Hello Denizens of America's only true sports car:
Suddenly my key won't lock/unlock the driver's side door and the inside **** won't either. I'm crawling like a crab through the passenger door, which is way fun. Is there a magic cure short of pulling the panel? And if I do pull the panel, what would be the common issues? Never been a problem until today....

As always, my thanks

 

If the flapper on the outside handle is not returning fully or the rod it controls is not it will cause this.

 

Thanks for the response! Flapper bounces back normally...

 

The same goes for the return of the rod for the inside door handle. In other words if the door release lever that is connected to the door handles doesnt return 100% the lock will not work.

 

The locks works...it won't UN-lock. Inside/outside handles have normal feel. No extra play or apparent malfunction. The inside handle acts like the lock is engaged...which it is. Weird.

 

My drivers door will only lock if I hold down the flapper and then shut - whats the story with that?

 

You need to pull the panel. It's the only way to see what's going on. My guess is the lock mechanism at the rear of the door is all gummed up & dirty. Mine were really stiff, could barely turn the key, especially the driver side. I cleaned it up, re-lubed and now works like brand new.
While you're in there clean out the old grease in the window regulator tracks & re-grease as well. I did this at the same time and the windows also go up & down very easily.
Here's a few pics of how gunked up my inside handle mechanism was. Bubba painted over everything when the car was repainted.




Glenn

 

Don't spray lube onto the lock assembly while it is in the door! Door panel backside is raw fiberglass and if you overspray, it will absorb excess lube into the fibreglass and cause future paint problems. My body guy FREAKED OUT at my LT-1 because I had used Motorcycle chain lube with moly on my door locks and hosed down the inner door panel, we had to hunt up another panel and re-skin the door

 

this happened to me.
i put the window down and had someone sit in the drivers seat.

while they push/pull the lock **** and the door handle repeatable from the inside. you turn the key and pull the handle quickly and repeatedly from the outside.

i had the exact same problem and this has fixed it numerous times.

i find that this happens when i don't lock/unlock the door with the key by turning it completely. (i turn it halfway, return and pull key out)

hope this helps.

 

Great tips everyone!! I'll execute all these ideas. Anything beats creeping over the console- shoes whacking steering wheelr, knees smacking face, shifter hitting ....welll, no details here...but it HURTS!

 

Thats a weird one,without looking at it I have no idea.sorry

 

Same thing happened to me on my 76 driver side. Finally shook the door several times and got it to open. Took both door panels off and compared passenger side to driver side. I was missing the top locking clip on the rod that goes from the door handle to the locking mechanism. When you locked the door, sometimes, but not all the time !!! , the rod would swing around 90 degrees and hang up. Bought and installed another $2 clip, installed on the top of the locking rod and it works fine. Apparently this clip keeps the rod aligned where it is supposed to be.

Good luck and hope this helps.

 

Eureka Merc!
I jiggled per rebbie 23, cleaned and lubed per GD, and replaced the clip per you....All is well in '76 Land once again....until the next crisis! Thanks again to all....and my groin area is safe from the stickshift...ahhhh!