1st generation Tacoma door will not unlock- *SOLVED*

I offered up this video to help someone with a door that wouldn't unlock and was told it should be sticked, so decided to start a thread to have it stickied.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CcYaJKlhX5s

 

@tcBob- I offered this video to someone having a door that wouldn't unlock, thought it was a great find and should be stickied, so I made a thread and will leave it to your discretion.

 

great vid @Markcal
been having the same issue with my taco now i can fix it!
thanks.

 

A sticky
Great video.

 

Mine is starting to stick. I don't think its the spring I think the actual locking mechanism. I have to spray a little WD-40 in there once every few months to get it to unlock.

 

i have to hold the key open in the lock and pull the handle at the same time.
the 20 year old ignition is my concern

 

I think the door lock spring broke as mentioned in video will cause, what you're experiencing.
Keep your key rings a light as possible. Saves on wearing of key tumbler

 

try some thing with a light lube WD 40 will wash away any lube ,maybe a gun oil spray or dry lube ~~OBT~~

 

Graphite lock spray works good to.

 

I like that stuff too, except on of my door locks is "squishy" going in the lock direction. Luckily unlocking it is trouble free and that's the important one, but it seems that it's more sticky after using the spray. Real solution as usual is probably take it apart and see what's going on - may likely have nothing to do with the spray. I'll continue to keep using it since it really has made locks easier to turn in every other application I've used it in so far.

 

I just watched the video twice--and other than seeing the broken spring--I pretty much understand.--and Thanks to the O/Poster!
Mine won't 'release' for want of a better word=--when I pull up on the outside handle, unless I really 'jerk' the door. Looks like the whole latch/lock is all one assembly is one piece.
Guess I'll have to pull my door panel apart--just didn't want to take a chance on breaking those little plastic push clips and I know that's going to happen.
Like to find one in a junk yard first and pull it apart--so I could see inside.

just my ramblin'
glenn

 

Following up on my success--or lack of..I pulled mine apart yesterday afternoon. ('02 Tacoma) Mine is a little different than the video, but same overall operation. I have no return spring--mine has power door locks/windows--so the little electric motor is built into the latch assembly (duh-)mine--the little 'slide linkages' are just flat worn out--it seems. There are eblongated slide channels that this pin rides in--I can see they is much 'travel' before it activates or pulls the little latch up. The slide is worn more than normal and sloppy. Ok--went by the Toyota dealer yesterday, got them to print me off a diagram/breakdown of the inner door workings, so I knew what was what.
Asked about price/availability--"Oh, about $325 or so"--I almost fell out. Tried several junkyards in the area--no Tacoma's anywhere--but I still see a lot of the on the street--so folks much still be buzzing around in them....Right now--I just stuck the inner panel back in place, until I can decide what to do about it...
**.Just spent $400 on motor work--the truck is 15 years old, but in otherwise, VGC--I have a feeling it is just going to start nickel/diming me to death...Luckily--I'm retired and have other vehicles, but this is my main hauler....

***Anyone have one of these door-latch assemblies (drivers side) stuck away they'd want to sell?++

Thanks for listening to my tale of woe....

glenn

 

Crickits...........................

 

You can probably look for a complete door assembly at a junkyard or on Craigslist and sell the parts you don't use to keep the cost low. Can the tumbler be separated from the electronic actuator so you can use your original key?

 

*******************************************

Just tried to post a WTB thingie in the classifieds--realized I couldn't unless 50-post count...
Oh, well....
glenn

 

*************************************
It is a separate part already--part of the outside door handle....No luck on local junk yards--I checked yesterday. C/L dead end also-

 

Bummer. CL's always got a couple doors around here. I was at a dismantled today that quoted me $200-$350 for whole doors.

 

I'm still searching, but no luck so far--right now I just temporarily 'hung' the inner door panel back up w/ some tape so I could drive it....

Had another thought yesterday morn--I work P/T for a national auto parts store--called my boss and he started researching it--seems like an aftermarket company (Dorman) makes a lot of accessory parts like this--see what he can find out...
He'll let me know something Monday--
Feel like I'm on this--

glenn

 

Did A lot of research, and was finally able to decipher that Dorman does makes the left -hand side door latch/electric activator. one-direct OEM replacement, but not without some hassle-(websites won't reference each other, or just dies out)-but that's ok...

.Ordered one yesterday thru my little P/T job (Federated Auto Parts)-and will see how it looks/works out.

At 1/2 price from Toyota, I can deal with that a lOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOt better.......
glenn

 

If it doesn't work out, there's recyclers in rancho Cordova cali.they go by make and have parts that local places dont.might be worth some Google time.but the shipping might suck.