Locking problems

[mitch]

My mk3 sri drivers side will not lock the car. The key will unlock the car but won't turn to the left to lock it. The Passenger side works fine.
Has anyone any ideas what the problem could be?

[Gaz]

take the doorcard off and check the micro switches and the connector at the motor.

[Cavalier342]

Sounds like the barrel isn't actually turning Gaz. Try a bit of copper grease or graphite or something similar, and keep working it to try and free it. Could be a nackered barrel.

[planetc]

Just done this with mine, as the barrels age they clog with crap and also wear so that the tumblers don't clear the housing properly.
Take the handle backing assembly out, put the key in and remove the circlip on the rear. With care you can slide the barrel out leaving it on the key to retain the tumblers (brass bits).
Do it carefully so that the lever arms on the handle assembly stay where they are, because they are a sod to refit if you dislodge them.
With the barrel on the key you can see the way the tumblers should line up and sit flush with the barrel, clean it all, and take a grinder to it to get them sitting flush, if it is badly worn you will struggle to take enough off the tips without destroying them.
If you can get them flush so that with the key in it becomes a nice smooth tube shape then it will slide back into the housing and should work perfectly, coat with vaseline before refitting.
Refit the circlip on the back to retain it and test before refitting the handle.

You could also try flushing it with wd40 before dismantling if you wish, spray into the barrel and work the key in and out repeatedly to flush the crap out of the barrel. This might work if it is not too worn.

[Cavalier342]

Just done this with mine, as the barrels age they clog with crap and also wear so that the tumblers don't clear the housing properly.
Take the handle backing assembly out, put the key in and remove the circlip on the rear. With care you can slide the barrel out leaving it on the key to retain the tumblers (brass bits).
Do it carefully so that the lever arms on the handle assembly stay where they are, because they are a sod to refit if you dislodge them.
With the barrel on the key you can see the way the tumblers should line up and sit flush with the barrel, clean it all, and take a grinder to it to get them sitting flush, if it is badly worn you will struggle to take enough off the tips without destroying them.
If you can get them flush so that with the key in it becomes a nice smooth tube shape then it will slide back into the housing and should work perfectly, coat with vaseline before refitting.
Refit the circlip on the back to retain it and test before refitting the handle.

You could also try flushing it with wd40 before dismantling if you wish, spray into the barrel and work the key in and out repeatedly to flush the crap out of the barrel. This might work if it is not too worn.

I've been told WD can sometimes cause more problems if the barrel internals are crudded up. Learned that one myself when I WD-40'd my auto door lock and it never locked since hence I had to get a new lock set.

[mitch]

Cheers to all for your swift response and tips, they were spot-on
The micro switches worked fine so I set about lubing the barrel with wd40 through the keyhole and grease on the internal mechanism and it eventually released and seems fine now.
Thankfully didn't need to get the grinder on it though I am partial to a bit of grinding.

What do you use to stick the plastic back on

[Cavalier342]

I assume the white plastic sheet that sits behind the doorcard? glue if you have any, if not, electrical tape will do. It's there to stop water soaking the card, so it's a must. Glad you got it sorted anywho

[planetc]

Glad it's sorted

What do you use to stick the plastic back on

A bead of silicon sealer is good?

[mitch]

all out of glue so used some clear silicon as suggested, Thanks again to all