Topic: 2 questions...

[Bodin]

I have a couple of questions...

1. When you go for an oil change they say "Oil Change and Lube"... what exactly do they lube and how would you do that?

2. The door locks on my girlfriends car, 1988 Dodge Aries(K-car), have stopped working... You can't even put the key in the drivers side of the car so you have to get in the passenger side. It seems like it is getting harder and harder everyday to unlock the door. How would I go about fixing this? Would I need a new part?

thanks in advance,
Bodin

[mrthompson]

1. "Lube" means lubricate the chassis parts, such as the ball joints, tie rod ends, etc.

2.  Though I have experience with K-cars, I cannot offer a good answer for this question.  I'm assuming that the locking actuator is very worn.  You may have to take the door apart.  You could probably get the required parts from a wrecking yard.

Others should chime in with more helpful info.

[brian]

On many cars these days, you may find that a LOT of the chassis parts are not equipped with grease fittings to lubricate them, so sometimes the "lube" part never gets done because they simply can't....

Maybe the cylinder in the lock is gone, but at that age it could be something else that's worn out I would imagine.

[barrie1]

Bodin use a Can of WD40 or something similar to spray the inside of the locks. As the car is 17 years old now the Dirt buildup is getting rather thick in the locks. Spray them with the fluid and run the key back and forth to slowly turn the tumblers. You may salvage some of them just by doing this. Try not to get any of the fluid on the paint as it will cause problems. Let us know if this helps.  

[Bodin]

Barrie thanks again for sharing your wisdom

again and again this forum has helped me through me vehicle troubles.

Thanks again,
Bodin

P.S. I got a little WD40 on the paint but I wiped it off right after

[Roadrunner]

The people on this site are like the old Avis Car Rental saying, " We try harder ".

[safristi]

Wasn't it "We are #2 !!! we try harder!!"...they need Jeff to soften up their hArD camPAIN !!!

[Roadrunner]

Darn it. Left off the first half did I?

[johngenx]

Do you NEED to lock a 1988 K-Car?

[ovr50]

Good point, John, maybe a theft would be a blessing in disguise?

[ericthejet]

All kidding aside,
Your K-car may actually have a few parts that a grease gun will fit.(tie rods and ball joints)  I belive that since about '85 most cars from Japan had sealed componets.  My 84 civic was a sealed example.  Basically higher quality parts that did not need the occasional blast from a grease gun.  

The  door lock  may have pieces of the lock cyclinders inner workings keeping you from inserting the key, or it may be very dry.  WD40 is ok put you may wish to try a thicker type of fluid for durability reasons.  I would suggest taking the inner door skin off, easier than it sounds and inspecting the parts on the inside.  You'll find small rods and plastic joints that tend to dry up and get really hard to move back and forth.(pay attention to the pivot points)  This is what your key is working against when you turn it.  You may find that a bit of TLC on the moving parts will make it a bit easier to lock/unlock the door. My old 81 Malibu needed inner door servicing every two years!

[Roadrunner]

Might be more convenient to leave the inner skins off after so when the moving parts crap out again you.......







Just kiddin'!!

[Mdxtasy]

Man...this is what I read:
All kidding aside, you may wish to try a thicker type of fluid for durability reasons.  You'll find small rods that tend to dry up and get really hard to move back and forth.(pay attention to the pivot points).  You may find that a bit of TLC on the moving parts will make it a bit easier.


What in the heck was that?

(Message edited by mdxtasy on November 21, 2004)

[barrie1]

If you have to go this far with the repair I would recommend a product called Lubriplate. Its a really slippery grease in a spray can that will stay where sprayed. Ideal for these type of repairs. Under $10.00 a can as well but I have a feeling the WD40 repair may have worked to some degree already.  

(Message edited by barrie1 on November 21, 2004)

[Roadrunner]

Md, your second last sentence is most CERTAINLY right.

[Roadrunner]

Whoops! Better get out of here, got a grandson's Select hockey game first then have to get back home for the GREY CUP! \red THE LIONS WILL ROAR IN 2004!!!!!!

[ericthejet]

Mercy, mercy pls.

[Roadrunner]

Bah! Meow cats. Argos won. BC took too many dumb penalties.
Glad our grandson's Select team won their game tho.

[safristi]

Colour your hair blue and wear an Argos Shirt.Size X small(and nuffin else!!) to the Beer Store
 
to get your drown my sorrows supplies as punishment for your AGROVATION...
 Why is MY GREY CUP..SILVER??