Escort door lock problem

[cjhillman]

It seems like I'm having a bit of bad luck with this car.

The drivers door lock is playing up, you can now occasionally open the drivers door with the key!

key operates ignition and passenger door fine.

Anyone have any past experience with these linkages or barrels wearing and which one is it most likely to be?? It's still got the original inner door protector in so I'm feeling really begrudged to cut through it

If its the barrel can these be repaired so I could keep the same key?

[nomad]

Hi. Older Fords have doorlocks you can screw apart - not sure if this is same on your Mk3 ?

Try a hairdryer / heatgun (on low!) to soften the glue holing the door protector, you should be able to unpeel it with any damage

'nuff said?
retrorides.proboards.com/thread/120463/1996-citroen-ax-5d-sold?page=3
Look for slots worn into the casting once it's apart, if slots are worn you'll need new (or better used) castings, but can put your lock internals in to keep the same key.

Not difficult, just find somewhere clean & tidy where you can catch bits you drop
Search - there was a similar thread last year...

Have fun

[bortaf]

The tumblers have probably worn or are stuck, as a quick rout try flushing the crud out the lock with a tin of brake cleaner and then lube with some graphite powder, NOT wd40 that will just gum it up again, if that doesn't work the barrel will ne new labs and or springs, they do come up every now and then on ebay, if it's the normal TX key like the cortina Mk4/5 escort, Mk2 ect you can use matching tabs from old locks that havn't worn, i keep a box of new and good used tabs and springs for any future lock problems, just watch out for the little springs !!
or do you have the later chubb locks (straveller key) ?

[cjhillman]

Thanks guys! thats really useful stuff! Its being really hard on the key at the moment and i'm worried it'll damage it ( its the old flat type not like the mk4s)
maybe its just full of curse word i hope, Just want to try and fix that one if i can... don't really fancy adding another key to the key ring.

Great tip on using the heat gun!