Door Lock wire modification

Door Lock wire modification

Author
Discussion

greymrj

Original Poster:

3,316 posts

203 months

Wednesday 25th June 2008
quotequote all
Just before SCH I was refitting the door panels and I had a pain of a job getting the passengers door release to adjust properly, then the wire used to pull the lock snapped off ******. I gather from talking to other owners that this door lock pull system isn't exactly a new problem. I came up with a simple solution which allows adjustment and actually fits better than the original and it has been suggested I share it with others. Take one suitably sized 'R' pin and cut a connector out of one of those blocks of plastic covered wiring connectors ......(now lets see if I have got this posting of images sorted?)

mep12345

2,061 posts

200 months

Friday 27th June 2008
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Tip Top idea. I think I'll do that next time the door cards are off - it was a T**t to reconnect last time

Mark

clarenceboddiger

1,398 posts

214 months

Friday 27th June 2008
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Great idea Richard I will use that when the time comes.

Gerald-TVR

4,896 posts

196 months

Monday 14th July 2008
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Richard I have asked that this is made a FAQ, hope you dont mind

greymrj

Original Poster:

3,316 posts

203 months

Tuesday 15th July 2008
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No problem Norman, glad it is of use. I only wish I had used a nice shiny new connection block now!

clarenceboddiger

1,398 posts

214 months

Wednesday 16th July 2008
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greymrj said:
No problem Norman, glad it is of use. I only wish I had used a nice shiny new connection block now!
Admit it Norman you used rusty screws so they wouldn't come undone.
Sorry , Richard

Edited by clarenceboddiger on Thursday 17th July 12:32

Gerald-TVR

4,896 posts

196 months

Wednesday 16th July 2008
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Not me Ken 'twas Richard

Julesprivate

871 posts

142 months

Sunday 7th October 2012
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Sorry t revive an old thread but can anyone tell me precisely where this attaches? I never did manage to figure out where to reconnect the interior door release cable to, so I'm still using my piece of string to let me out.

The wire snapped a little when I tried to straighten it so I'll probably do this mod but still can't figure out where to connect it to on the rear latch.

Surely the handle pulls in a horizontal direction but the latch needs a vertical lift to open??

phillpot

17,105 posts

182 months

Monday 8th October 2012
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There should be three attachment points on the lock mechanisn.

the link rod from the outside handle lifts vetically.

the link rod from the lock button moves a mechanism that blocks the movement of that one to lock the door.

the third one is operated by the cable from the interior door release and works in a horizontal plane.


A picture is probably worth a thousand words here but I've not got a spare to photograph and I ain't taking mine to pieces !

ETA found a picture...........



Edited by phillpot on Monday 8th October 07:00

Scoobimax

1,892 posts

200 months

Monday 8th October 2012
quotequote all
Really useful thread - thanks for the revival.

Mine snapped late last year, fixed earlier this year with a cheap wire coat hanger but it's lightly heavier gauge than the outgoing wire. Luckily I retained the old and can now hopeully fix it like this.

Cheers,

Max

Oldred_V8S

3,714 posts

237 months

Monday 8th October 2012
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Really good idea, now watch Phillpot make it out of stainless rofl

greymrj

Original Poster:

3,316 posts

203 months

Monday 8th October 2012
quotequote all
Glad that 'engineering solution' (bodge is such a nasty word!) is still coming in useful. Looking back at the pic I used a nice R pin but a rather nasty connector, didnt I? It was a bit of a rush. Next time I have the door off I will try to find a stainless connector!!!

Julesprivate

871 posts

142 months

Monday 8th October 2012
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Thanks guys, I finally got around to ordering a pair of MX5 mirrors (found a brand new old stock pair in almost the right colour) so when they arrive I'll pop the card off again and take another look for that third connector.

I don't have a lock button on mine (don't think the S1s have them) but there is a vertical rod to the exterior handle, another vertical rod to the key/lock so I just need to look around now for the horizontal one for the interior release... I am guessing it's in the bottom right hand corner as I look at the back of the mechanism inside the door.

S2Mike

3,065 posts

149 months

Tuesday 9th October 2012
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As I am currently running with no door cards, if it helps I could get a photo of the door lock in place, either side, with "emergency string" attached.
Let me know.

Julesprivate

871 posts

142 months

Tuesday 9th October 2012
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I suspect your emergency string is attached where mine is - to the rod for the external handle (left hand side of the mechanism when viewed through door skin).

If you can get a good shot of the whole latch inside the door I'd be VERY grateful, that way I can see if I can spot the hole for the horizontal rod to attach to.

Feeling a whole lot more positive about the situation now, especially knowing it won't fail thw MOT (due next month) on that. Now I just need to do the steering UJ and I think it's all set..

I won't be taking the cards off again now until next month as I will do the MX5 mirrors at the same time and need access to a workshop for that as the weather isn't playing nice. Can't get into my mate's workshop until then as he broke his racing car again and we need to rebuild the front end (again) so it's in the way LOL.

S2Mike

3,065 posts

149 months

Tuesday 9th October 2012
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From your description I believe you are talking drivers door, I will attempt to get photo tonight, and upload.
If pistonheads website is working, unlike last night.

S2Mike

3,065 posts

149 months

Tuesday 9th October 2012
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As promised Jules

Unlocked position
Top left is the key lock mechanism, when locked this moves down, so the lower bottom left connection is blocked from being lifted.
Bottom Left is the outside Handle connection, stuck in the partially lifted position, should be lower to clear the locking part.
Top right ( fuzzy ) is the inside lock button connection with no rod connected.
Hidden bottom right is the inside handle door release.
.

Top right, The inside button lock connection, without a rod fitted.
Bottom right the inner door release connection.

Slightly better view of the inner door release connection, that has no rod on it but pulls towards the camera position to open the door.
Hope this makes sense!

Julesprivate

871 posts

142 months

Tuesday 9th October 2012
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Dude!

That's AWESOME. Thanks so much, I owe you a beer or two!

foot2firewall

198 posts

156 months

Wednesday 8th July 2015
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It always makes me smile when a search comes up with a 'known problem' like the wire that connects the lock mechanism to the interior door handle being prone to snapping, which is exactly what has just happened to me. Luckily there are a few 'familiar' faces who contributed to this thread first and second time round.

Is there any reason that the wire from the lock to the interior door handle is solid or can I replace it with a stranded wire as it looks to me like a spring in the door lock mechanism pulls the wire back once the interior door handle is released, is that correct?

greymrj

Original Poster:

3,316 posts

203 months

Wednesday 8th July 2015
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In the case of door locks a solid wire can be better purely because a flexible wire might just catch in the window mech or sag enough to pull the door lock. I would say that in practice on the S this is highly unlikely. Would a flexible wire make it harder to adjust so the desired amount of 'pull' at the interior handle just released the lock? Possibly.
'My' mod just saved the hassle of changing the wire when only the little bit at the end wears through.
I did note that Car Builder Solutions now include this tip in their catalogue!
Incidentally, if anyone did want to change the whole wire, B&Q stock suitable stiff wire.