Door Locks

Sorry if this is a stupid question but, did you try the door locks with the door closed?

On the Pantera, the door lock won't work with the door open, only with the door closed...

Ha. Not a stupid question. I didn't recalibrate my thinking to 1974. All good.

I'm having the same problem with my '72. Both doors won't lock by pushing/pulling the button. The locks also seem to be jammed when using a key to lock the doors. There is also a minor gap in the door jam when shut. Not sure if this is a related issue. Any suggestions?

If the door is not shutting all the way the lock won't work. The gap you speak of sounds like the door isn't shutting completely. I would start there...

Thanks, that's what I was guessing. The doors have never closed perfectly since I purchased the car and nor have the locks worked. I adjusted the striker plates which helped close the gap but it's still not perfect. I'm guessing the doors will need to be removed and re-hung in order to close properly.

With the door open, manually move the arm that hits the striker at the end of the door. Move it to simulate closing the door. It should click TWO times. At that point the door lock should work. This test is done with the door opened at all times. You are just simulating closing the door. Let us know the results...

quote:

With the door open, manually move the arm that hits the striker at the end of the door. Move it to simulate closing the door. It should click TWO times.

Don't forget to release the door latch (by pulling the inside door handle) before closing the door.

John

quote:

Don't forget to release the door latch (by pulling the inside door handle) before closing the door.

LOL... Good point John!

Had one Pantera in that did this. There are a couple of pieces in the latch/lock that are plastic or die-cast pot metal and can crack, but it wasn't that. Turned out to be loose staking of one part of the lock mechanism. This is NOT the outside pull handle & cup, by the way. A tiny hole drilled thru the staked part and a 4-40 gr-8 screw & self-lock nut fixed the practically unobtainable latch mechanism.

So here are the results of the lock test....the passenger side does lock with the arm that hits the striker pushed down. When the door is shut however, it does not lock (assumably from the door being misaligned). The drivers side door arm only clicked once when being pushed down but did hold in the down position. Unfortunately the door did not lock. When the button was pushed down it didn't hold and would always pop back up. I'm guessing the lock is jammed or something broke...

Unscrew the lock button and push down on the rod. It may be that the lock button is screwed too far onto the rod, and is bottoming out on the door frame.

John

kidanger,

Hmmm...I thought that I recognized your car from the Fifth Avenue Show last Oct. My wife spoke with you, but I never did meet you. I have the lime green Pantera that was parked further up the same block.

John

Thanks John that did the trick and both doors lock. Now I just need to find someone to have the doors aligned....

John, yes that was me at the Fifth Avenue Show last year. I do remember briefly speaking with your wife on the morning of the show and your lime green Pantera. Still deciding if I will be doing the show this year.

Eric

Eric,

PM sent.

John