wife's)
2002 Ford Crown Victoria LX
1987 Pontiac Fiero SE / V6
1984 Porsche 944
1981 Pontiac Trans Am WS6 / 455
1981 EZ-GO Xi875-A "Miami Dolphins" Medical Cart
1973 Volkswagen Type-2 Transporter