My car door lock wont open on the driver’s side, from the outside. How can I fix it myself?
Question by Lunarfish:
Yesterday I got locked out of my car and after about 2 hrs AAA arrived to let me back in. In the meantime, about 20 strangers from nearby stores were trying their hand at getting into my car. Unbeknownst to me, while I was on the phone with AAA, one of the men was jamming random keys and things into my door lock trying to get the pins to align and open the door. AAA came, popped my door open and all was well. Except now, I cant get my key to turn in the drivers side door! It wont unlock. It will go in and not turn. So obviously something has either been damaged or misaligned. Is there anyway I can fix this myself? Im pretty handy, I can fix a lot of things. How can I fix this? We dont have a ton of money and Id like to avoid spending a fortune getting it fixed at a locksmith.
Yesterday I got locked out of my car and after about 2 hrs AAA arrived to let me back in. In the meantime, about 20 strangers from nearby stores were trying their hand at getting into my car. Unbeknownst to me, while I was on the phone with AAA, one of the men was jamming random keys and things into my door lock trying to get the pins to align and open the door. AAA came, popped my door open and all was well. Except now, I cant get my key to turn in the drivers side door! It wont unlock. It will go in and not turn. So obviously something has either been damaged or misaligned. Is there anyway I can fix this myself? Im pretty handy, I can fix a lot of things. How can I fix this? We dont have a ton of money and Id like to avoid spending a fortune getting it fixed at a locksmith.
Any tips? Its a 2002 Hyundai Accent. Manual door lock, no electric system. Only unlocks with a key or from the inside. Any advice please?
Also, my husband is a mechanical engineer so between the two of us, I think we can handle a repair.
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Comments on My car door lock wont open on the driver’s side, from the outside. How can I fix it myself? »
Take your door apart and the lock and see if you can see whats wrong the whole thing might need to be replaced or it might need to be aligned again
That random stranger did you no favors. He was trying to pick the lock, but evidently had no skill at it.
Do this:
Roll the window all the way up.
Open the door.
Remove the trim plates, arm rest, anything that shows a screw head. Don’t forget speaker surrounds.
Go all around the entire interior panel with a wide, flat tool like a flexible scraper, prying carefully to pop the panel loose from its clips. Auto parts places sell tools specifically for panel removal; look into getting one. They’re handy.
Be prepared to buy new clips to replace any that break.
There will probably be a vinyl film inside to further protect the door’s interior. Pull slowly and gently; it will come off. Try not to stretch it.
You should now be able to get to the fasteners and remove the door handle. Take the door handle to a locksmith to have all the junk removed from the keyway, or possibly to have the lock cylinder replaced. It’s very difficult to do that job yourself, but it’s also wicked pricey to have the locksmith come do it onsite.
Alternatively you can open up both doors and replace both locks simultaneously; the dealer’s parts department can easily provide matched locks.
Reinstall everything in reverse order.
Smack the next random stranger that approaches your locked door with his homebrew lockpick saying he can “help.”
NOTE: some locksmiths – esp. the good ones – will have your lock for a day or two. Be prepared to lock your car into the garage until the lock returns from the shop.