Problem with door lock

[stangbaba]

When I put the key into the door lock on my 93 LX, I can't turn it to unlock the door until I jiggle it back and forth for a few seconds. I don't think it's a problem with the lock cylinder, but somewhere else.

Anybody else have/had this problem, and what did you do?

 

[Beasty306GT]

u might have a link inside loose or something take ur door panel off and check it out

 

[trbkrb]

Power locks? The design of the lock actuator is such that it rusts out and gets hard to work over time. Symptoms include a key that is hard to turn and locks that are hard to lock or unlock with the buttons. Pull the door panels off and look at the actuators. I've sprayed them with WD40 and they've worked a bit easier, but ultimately I ended up replacing them with aftermarket actuators that were MUCH cheaper than new Ford ones.

If you don't have power locks, then just lube all the lock parts in the door and see if it helps.

 

[stangbaba]

Power locks? The design of the lock actuator is such that it rusts out and gets hard to work over time. Symptoms include a key that is hard to turn and locks that are hard to lock or unlock with the buttons. Pull the door panels off and look at the actuators. I've sprayed them with WD40 and they've worked a bit easier, but ultimately I ended up replacing them with aftermarket actuators that were MUCH cheaper than new Ford ones.

If you don't have power locks, then just lube all the lock parts in the door and see if it helps.

I forgot to mention that, yes, they are power locks. The strange thing is, when using the power lock switch, there's no problems at all, only when using the key, on the driver's side.