Hello, I have just recently purchased a 1996 dodge neon, 2 door. I am having a problem with the driver's side door lock, and I want to fix it myself. Unfortunately I am not too familiar with fixing cars so I have a few questions about this. I can't unlock the door. When I turn the key, it turns all the way, and I can hear it trying to work, but it doesn't unlock.

How do I take the door panel off, to check out the problem? A friend told me that something may be loose. Does anyone know where I can find a diagram of the locking mechanism? Does anyone have any suggestions on what the problem is, and how I can fix it?

Your help is greatly appreciated.

 

If it turns all the way around, you need a new lock cylinder. Buy a haynes or chilton, it is great for basice repairs and only like $15.

 

Yes, it turns as if it were unlocking, and I can hear what seems to be springs. It just doesn't unlock. Thank you, I'm glad it's not a large repair job. I was worried I'd have to get new locks installed.

 

ok, to get the door off, there are 2 screws. One of them is behind the handle (pull the handle inside to unscrew it), and it should be a phillips-head screw. The other is in the little crevace in the panel and it is a torque-type screw (hex?). After you get those out, take a flat-head screwdriver and wrap it in some cloth or something so you don't scratch the paint around the panel and slowly start prying it apart. Be careful, though, because once it comes off, you need to hold it so you don't break the rod holding the lock on the inside (you'll see it when the door comes off, because it's still attached). Un-attach this rod and lift the door out of the window slit that it's sitting in, and you have successfully removed your door panel. After that, I'd inspect everything inside for anything that looks loose, broken, or generally out of place...

Hope that helped!

 

Wow, that helped immensely!!! Thank you for describing it so well for me. I doubt I'll have any problems with getting the panel off now. That was great help!