C2 drivers door won't unlock

[John P.]

My 1965 Convertible has always locked the drivers side door from outside but can never unlock it with the key. I removed the door panel and i can see that the cylinder simply cannot rotate the attached rod far enough in the counterclockwise direction to unlock the mechanism. i can unlock it through the panel by hand.

Can the cylinder mechanism be somehow repaired or tightened so that the lock can be rotated far enough to open? though I can view it well it doesn't seem obvious. I tried to bend the connecting lock rod to reduce "play" but no luck. I am hoping there is a fix as opposed to replacing both door cylinders, ignition, glove box cylinder etc. I have sprayed lubricants without success

Thanks in advance.

[Gary B.]

Re: C2 drivers door won't unlock

John,

If you can lock the door from the outside, then the problem almost certainly is not with the lock cylinder, and replacing the lock cylinder will be very unlikely to fix the problem. Dimes to donuts the problem is with the linkage.

Gary

[Harry S.]

Re: C2 drivers door won't unlock

John, when you turn the key is there a good deal of resistance? If yes then the latch is probably all gummed up with grease and will not allow the latch to go to the unlock position. I had a similar problem. Remove the latch and soak it in a gallon of carb. Cleaner. This will remove all the old grease and clean up the latch. Spray it with water from the garden hose to remove all the carb cleaner then blow it dry. As soon as it's dry grease all moving parts and reinstall. It should operate like new.

If it operates easily then try loosening the three screws in the door jam and adjust the position of the latch.

Good luck.

[Gene M.]

Re: C2 drivers door won't unlock

My 1965 Convertible has always locked the drivers side door from outside but can never unlock it with the key. I removed the door panel and i can see that the cylinder simply cannot rotate the attached rod far enough in the counterclockwise direction to unlock the mechanism. i can unlock it through the panel by hand.

Can the cylinder mechanism be somehow repaired or tightened so that the lock can be rotated far enough to open? though I can view it well it doesn't seem obvious. I tried to bend the connecting lock rod to reduce "play" but no luck. I am hoping there is a fix as opposed to replacing both door cylinders, ignition, glove box cylinder etc. I have sprayed lubricants without success

Thanks in advance.

Does the "no luck" mean you were not successful in reducing the "play" or not get the mechanism to unlock?

Is the link loose on the lock arm or loose on door mechanism arm? Link fit in hole too big? It should fit fairly close not sloppy.

Is the lock link loose on the lock? If so it need to be tight.

If you pull on that link by hand can you get it to unlock? Possible link stretched out or worn link to hole fit.

One of these senerao's corrected in addition to cleaning up mechanism as another poster suggested should put you in business.

[Frank D.]

Re: C2 drivers door won't unlock

You might want to review this article and make sure the rods are attached correctly and nothing is missing:

[John P.]

Re: C2 drivers door won't unlock

i tried to bend the rod but still cannot open with key from outside

[Gene M.]

Re: C2 drivers door won't unlock

i tried to bend the rod but still cannot open with key from outside

I made some suggestions in post#4 did you check them out? Saying you bent the rod tells me nothing that i can use to help you.

[Russ S.]

Re: C2 drivers door won't unlock

Is your lock mechanism correctly positioned in the cutout in the fiberglass? It is notched for the key mechanism to be correctly positioned.

[John P.]

Re: C2 drivers door won't unlock

The rod seemed reasonably tight at both connections but I have never encountered it before. The lock cylinder itself seems to have a lot of "slop" where it turns the rod on the inside surface but once again perhaps that is typical. I do see that there are two holes where the rod connects to the mechanism. Which hole is preferred? The lock functions if I move it up and down by hand.
How to tighten the lock link where the rod connects at the cylinder?

I am planning to order a replacement rod, Any other thoughts?

[Kenneth T.]

Re: C2 drivers door won't unlock

I had this problem where the rod from the outside door push button rod was too long and was inhibiting the lock cylinder

may want to check that out compare to the one that is working corectly

[John P.]

Re: C2 drivers door won't unlock

Followup on no unlock with key Rod replaced still cannot open with key from outside.

Is the cylinder itself likely to fail? I have made certain the hardware attached to the cylinder is tight and aligned as on the other side. door. Just wondering if its time to try and replace the cylinder?

[Russ S.]

Re: C2 drivers door won't unlock

Replacing the cyl isn't likely to help as mentioned previously. Slop is normal on the back side of the cyl assembly. I still think you need to bend the connecting rod in order to shorten it. I have had this same problem in the past but can't recall exactly what I did to remedy it.