Baulky door lock

[Reynard38]

My drivers door had been refusing to lock. I took the locking mechanism out, cleaned and lubed it, and reinstalled. Now it will lock, but will not unlock from the outside. Works OK using the inside release.
The central locking is working.
Any ideas?

[NC325iC]

consider yourself lucky, my pass door will not unlock at all, it has unlocked 4 times in the past 6 months, i would estimate, but unfortunately it has unlocked on my way to school where i have to lock my car so i havent been able to fix it

[ErykTheRead]

My drivers door had been refusing to lock. I took the locking mechanism out, cleaned and lubed it, and reinstalled. Now it will lock, but will not unlock from the outside. Works OK using the inside release.
The central locking is working.
Any ideas?

The lock cylinder turns completely, but the door does not unlock? Or it simply won't turn?

When you say locking mechanism, do you mean the lock cylinder or the linkage assembly that makes up the locking function?

If it is the lock cylinder, I am curious if passenger and driver's sides are interchangeable?

-E

[Reynard38]

Fixed. It was the latching mechanism for the drivers door. Just worn out. $83 and about an hour of my time. Door works and sound like a new car now. As an added bonus the central locking system now works (even the gas door!)