Door Locks & Misc

[AdamJ]

Okay, Got the SVO home. Glad to have it parked safe and sound.

Careful review shows quite a few things I need to address. Instead of making a bunch of posts I figured it would be better to just list them all here.

1. Both door locks are 'frozen' from the outside. It COULD be the wrong key, but the key works on the hatch.. soo. Also, the power locks will lock/unlock the passenger door, the drivers door I can't even push the lock button down, it is stuck up. Also the drivers actuator is probably gone too since I don't hear anything when using the power lock button. I need to fix this first so I can secure the car. I'm thinking about taking the door panels off and examining the mechanisms.

2. There is no 'male' seatbelt buckle on the drivers side. Is it possible for me to swap the passnegers buckle to the drivers for a short term fix, so I can drive the car. Long term, what is the best way about getting a new buckle? Will any 80s mustang male buckle work?

3. The piece of exterior trim at the top of the windshield is missing. My uncle has a body shop and I was going to see if I could get this piece from him, however I was wondering if I need any kind of 'clips' or anything asides from the trim piece, and also would any 80s mustang windshield trim piece work?

There is more I need to work on, but these are my current concerns...

Thanks in advance to those who reply.

-A New SVO Owner

[NY eric]

a little help

1. I have had similar issues with door locks. If you dont have one get a door trim puller or make one. you will save thoes valuable doors that way. Your actuator is probably gone on the driverside. It is easiest to drill out the large poprivit and go the the autostore and get a new one. The door lock actuators are the same through thoes years in all mustangs. The passenger side may have a bad key cylinder. you wont know untill you get the driverside free and see if it works. and there is always the possibility some itiot only changed both or only one door lock.

3. the exterior trim is available i just bought this from texas mustang supply a few months ago.

2. good luck on the seat belt i have no idea. i would assume yes though.

[AdamJ]

Regarding the Door-Trim puller, is this something I can get from Ford? I've never removed these door panels so Im going at it blindly.

Also, I see the windshield trim piece on TMP website, do you know if the clips come with it? I just checked and I only have 3 of the 5 clips that hold that on.

[svo375]

i have just finished doing the door lock actuator my mustang. It's amazing how easy it is with the right tools! the biggest problem i had was getting the right rivet and a rivet gun to install it. i ended up borrowing a friends compressor and an air rivet gun from work. I almost herneated myself with the hand rivet gun. you mentioned you have an uncle with a body shop, he should have the power tools to install the rivet for the actuator.

you should be able to get the trim puller from any automotive store. it basically looks like a wide flat screwdriver with the flat part split in a v.

the window trim is standard mustang. you can get the clips from any windshield shop, i'm sure there's other places but that's where i ended up getting mine. i'm not sure but i think the grey was unique to the svo so, i'm not sure if we can still get them in gray of they will have to be painted. If anyone has more info on the trim i would appreciate it as well. i will have to replace mine soon..

[Pat_in_L.A.]

Originally posted by AdamJ
Regarding the Door-Trim puller, is this something I can get from Ford?

It's an available tool from any of the popular tool trucks (Snap-On, Mac, Matco, etc.)

Actually, the Ford shop manual gives directions on making your own tool. Take a 1/8" piece of sheet metal 2" wide and 6-8" long. Cut a 3/8" wide slot by 1/2" deep down the center at one end. Grind an angle at that end(like a gasket scraper). Wrap a token bit of electrical tape over it so as to prevent scratching up the paint.

VOILA! a Door panel tool!

[AdamJ]

Thanks again, Im going to dig into the doors sometime this week and we will see how it goes.

[AdamJ]

Ok, making progress.

I got a door trim puller tool and got the door panels off. I drilled out the actuator rivet and removed the actuator and now I can lock and unlock the doors from the inside. However, sure enough the keys do not function from the outside.

It looks like Ill need to replace both the key cylinders. Since I had the drivers door apart I tried to remove it and couldn't figure it out.

I disconnected a rod that went from the cylinder to the latch mechanism. Then I noticed a thin sheet-metal piece that looked like some kind of retainer? I tried tugging on it a little from outside the door but not much happened.

How do I get this thing out?

(Also: My Chilton's manual isn't much help. The instructions don't make much sence...

1. Remove the door trim panel and watershield. DONE

2. Remove the clip attaching the lock cylinder rod-to-lock cylinder. WTF?

3. Pry the lock cylinder out of the slot in the door.

Any time I start prying things all hell breaks loose so I wanted to run this by you all before I started a war.)