the cab door behind the driver seat is locked and refuses to open. Also the powerlocks on the car apparently do not work as well. I just bought this truck and do not know the history on it. Pulling on the handles will not open the door, either from the side, or from the inside (no outside lock). THere is no manual lock on it, just pull handles.

Do I need to remove the door panel or monkey with the lock on top near the roof?

Is this is common problem?

Thanks

 

Correct me if I'm wrong, but it sounds like your linkage that operates the latch is snapped. There is a little plastic keeper that keeps the linkage stationary and, like most other Dodge plastics, is prone to breaking. The back doors dont actually lock, they just latch, considering you have to open the front doors to open the rear doors. You'll have to pull the door panel and either replace the broken linkages (which you'll have to buy from the dealer) or fab something.

 

id try messin around with the lock on the roof. if not, pull the panels and make sure everything is connected.

check your fuses as well. driver side dash jamb.

not so much a common problem... this is the first ive heard of it.

 

how do i remove the cab door panel? I couldnt find a DYI instruction on the forums.

 

All the door panels in these Dodge trucks are held in by 'tree clips'.

They kinda look like this.

You need to either use a wedge shaped clip puller, or a big regular screw driver to pry the clips out. You'll also need to take out the 2 screws that hold in the plastic door handle that's inset into the door panel. Once the panel is popped out, you should be able to check the linkage for the inner door handle, whether it is intact or not. If it is intact you'll have to pop it off the door panel, so you can take the panel completely off.

 

There is a third screw up top by the side mirror adjuster. Plan on buying new clips, they get plenty screwed up when you pull them.

If your power locks do nothing when you press the button, check fuses and connectors. If the actuator just buzzes, there is a small clutch-like mechanism in the actuator that may be broken. The motor itself is fine, the buzzing is the the motor continuing to spin since the clutch doesn't engage the pawl to move it. Under normal circumstances, it engages and stops when it reaches the end of its' travel. I was able to fix mine, the clutch thing's housing broke and caused the cage holding the mechanism to separate. I pushed the cage back together and tacked it with a light duty welder. It forced the clutch housing back together and it now works.

If your lock mechanism is buzzing, let me know if you need additional information on trying to fix it I should have taken picutres, but didn't.

 

"If the actuator just buzzes"

yes the actuator is just buzzing... or at least i hear a buzzing noise when i push the door locks.

also all the fuses look fine but NONE of the door locks open in the truck with the power lock button, not just the stuck drivers side cab door.

also if you need me to take pictures of anything i sure can!

 

Are both doors buzzing? Does it happen when you push the button on both sides? Door buzzing is the little electric motor in the lock mechanism spinning but not engaging the pawl that moves the lock mechanism. I won't claim that yours have the exact same problem as mine since I've only fixed mine. However, I am thinking that it is a pretty common problem. When I called Dodge about the part, I was told that the lock mechanism was "redesigned" and I would have to buy a new striker too. I am suspicous that the redesign was needed because the original mecanism was a poor design and was prone to breaking like mine. You can also look for a used mechanism, but I understand from the bone yards near here that they disappear fast when they get them. I saw one for the driver's side on ebay recently, they guy was asking $35 + shipping.

I forgot, but my switches were kinda intermittent too. Sometimes they would activates, sometimes not. I took them apart from the door and sprayed electric motor contact cleaner in them. They work correctly now.

You can try to fix yours too if you want, but it is not for the faint of heart. You have to remove the mechanism, disassemble it (watch for flying springs) and then break open the electric motor housing. Once inside you'll see the cage with the motor and gears. The cage is just pressed together. One of those joints was separated on mine due to that clutch thing I described having a broken housing. It looks to be spring loaded inside and that is what caused the cage to separate. By tacking the cage back together, it forced the housing back together and it now works. Tacking it is not the easiest proposition due to the fact that the gears and such are plastic, prone to melting from the welding. However, I was willing to try since it was broken already and I did not want to spend the $150+ that Dodge wanted for the parts. Fortunately, it worked.

 

I just got my truck also, My power locks were the fuse though.

The rear door is probably just rusted and stuck. push in while pulling the handle. Then with one hand on the handle and the other on the rear door, give it a good jerk. Repeat.

Mine finally broke loose, Then I got some sand paper and got the rust off the latch and sprayed some grease in there and opened and shut it a couple of times to get it worked in. it works fine now.

I think that the person that owned the truck before you just never used the back door and it gets fused.

 

boy i hope your right! I will try that today and report back. The whole disassembling the locking mechanism and welding it is far beyond my capabilities. I'm ok at taking things apart and replacing with new parts.