Pwr. Door lock does not lock all the way electrically
 

Hey,
I have a '89 Formula and am having a problem with the drivers side door lock. If I lock the door manually (with the key or by pushing the lock button back) it locks fine. But if I push the (electric) lock button the passanger door locks fine, but the drivers side does not. The switch moves about halfway and does not lock the door. Help!

I think either the linkage needs lubed up, or the lock motor might be going bad.

Any help would be appriciated.

Ben

Itz the power lock actuator( I know I spelled that wrong)

Lookin at around 50.00 a side.

Peace

Grease the linkage with some white lithuim grease. 1st thing I had to do to my 'bird when I got it 6 years ago. While you've got the door panel off,,, (if you have power windows) do you windows a favour & grease it's tracks... grease only lasts so long (think of how often you grease.. well, supposed to anyways.. your steering linkage parts as compared to anything else.. granted steering is more stressed but, ya know...)

Deadbird is on the money. My power locks did as you describe when I first purchased my car. I thoroughly cleaned the mechanisms before using white grease. Now all works as intended--including the power windows which function a bit more quickly.

JamesC

I just hosed mine down with WD40. Been working for years now.

While you have the panel off, check your side mirror (I'm sure you know if its loose though) go ahead and tighten it :)
I dunno, every time I read something like this I have to say it cause well, those things come off pretty quickly when there loose at all. :)

mine does this too on the passenger side.. i took of the door panel when installing my window tinting, and soaked the mechanism first with silicon stuff, then i found some white lithuim grease, and i sprayed it with that. worked 100% better UNTIL i put the door panel back on, then it stoped working again, turned out that there is a piece of foam on the door panel that rest against the linkage for the door lock. and i THINK that is causing it to screw up somehow, if u take off the door panel u will see what im talkng about.. but this is only if lubing the mechanism doesn't work...