1986 4runner DLX
I feel like this should be a pretty simple job but I'm stuck. The lock mechanism will not unlatch the door using either the inside or outside door handle because the little lever does not travel far enough. The only way to get the door open is to reach into the door and operate the lever on the mechanism by hand, or by pulling/pushing on the respective connecting rod to get the lever to travel down all the way. see the two photos if this doesnt make sense.

You would think I just need to adjust the position of the inside and outside handles to give the connecting rods more "reach", so to speak. but there is no adjustment left on the outside handle, and the inside handle is not adjustable on 1986 models. Is there a way to adjust the lock mechanism itself?


the lock mechanism inside the driver's door

while operating outside handle. notice the limited travel of the part on the lock mechanism that the connecting rod attaches to, compared to the first photo. I can open the door by pushing down on that lever.

 

I don't think that's the same issue I had a few years ago, but I ended up having to shorten that little spring by a couple of loops and redoing the end that clips on. The spring was just worn out. Again, I don't think it's the same issue, but it was just a thought. You may be better off ignoring me!

 

Is the lever on the latch be bent downward? Maybe if it was bent up a bit then the rod would have more range.

 

hadn't thought of that. I might be able to bend that little tab down so that it engages earlier in its range of motion. I will try that

 

Did you try it? Did it work? Something else to fix it?

 

Thank you to all who have replied. I did try bending the tab down and it still does not engage enough to unlatch. Also, i discovered the problem with trying this is that the tab now interferes with the inside lock mechanism which is the little switch part on the bottom. When you push down on the lock tab on the inside of the door, that switch pulls the lever to the left to disengage it from the latch mechanism. You can see in the second photo how with the tab bent down like i did, it would not be able to swing back into place when the door lock tab is pulled back up, meaning you'd never be able to unlock the door. So that is not really a solution. Maybe i just need to find a replacement for this whole assembly. everything is riveted together so I cannot disassemble it further than this.

 

I logged to find a solution to my quirky driver's door latch for 88 pickup. I will start new thread..However. . .

I encountered this problem 10 years ago. My temporary solution was to install a piece of of coat hangar at the upper end of the oval slot on the rod to the outside handle (at your ring finger in the upper pic). It worked OK until another problem developed.

How did you solve it?

 

It happens in my 87 4Runner on occasion. Now, when I lube up the locks and window regulator, I just bend the connecting rods a touch to "shorten" them up. Just a little touch, nothing major. It seems to work for me, anyway.

Pat☺

 

My door lock problems are often the plastic connectors cracking and breaking. Lubrication on all the rotating joints is important. I clean them with a graphite spray.