Door lock problems - driving me nuts!! 1971 240Z

[Kerrigan]

The bodyshop didn't put something back together right in the doors when they did the total repaint.

The door locks won't lock. With the doors closed. They never did lock when open ...

But they both worked fine with I gave the car over to the body shop. They said "sorry! can't remember how it went ..."

The locks are on the right sides (L and R) with the weephole and the spring in the lock facing down.

I've the interior door panels off and the locks now out.

Pushing down on the rods it appears to me something is preventing the "slider" for lack of a better term, from moving up and down. The plate the rods attach to, which sits on the back of the inside of the doorframe, right by the latching mechanism.

I've tried everything I can think of.

Is there some screw or rivet or something wierd that is blocking the plate from sliding down to lock, and up to unlock?

What am I missing here?? Both sides have the identical problem.

I feel sooooooo dumb not being able to see the fix!!!!

Help!

[ktm]

The doors will not lock with the doors open. It is how they are designed. It took me a little while to figure that one out, and then I read it on here that it is how they are designed. One say of not locking your keys in the car.

[Montezuma]

What happens when you use the key?

[ktm]

Nope, won't lock with the key when the doors are open. The little bar that flips down to lock tumbler is interrupted. When the doors are closed the tumbler is rotated slightly and this allows the doors to lock.

[a7dz]

The latch assembly is gummed up. You need to take the three screws out of the door that hold the assembly in that latches the doors closed pull the assembly out of the door clean and lube all the pivot points. Just did it to my 70 and they work very nice now. Would not lock at all before.

[Curtis240Z]

The doors won't lock when open or partially open with the key nor the interior knob. The door needs to be fully latched before you can lock it. The most common problem after painting is using new door weatherseals that prevent the door from closing all the way.

You can test your lock mechanism with the door open by rotating the lock mechanism on your door, until it clicks over twice. If your lock works then you either need to adjust the striker plate or close the door harder.

[Mr Camouflage]

Sounds like you need to find the 'how to adjust your door locks' article and spend an afternoon with the door cards off adjusting the locking mechanism.

[Kerrigan]

I've the doorcards off and can't see what is blocking the movement of the locking plate.

I'm going to try the "short screw" approach and see if a screw is blocking both sides. The key tries to move the linkage but it won't. Locks work fine out of the car. Does the top frame and the window have to come out to remove the entire device, rods and all?

[beandip]

Nope, won't lock with the key when the doors are open. The little bar that flips down to lock tumbler is interrupted. When the doors are closed the tumbler is rotated slightly and this allows the doors to lock.

Read KTM's post again. These locks are designed NOT to lock when the door is open. To test your locks , open the door and trip the latch as if the door is closed and try the key. If the key will not lock it, then check on how the lock is connected to the linkage. Don't forget to reset the latch before closing the door. You cannot lock these doors from the out side with out a key. Gary

[Kerrigan]

Problem solved!

It was a combination of the short screw being in the wrong hole, and the inside and outside door handle rods being too tight. They need slack for the lock to work.

Thank you eveyone for your help. Now if I can just fix the gas gauge .... :-)