Driver side door lock pin jammed?

josiahg52 · 22nd May 2012, 02:06

As I was putting my driver-side (left) door panel back on after installing the lighted door handles I found that the lock pin would not go "down" to the locked position. I tried cycling the locks with the central locking button and the remote and it did not move at all. I messed with it and got it so it went down but when I remove my finger from it, it springs back up.

Now when I cycle the locks it starts to move down for a few millimeters and then a distinctive 'click' or 'pop' and then it moves back up to the original position. The door does not lock and I think this is becasue the actuator is not manipulating the lock pin as evidenced by the click/pop.

Any ideas what I am in for or ways forward? How do you even get to the assembly? I already peeled back the vapor seal but I can't really see in there well enough to know exactly what I am lookng at or should be looking for.

Thank you.

tradin1 · 22nd May 2012, 02:08

Is your door closed?

rao · 22nd May 2012, 02:17

I had a similar problem this past winter - the door would either not open or not close. It turned out there was a spring in the mechanism that had jumped out of position. It was not hard to fix once I had the mechanism out but getting it out was a PITA. Yours could be the actuator which is much more common.

josiahg52 · 22nd May 2012, 04:03

Quote:

Originally Posted by tradin1

Is your door closed?

I didn't try it with the door closed! I never thought that would make a difference but does that explain why I cannot even physically lock it?

Quote:

Originally Posted by rao

I had a similar problem this past winter - the door would either not open or not close. It turned out there was a spring in the mechanism that had jumped out of position. It was not hard to fix once I had the mechanism out but getting it out was a PITA. Yours could be the actuator which is much more common.

I do hear the actuator motor cycle and I notice the pin try to move but that doesn't mean a component on the actuator is broken, I guess. and like I said. I need to get the actuator out and take a look at it.

tradin1 · 22nd May 2012, 04:47

Quote:

Originally Posted by josiahg52

I didn't try it with the door closed! I never thought that would make a difference but does that explain why I cannot even physically lock it?

I do hear the actuator motor cycle and I notice the pin try to move but that doesn't mean a component on the actuator is broken, I guess. and like I said. I need to get the actuator out and take a look at it.

Its suppose to stay unlocked with the door open. The feature is there so you dont accidentally lock the door with the keys in the car.

Try closing your door and locking the car, i bet it locks.

josiahg52 · 22nd May 2012, 05:03

SOB, if that is what it is I am going to feel like an idiot. I was aware of such a feature but wasn't putting two and two together. smh

tradin1 · 22nd May 2012, 05:17

Quote:

Originally Posted by josiahg52

SOB, if that is what it is I am going to feel like an idiot. I was aware of such a feature but wasn't putting two and two together. smh

just kidding!

-R

josiahg52 · 22nd May 2012, 12:29

All is well with my door lock and the door went together quickly after that. It was indeed a feature of the car that was causing the behavior that I was observing. Thanks all, especially Raza, for helping me out and setting me straight. I am going to blame my current schedule, lack of sleep and the splitting headache that I had yesterday morning. Yeah, that's it.

rao · 22nd May 2012, 13:09

At least it was easy to "fix"

2-Pugs · 22nd May 2012, 14:22

Great you got it fixed!

I had a very similiar issue on one of the rear doors on my car. Since its the same mechanism on all E39's, in the end I just bought another lock mechanism off eBay for 99p. Problem solved! There must have been something up with my old lock mechanism, maybe a lazy motor or a spring out of place.