Hello,
It recently came to my attention my key will lock my car but it will not unlock it. I am able to lock and unlock my car using the remote and switch inside the car. I was advised the likely problem is with the door lock actuator or the problem could be with the key cylinder.
When I was told it would be several days before the GM dealer in my community would be able to look at my car and I learned the dealer does not have an actuator or key cylinder in stock I decided to try to resolve the problem myself in an effort to save time and money.
I first took the door panel off and eliminated the key cylinder as the source of the problem. Next I went to a wrecking yard and purchased an actuator guaranteed for 30 days for 25 cents on the dollar compared to the price of a new actuator.
I was able to easily remove the old actuator by unbolting it from the door shell and turning it in 4 different directions to unhook the 4 linkage rods that are attached to actuator. I struggled all afternoon to get 3 of the 4 rods hooked to the actuator and it reattached to the door shell. I have yet to get the fourth rod connected which is the lock control that works the pin that goes up and down that sticks up through the door panel. I also do not have the rod that goes to the key cylinder hooked correctly and as a result it bins and the key cylinder will not turn freely. In the exchange I am not able to lock or unlock my car using the inside switch but I can lock the car with the key or remote.
My problem is with not being able to see what I am doing when trying to work in the door panel and having reference to how the lock assembly goes together. I was able to get the key to unlock the car several times by jiggling around on the replacement actuator and rod going to the cylinder but now it does not seem to work.
Any help would be appreciated.
