The last week or so ive been having trouble with the drivers side lock. When the keys in the lock it feels like the key/barrel is grinding when the key is turned. Now the key wont turn at all so the car has to be unlocked via the passenger door.

Im hoping it fixable as I dont fancy changing the locks. Any ideas anyone?

Possibly needs some WD40/other spray lubricant from the inside to loosen things up a bit?

probably cr4p in there, a good graphite grease is the best bet - but you could spray a penetrating oil in there first, to give it a clear out

So spray wd40/penetrating oil in from the outside or via the back of the lock??

spray it from the outside of the car, after that like marc said a good graphite grease, halfords should do a small pack of this.

you are lucky, I cant even lock mine. . . .

Going to give this a try in a minute with some WD40. Stu, you still not got your locks sorted?

I can't lock my car with either door lock from the outside.... cos some muppet cable tied the robs that were flapping about inside together

my bad. Normally use my remote but when I don't want the alarm on its a pain.

Well ive just been out to sort the lock and guess what? the key turned straight away Ive added a bit of WD40 as the lock felt dry, must have frozen up with this weather.

Frozen

Simondo swapped me the locks and key for an oil filter so I have some I just have to decide whether I want to fit them or an alarm. . .

I really need to get an alarm, would save having to use a key to open the old girl up.

My locks seem not too bad but i do have to get in one side and shove the other door to open it

The pillar less doors are a pain as well. when I close the doors I have to hold the glass otherwise the door shuts and the glass stays on the outside of the frozen rubber/plastic trim.

Adjust the window stoppers Darren

Door card off, see the big rubber stoppers inside the door....lower those a tad See the thread Lethagized has just posted in the guides section.

WD40 in the lock should always help, as it displaces water, and it helps defrost ice. So ice turns to water, which turns into...well, I dunno, it vanishes

door lock - is the little flap bit for the key lock still there or has it come off......

I don't have any key holes on the doors. (got one on the boot though just incase)

Remote entry winner.

Its still there.

The locks been fine since I sprayed some WD40 in

Ordering an alarm soon so wont have to worry about using the key in the lock.

Hughie, Shutting the door is fine in all other weather conditions, its just the freezing weather that caused the glass out problem.

Don't know if the BJ locks are the same as yours, but if they are, I have a complete lockset including ignition switch for sale. I took them off because the ECU which was programmed to go with that key went down, so I fitted a secondhand ECU and the locks to go with it.

If any of these items are of any use to you, a fiver plus p&p would do. I have some other bits for sale as well, see my post in for sale (no longer a 323 owner, sob!).

Norman Burr

My window does the same in this cold weather. I think it's down to the rubber frame going hard in the frost. I just put the window down a bit and back up and it seals ok. Don't have any trouble when the weather's warm.