Paint and Body Door Latch Issue

[KRUISR]

Working on my son's 89 GT and having an issue with the driver side door. The manual lock rod doesn't move, the key rod doesn't move and the power door lock actuator doesn't move. The outside door handle will not open the door, but the inside door handle will.

One thought I have is the power door lock motor is seized in the lock position and not allowing the lock rod and key rods to move. That would explain why the outside door handle rod doesn't move yet the inside door handle will still open the door. I applied power (jumpered at the connector in the kick panel) and I can hear a clicking in the power door lock motor, but no movement.

A second thought I have is that my door latch mechanism is all messed up. It is locking the lock mechanism, not allowing the manual lock rod, key rod or power lock motor to move.

Looking for info from anyone that has had this kind of issue before and what they did to resolve it.

 

[KRUISR]

Figured it out. I had two problems - well one sort of. Everything was crusty because the car has sat so long. The outside door handle rod mechanism in the latch was just plain stiff, dry, crusty. Some WD40 and some focused directed force to start things moving. Now freed up and moving great.

The door lock motor was some of the same - dry, crusty. I sprayed some WD40 inside the upper boot and let it sit for about half an hour and tried jumpering it at the kick panel connector. It took a couple of open/closed cycles and it started moving again. Now moves freely. The key lock rod moves freely again too.

 

[Dakar09]

Thanks for the follow-up on this. I need to dig into this on mine over the coming winter. The lock tumbler doesn't even actuate at this point.

 

[KRUISR]

The passenger side door lock motor is not cycling either. I have soaked it a couple times and tried jumpering it, but so far no movement. It may need replacement. The outside door latch rod is working fine though. Unfortunately with the lock motor not moving I can't lock or unlock the door. It must be unlocked as the inside and outside door handles do work.

When we purchased the car the driver side door handle was broken and later while working on floor pans the passenger side broke as well. I wanted both door handle rods moving before installing new outside handles.