Sticking locks
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Oct 2013
Posts: 362
Likes: 11
From: MARSHALLVILLE OHIO
Sticking locks
My 1979 has manual door locks. The drivers door lock sticks, hasn't been a problem since I have not locked it all summer since the tops were out. I took the inner panel off tonight and the linkage is hooked up and free. The lever at the top of the linkage will not always make full travel when the door is open, and won't move when the door is closed. When the door is not locked it opens and closes as it is supposed to. What am I missing?
Melting Slicks
Joined: May 2015
Posts: 2,365
Likes: 428
From: Cape Girardeau Missouri
While mine has power locks, I had a similar problem with both doors in my '79. I'm fairly certain that the only difference with power locks is the actuator and an additional rod.
Solution: Take everything apart and out of the door (to certainly include the door latch mechanism itself), clean, lubricate with white lithium grease and reassemble. While it takes a few hours it's not particularly difficult and reassembly is straight forward.
Solution: Take everything apart and out of the door (to certainly include the door latch mechanism itself), clean, lubricate with white lithium grease and reassemble. While it takes a few hours it's not particularly difficult and reassembly is straight forward.
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Oct 2013
Posts: 362
Likes: 11
From: MARSHALLVILLE OHIO
The local Corvette guru told me something similar. He recommended flushing with penetrating oil. I mentioned brake and parts cleaned and he said that would work as well. I shot it with cleaner and let I soak, I flushed the door with water not wanting the cleaner to pool and soak. I sprayed the assembly with white lithium grease, wiped off the excess. I buttoned it up, hopefully it will work.
Safety Car
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 4,652
Likes: 80
From: Lakeland Florida
there is some adjustment with the rods and actuators. Over time the rods can flex and bend. This may be enough distance to prevent the full travel of the movement. The reason for the bending is because the locks may be gummed up with old grease over time. This causes more pressure on the door handle to push down on, or the key lock to move. Because of the gummed lock the pressure goes to the rods.
After cleaning the lock assembly and adding new lithium grease, you may still have to check the rod assembly and adjustment to get proper movement.
kdf
After cleaning the lock assembly and adding new lithium grease, you may still have to check the rod assembly and adjustment to get proper movement.
kdf
