280 Z Non Locking Driver Door

[Redwing]

I've had problems with the driver side door locking me out ever since I got RedBird.  Last week it got worse, and would not lock using key to secure RB when leaving her.

That made it impossible for me to go anywhere, I do not leave her unlocked.  Plus, the alignment of the door was such that it would not completely close.

My neighbor, who happens to be the one who painted RB at the body shop, came over Saturday to look at it.  He pulled the whole door locking mechanism apart looking for the problem. What he found was the tiny spring tensioner was broken, and only a tiny piece was left.  And that is the problem.  

But he fiddled and lubricated every part in the locking mechanism, making it all work easier.  After putting it back together, the door will now lock.  It automatically locks, shutting me out once again.  That I can live with.  It was the non locking when leaving RB that I could not live with, which is working now.

So my question is, does anyone know if that little spring tensioner can be replaced?  Or does the whole locking assembly have to be replaced to correct this?

As always, thank each of you for your helpful information in advance.

Jai   

 

[S30Driver]

Not sure what you mean by spring tensioner Jai.  Are you referring to the piece on the end of the lock assembly that turns with the key and connects to the door mechanism?

Also, you do not need to use the key to lock the door, if you push down the lock pull at the top of the door & then hold the door handle up as you close the door, it should lock.  I always do this to save the wear & tear on the lock and the key.  Just don't leave the keys in the car when you do this. 

[SteveJ]

Yes, the spring can be replaced. I have done it in my 260Z. Your neighbor found all of the problems I was describing. The door lock needed to be cleaned & lubed, and a new spring needs to go in to prevent the "auto-locking".

I have a door lock on lying on the garage floor. I'm working late, but I might be able to remember to take a photo of it.

Edited February 1, 2016 by SteveJ

[CanTechZ]

1 hour ago, S30Driver said:

 

Also, you do not need to use the key to lock the door, if you push down the lock pull at the top of the door & then hold the door handle up as you close the door, it should lock.  I always do this to save the wear & tear on the lock and the key.  Just don't leave the keys in the car when you do this. 

You got me wondering about this. On my 240 I have to use the key to lock the door from the outside. I did some checking about this by reading the various owners manuals found on http://www.xenonzcar.com/s30/ownersmanuals.html and it seems this feature was added for the 1977 280Z.

Here are the pages from the 1977 & 1976 owners manuals:

[Redwing]

S10 driver  -  I do not know what you describe.   Since this little wire was broken off except for about a 1/2 inch piece still attached,

never having seen it, I cannot relate it to a key or where it goes.  Michael called this little wire the spring tensioner.  It is not the main

spring that lays flat and is wound around and around.  I do not have to do any gymnastics to lock the door now, it automatically locks

100% of the time.

Steve  - I'm not sure if the wound flat spring is what you describe or the tiny wire tensioner, attached in the door itself..   Michael said

that really the old lock needs to be replaced, not just the wire spring tensioner.  But for now it locks.And I can get out of the car.  It is

a PITA but workable.  I can deal with that for now.

 

Thanks guys,

Jai

[SteveJ]

I believe the part is NLA. ZCarSource has them for $230, so used isn't a viable option for you. The small tension spring that keeps the door from locking itself does break. It's not too difficult to replace it. The time consuming part is in taking the door apart to get to the door lock. 

[Redwing]

CanTechZ,

You are correct.  My 1976 Z locks like the 240.  Thank you for sending the diagrams.  I always liked that with my

1971 Redwing too, cannot lock key in the car.  

 

Steve, 

You got that exactly right.  Will be interested in seeing a photo with the tensioner spring in place. 

Is the locking mechanism is specific to the car years?  Thank you.

Edited February 1, 2016 by Redwing

[SteveJ]

My fix was not a drop-in replacement. I dug through my collection of springs to find one that could work. It doesn't take too much tension to keep the car from locking automatically when the doors close. 

The change in the door lock was in 77. The 75 and 76 door locks operate like the early Zs.

[Redwing]

Are you saying that you have the spring tensioner that will work in my RB?

Thank you...

[SteveJ]

I said I have a collection of springs, and I found one that would keep the door from locking when it's not supposed to lock.

[Redwing]

Sorry... thank you.

[ramsesosirus]

On 2/1/2016 at 10:17 AM, CanTechZ said:

You got me wondering about this. On my 240 I have to use the key to lock the door from the outside. I did some checking about this by reading the various owners manuals found on http://www.xenonzcar.com/s30/ownersmanuals.html and it seems this feature was added for the 1977 280Z.

Here are the pages from the 1977 & 1976 owners manuals:

Wow this is interesting, I'll have to try it!  i've never been able to lock my doors without using the key from the outside.  Which is actually kind of nice, not being able to lock your key in the car.  I can push the lock pegs down, from the inside, IF the door is closed.  If the door is open, the lock pegs won't go down.  Cool piece of info for sure!