How to Fix Door Locking Mechanism
 

Got a 1982 Pickup with the passenger side door that stays locked. I pulled the panel off (a real pain since the door was closed) and saw that there is a lever/piece that blocks the locking mechanism from unlocking. If that that pushed down, the door can unlock and then open. I have found a few forum posts about newer model trucks (late 80's and 90's) having a problem with a spring breaking and replacing the spring fixed the problem. However, their mechanism does not look the same as mine. I also looked in the bottom of the door and did not find a broken spring there or any spring hanging from the mechanism. I would rather not pull the panel off the the other door to compare (to me panels never feel the same/rattle after removal) and was hoping if any body came across this problem. I don't know if I need to install a spring to keep the biding lever out of the way, or what has happened.

Attached are two pictures of the door mechanism unlocked and then locked with the lever that is binding the mechanism in the way of unlocking the door. Hope my descriptions make sense.
https://cimg8.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.yot...df323405cd.jpg
Unlocked position with the lever not binding the locking/unlocking mechanism.
https://cimg0.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.yot...b80f0fdffa.jpg
1 - Is the part of the mechanism that is keeping the door from unlocking. If this is pushed down and out of the way, you can pull up on the lock tab ("2" is part of the lock/unlock tab) and the door unlocks. However, without pushing down on "1", number "2" cannot move and the door remains locked.

I forgot to add, the number "1" binding lever is spring loaded to move upwards - which causes the binding. Don't know why that is.

I think if you follow the large rod on the left of your picture to the top end you should find that it's threaded for adjustment, shorten it up a little and you should be golden if I'm on the right track.

Okay, thanks for the info. I will look this over this week when I get a chance.

Now this is my luck. I shortened up the rod to the point where it does not bind - which was a substantial amount adjusting - but at a cost. At this adjustment, the outdoor handle runs out of travel space (the handle is all the way up with no more room to move). The door will now only open from the inside. That is a much better improvement than perpetually locked, of course. I wonder if that slot on that rod is too worn creating this problem. Anybody know where I can get that or the door lock assembly? Or am I doing something wrong here...

For anyone wondering, I was able to fix this issue by first making adjustments as recommended and by cleaning and soaking the locking mechanism in parts cleaner to loosen everything up. After that, everything seems to be working fine. Before doing this, I did look up parts to replace the locking mechanism and apparently there is a company that makes them. I won't vouch for their quality, but here is a link:

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Front-Right...n/282896763577

i actually had good luck with some of the parts coming out of Thailand when I had my 81 Trekker