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January 08, 2019 01:00 AM

Careless maneuver damages car's door-lock assembly

Don Marinucci
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    Marinucci

    A careless step during a routine lubrication could damage a customer's door-lock assembly. Here's how to avoid this potentially costly mistake.

    Readers probably would agree that lubricating a common automotive door lock doesn't require great technical skill.

    Nonetheless, I have watched an experienced but impatient technician permanently damage a door lock assembly. Patience is the key to performing this valuable little service without incident.

    Some tire dealers and service shop operators add value to a job by lubricating a balky or sticking door lock on a customer's vehicle.

    One technique is treating the lock with a type of aerosol product called "dry lube," which lubricates without leaving a wet residue. (Reportedly, the wetter the lubricant's residue, the more readily it attracts and holds dirt.)

    What's more, experience shows that dry lubricants containing Teflon do a fine job of rejuvenating balky automotive locks — especially on vehicles in the snow belt.

    An aerosol can of lubricant usually comes with a thin, plastic tube that snaps into its spray nozzle. The tube directs or aims spray lubricant into the desired place — in this instance, the door lock.

    Typically, sliding this plastic tube about one-eighth inch or so into the lock assembly is adequate. Usually, two squirts into the lock and repeatedly operating that lock with the key does the job.

    The red lubricant tube is caught inside the door lock opening. Lightly hold the tube with one hand. Very gently slide the tip of a pick (shown here) or paper clip alongside the plastic tube with your other hand to release the tube.

    I have seen people ram this tube into a door lock and then struggle to extract it. In my experience, a small, hinged flap in the lock has snagged the tube.

    Usually, you can disengage this flap — releasing the plastic tube — by cautiously slipping the proper tool into the lock alongside the tube.

    Gently sliding the tip of a seal pick or a straightened paper clip into the lock assembly usually releases the hinged flap, enabling you to remove the plastic tube harmlessly.

    Remember: Only slide the pick or paper clip in just deep enough to free the plastic tube.

    One time, I saw a tech jam one of these lube tubes in a door lock assembly. When the tube didn't come out easily, he yanked it out with a pair of pliers.

    Afterward, the key would not slide completely into the door lock. Because a local locksmith couldn't repair this lock assembly, the fellow had to replace it.

    Mind you, this brief summation cannot and should not be a comprehensive treatise on automotive door locks.

    On the other hand, it's a firm reminder that old-fashioned patience and care save time, money and aggravation.

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    Do you have an opinion about this story? Do you have some thoughts you'd like to share with our readers? Tire Business would love to hear from you. Email your letter to Editor Don Detore at [email protected].

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