Ford KA stiff Locks

lee1101 · 22 Feb 2012 at 12:10

Id like to start by saying this is my girlfriends car!

Its a 2001 Ford KA. Recently the drivers side will not unlock using the key but It will lock ok. It is very stiff and feels like you will snap the key if you try to hard. She has to unlock from the passenger side and it unlocks fine, central locking all works as it should.

I thought maybe it was a worn key but it works on the passenger side.

Also, the boot will not open with the key, only the boot button!

Any idea?

Thanks

Dogbreath · 22 Feb 2012 at 12:19

A blast of WD40 etc. into the lock usually helps a great deal. They get gummed up with crud and metal dust over the years.

Has the boot lock ever worked?

lee1101 · 22 Feb 2012 at 13:13

Dogbreath said:
A blast of WD40 etc. into the lock usually helps a great deal. They get gummed up with crud and metal dust over the years.

Has the boot lock ever worked?

I think it did for the first week she had it! Would it be better to take the door card off and spray the locks from the inside?

red eye · 22 Feb 2012 at 14:40

lee1101 said:
Id like to start by saying this is my girlfriends car!

Its a 2001 Ford KA. Recently the drivers side will not unlock using the key but It will lock ok. It is very stiff and feels like you will snap the key if you try to hard. She has to unlock from the passenger side and it unlocks fine, central locking all works as it should.

I thought maybe it was a worn key but it works on the passenger side.

Also, the boot will not open with the key, only the boot button!

Any idea?

Thanks

empty a can of wd40 in to it while working the key in between squirts

red eye · 22 Feb 2012 at 14:43

lee1101 said:
I think it did for the first week she had it! Would it be better to take the door card off and spray the locks from the inside?

good luck with that, the lock is in a metal box attached to the door with iirc security torx screws

Dogbreath · 22 Feb 2012 at 15:15

lee1101 said:
I think it did for the first week she had it! Would it be better to take the door card off and spray the locks from the inside?

No, just squirt a bit in through the key hole and then work it back and forward with the key, adding some more if required.

You aren't really supposed to use oil based lubricants in locks (because it attracts more dirt), but to be honest once car locks get tight like this it can really help, assuming the problem is in the lock barrel itself. If lubrication doesn't make any difference then it's time to get the door card off and have a look at the linkages.

xMarkie · 22 Feb 2012 at 15:30

Dogbreath said:
A blast of WD40 etc. into the lock usually helps a great deal. They get gummed up with crud and metal dust over the years.

Has the boot lock ever worked?

If WD40 doesn't help then either something in the lock has malfunctioned or something is obstructing the linkage arm/connecting rod.
Try the key with the window open to see if there is any difference - if so then you'll need to investigate further.

lee1101 · 22 Feb 2012 at 15:40

Thanks for all your help, I will give this a go tonight and Ill report back!

d_brennen · 22 Feb 2012 at 15:42

WD40 for the absolute win

http://forums.overclockers.co.uk/showthread.php?t=18376816

nicRob · 22 Feb 2012 at 16:45

If the key turns, but doesn't seem to do anything, then it could be that the barrel is worn - I have that on my mk5 Fiesta, can currently lock the drivers door, but not unlock, but can open the passenger door and boot fine.
When it happened previously I had the door barrel changed, and it was fine for a couple of years.

If the key is stiff when turning straight away though, it probably isn't that...

NutterzUK · 27 Mar 2013 at 00:42

I have an 02 plate Ford KA with the exact same problem, it locks but won't unlock and I had to keep going through the passenger door and that is extremely frustrating. Well it's due it's MOT and I was thinking it would cost a bit extra to fix (and i'd like it fixing) but I Googled it first and was brought here.

WD40 fixed it! Thanks so much for the tip, never expected it to work but I can get in my drivers side again! It was shortly after we got a key cut so I thought that was the problem, but it wasn't.

Thanks again.

MatteH Oxford · 27 Mar 2013 at 05:07

Maplin do a graphite spray, it doesn't attract the dirt like WD40.

bledd · 27 Mar 2013 at 09:35

Don't use WD40

Graphite powder is what you want for locks. The wife's Yaris door lock was playing up, stiff when cold etc.

Bought some of this

http://www.amazon.co.uk/C-K-T6283A-...ef=sr_1_1?s=diy&ie=UTF8&qid=1364376858&sr=1-1

Now it is silky smooth. The lock for the boot now works too. Before using this, the boot only worked through the central locking.

Edit, same stuff here..

Farnell

I'd recommend getting one with a long funnel cap like these two, it's a messy substance to go spilling everywhere. It is kind of expensive for what is essentially crushed up pencil leads, but it's worth it imo.

Terrible video here, but you get the gist

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bRYYCiGNYJ0

Nightglow · 27 Mar 2013 at 09:46

bledd. said:
Don't use WD40

Graphite powder is what you want for locks. The wife's Yaris door lock was playing up, stiff when cold etc.

Bought some of this

http://www.amazon.co.uk/C-K-T6283A-...ef=sr_1_1?s=diy&ie=UTF8&qid=1364376858&sr=1-1

Now it is silky smooth. The lock for the boot now works too. Before using this, the boot only worked through the central locking.

Highly recommended,bought some off the bay to sort out temperamental Euro locks on front & back doors