DOOR Lock inoperative

[captbob]

The driver's side door lock is inoperative on my 1970 BUG. I had a new key made which works on the passenger side but not on the driver's side.
The push-pull Mechanism moves a little but will not engage the lock. The door opens and closes just fine. I have taken off the inner door cover but do not see an acess point to get to the lock. How to fix this? Thanks for your help

[stevethefolkie]

Hey Capt' -

First off - did the same key ever open both doors? It's possible that one or the other door was replaced OR the lock was replaced at some point.

If I recall correctly (note, caveat, it's been a few years!) - you can reach up and feel for the tumbler - it's held on by a "U" shaped spring clip - which you yank off (if memory serves, the moment following it letting go is occupied by the utternace of a stream of colorful metaphores and the loss of blood from the backside of your hand) -

IF the lock works with the mushroom button on the door it's likely that the lock is fine, the key is wrong (or the tumblers are rusted) - you might try flooding the tumblers with penetrating oil and then try working the key in the lock to see if it'll free up - failing that - unscrew the knob, remove the tumblers and take them to a locksmith with your new key - they should be able to reset the tumblers to the key profile -

Best of luck - and keep some iodine handy ...

Steve