Door lock problem

[florida2002m3]

Picked up a 2004 CTT last week. Of course it has a slew of problems, some can wait, but this problem is high priority.

I have spent about 8 hours (of company time) reading through similar problem posts, but havent found a post with the same symptoms and a confirmed solution at the end.

Im not sure if this problem just started, or if I didnt notice it over the first week of ownership. The driver door will not lock.

Symptoms:

Key FOB button, two horn pumps, two light flashes, alarm is armed, all doors lock but drivers door, I can hear the actuator on that door.

Central locking on armrest, hear all actuators, including driver door, all doors lock but drivers door

Key in door, two horn pumps, two light flashes, alarm is armed, all doors lock but drivers door

After playing with the key in the door, my key fob then stopped working all together, until I used the central locking (VERY weird), now it works as fine as it did this morning.

I have tried all of the COMFORT setting (all, single door, etc.) same results

I removed the grommet on the door and moved the red plastic doohickey to the left, no actuator noise or anything, moved it to the right, still nothing. I did notice that there was no spring action, I read in another post that there was an issue with a broken spring, is the doohickey supposed to spring back to the central location? Can anyone confirm this?

I also have an air suspension faulty, and then a low beam actuator?? error come up recently. Ive read that a low battery can cause all sorts of randomly odd havoc. So I checked the battery voltage with a multimeter under the hood and it read 12.4v, Im assuming this is normal for a non running car with the door open.

I appreciate any help you guys can offer!!! Im sure I will have lots of posts over the first few months.

[Stephtell]

Battery could be wonky even if it does show 12.4 volts....check the date if you can? Might be on it's way out.

As for the lock, not too hard to take apart to have a look as I've found out the hard way...

[florida2002m3]

Any DIY's for getting into the door and taking a look around?

I think I might put a charger on it tonight, and see how a fresh charge works in the AM.

[florida2002m3]

Nevermind, I found a DIY.

I forgot to mention that the interior lights do come on just fine when the door is opened, and the alarm LED's flash as normal.

Edited January 30, 2014 by florida2002m3

[florida2002m3]

Charged all night on a good trickle charger, same results with the door lock.

Im hoping its something glaringly obvious once I get the door apart.

[florida2002m3]

Got into the door, found the problem. now I need the solution.

Behind the door lock grommet, there is a red plastic lever. This lever is supposed to be attached to a metal lever about an inch south by a small hook thing.

It appears that the axis that the two levers rotate on is missing some of the spacers, so both levers kind of flop around, thus causing the hook to become detached.

Anyone know what part I need, and if so... is it a DIY, or a dealership type of thing?

[Artic99]

Hi Florida2002m3,

Just wondering if you have found a solution to the mechanical door issue that you were having? My 05 S's diriver's door handle won't open from the exterior; I suspect that the internal linkages are worn out.

Do you have the steps that you used to get to the lock? I'm hoping that you didn't have to remove the door panel, but just the plugs on the end of the door.

Thanks,

Artic99