Struggling to change driver's door lock

[MissMoppet]

Really struggling here. While this post is fine as far as it goes I'm stuck on two things.

1 I've disconnected everything off the lock/actuator but can't see how I can get out of the door. Do I have to remove, somehow, the window guide/rail?

2 I'm nervous about getting this plastic clip onto the new lock. Any way of guaranteeing it won't snap as I presume these are not easy to come by.


3 Does it matter which way round the metal star rod that slots into the top go?

[Arctic]

[QUOTE]

Originally Posted by MissMoppet

Really struggling here. While this post is fine as far as it goes I'm stuck on two things.

1 I've disconnected everything off the lock/actuator but can't see how I can get out of the door. Do I have to remove, somehow, the window guide/rail?

2 I'm nervous about getting this plastic clip onto the new lock. Any way of guaranteeing it won't snap as I presume these are not easy to come by.


3 Does it matter which way round the metal star rod that slots into the top go?[/QUOTE

]

Hi Dave.
The clip just twists into place so it wont break, just be careful.
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It will help if you loosen the window rail a bit or take the bolts out to get the lock past the upright rail.

6

It's that dog bone you do not want to disturb, and must make sure it fits into the lock properly when re-fitting the lock, worst lock on the car to work with.

[MissMoppet]

[QUOTE=Arctic;2959369]

]
Hi Dave.
The clip just twists into place so it wont break, just be careful.
It's that dog bone you do not want to disturb, and must make sure it fits into the lock properly when re-fitting the lock, worst lock on the car to work with.

Ah great, thanks as ever Steve. I was going to try and get that bottom prong into the slot as well as the round bit - after soaking in boiling water! As ever obvious when you're shown.

[MissMoppet]

Saga ain't over yet, by any means. Loosened the glass guide but still a helluva wiggle to get it out - and get the new one in. Then . . . managed to drop the "dog-bone" link three times while trying to get it back. Found it twice but now gone to some totally inaccessible crevice deep in the door bowels. Three Hail Marys and Rimmer stock it, thank goodness.
But when it comes how on earth do you get it to stick in two places at once?

[Matt_75]

When I bought a replacement driver's door lock, the "dog bone" had a really loose fit in it and kept falling out. The fit in the original lock was much tighter and held the dog bone nicely. I ended up partially disassembling both locks and swapping the female part (that the dog bone connects into) over. Is yours the same? It was a little bit fiddly but go carefully and it's easy enough.

[MissMoppet]

Originally Posted by Matt_75

. . . and it's easy enough.

I don't really want to start dismantling a new part that should work, yet.
Anyway not very clear but the slot arrowed is a smidgeon narrower than the other three for what reason I cannot fathom. And swapping it round doesn't seem to make any difference, so I'm still left with how to get the link to fit in both sockets, when Mr Rimmer delivers me another bone. I might try a dab of silicone on one end.



And when anyone says "it's easy enough", I want to, well . . . I've had the diesel for 10 years and the only action that might fall into that category is filling the screen washer bottle.

[Number 6]

If I remember correctly the "Dog Bone" will only fit into the "Cup" part one way If you look at it you will see the there is two different sizes to the slot which the Bone fits into,The bone needs to pushed into the respective slots.

If that makes sense to you

Also if you can put the dog bone into the lock side first I was able to push a long screw driver thru the door and push the other half of the lock (As in Atics Pic) just enough to pop the other half of the bone into it.

[Matt_75]

I can understand you not wanting to take a new part to pieces, I didn't want to either. Also, it's only worth doing if the original one has a tighter fit than the new one. If it isn't any better, obviously there is no point. As for it being "easy enough", it took me 15 or 20 mins to swap over having never touched a car lock mechanism in my life before hand and being a DIY enthusiast (not a qualified mechanic). A blob of silicone or piece of electrical tape might be all you need, or you might just be lucky and the replacement dog bone may have a better fit.

[Arctic]

The dog bone will only fit into the door handle and the lock one way, they are sold on ebay also.
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/304034566788

Note that the ends are the same so it matter not which end you put into the lock or into the handle, but the nodes are different, ie two nodes are larger/thicker and will only fit one way into both the handle and the lock.

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[hogweed]

Originally Posted by MissMoppet

And when anyone says "it's easy enough", I want to, well . . . I've had the diesel for 10 years and the only action that might fall into that category is filling the screen washer bottle.

Couldn't agree with you more, mate


Had mine 12 years, and threatened to get rid of it 120 times (including today ), and I've lost count of the number of times somebody has said yeah, easy little job, and I've nearly had a nervous breakdown trying