Is there a way to make my locks completely manual?

Post Fri Apr 05, 2013 12:23 am

I have a dead central lock module and I am looking to make the car a manual locking car. I don't mind pushing the locks down. The problem is right now I have a driver's lock that if I turn the key to 90 degrees it will sometimes only come back to 45 degrees. I then have to remove the key in the 90 and open the passenger door and pull up on the driver's pin. I then can turn the key back to 0 and remove it. I would like to get rid of what ever causes the lock to get stuck at 45. I think it has to do with the spring on the end of the cylinder. I rebuilt the cylinder 2 years ago and it worked beautiful. Then the module died after a while and now I have this cylinder issue. I would like to go to a fully manual locking car. I don't mind it. After owning this thing for the past 10+ years, I am tired of having lock issues. I am for the simpler life. Thanks.

Post Fri Apr 05, 2013 9:35 am

With the central locking out of order, your locks should already be manual, apart from a small amount of drag from the lock motors.
Assuming everything is assembled correctly, your problems are down to wear and lack of lubrication. All worked when there was power assistance from the lock motor, but without it there's just too much friction in the linkage to work it from one end.
TBH, repairing the central locking will probably be the easiest solution. The system is ultra reliable, as long as you don't flood your sills, and it has a power source.

Post Fri Apr 05, 2013 11:09 am

if you remove the central locking unit entirely (in the drivers footwell behind the speaker) then the locking becomes fully manual. This just removes the chance that the central locking unit is still trying to get involved.

Post Fri Apr 05, 2013 5:03 pm

I am unable to push the driver's door lock pin down. I can do that on the passenger side. I like the way the passenger side cylinder does not have the 45 and 90 positions. I would like to make the driver's side as simple. Something is causing it to sometimes get stuck in the 45. When I then spray wd-40 it will work better for a while, but then gets stuck again. I have had the door card off for the last year, because it makes it easy to access and spray, if necessary.

Post Fri Apr 05, 2013 6:06 pm

clydesdale wrote: Something is causing it to sometimes get stuck in the 45. When I then spray wd-40 it will work better for a while, but then gets stuck again.

Brianmoooore wrote: Assuming everything is assembled correctly, your problems are down to wear and lack of lubrication. All worked when there was power assistance from the lock motor, but without it there's just too much friction in the linkage to work it from one end.
TBH, repairing the central locking will probably be the easiest solution. The system is ultra reliable, as long as you don't flood your sills, and it has a power source.

You could try a better lubricant than WD40 and see if it works better for longer.
And then pull it apart and repair/replace what's in there. That will be easier than trying to alter a system that works well, when its in good working order that is.