Door locks

Hello to all, I've been away for a couple weeks and upon my return the Riv's weak battery is dead, which is not so bad, however bad is discovering the keys will not unlock the doors, tried both sides, can only open trunk with key? Unbelievable, I mean what is the likelyhood both door cylinders were changed and previous owner neglected to provide a funtional door key SHHESH!
I'm thinking perhaps I can open hood from the underside and jump it to power up battery enough to use transponder? Anybody have a better solution? BTW anyone source a good buy on a battery for these cars other than the $136.00 variety?
Once again thanks in advance for any and all assistance.

bmiceelf wrote:

I'm thinking perhaps I can open hood from the underside and jump it to power up battery enough to use transponder?

Thats what I would do in this case. Get the hood open, hook up a batt booster, and that should be plenty to open the locks.

...odds are the *trunk* key was changed. You should be able to get a key for the door locks from a GM dealer, the dealer can cut you a key from the VIN. You then should be able to re-set the tumblers in the trunk lock to match the doors--ask a dealer for details.

By the way, dirty little secret is there were not that many different physical door key tumbler settings. Mathematics (statistics) is what's keeping your car secure more-so than a unique physical key. That's all I'm sayin, except to say don't worry about it.

Well Galen, living in Buffalo I am too familiar with door lock cylinders that don't work. It is more likely that the locks are corroded from our Buffalo winters and not that they are in need of a different key. Most cars in our area have this problem because the keys are rarely used to open the doors. A lock smith can rebuild them for about $25.00 each.

I'm getting a door key ordered cut from the VIN today, its like 19 bucks at the GM dealer.

bigdave wrote:

Well Galen, living in Buffalo I am too familiar with door lock cylinders that don't work. It is more likely that the locks are corroded from our Buffalo winters and not that they are in need of a different key. Most cars in our area have this problem because the keys are rarely used to open the doors. A lock smith can rebuild them for about $25.00 each.

this makes sense. If this is the case you may be able to free things up with lock-lube, actually u could use DeepCreep to loosen things up then spray in a lock lube containing graphite. You may need to pull the door panels to lubricate the back of the lock assembly and the pivot points on the remote rods.

By the way, new ACDelco door lock cylinders are $20 each from Rockauto.com.

albertj wrote:

bigdave wrote:

Well Galen, living in Buffalo I am too familiar with door lock cylinders that don't work. It is more likely that the locks are corroded from our Buffalo winters and not that they are in need of a different key. Most cars in our area have this problem because the keys are rarely used to open the doors. A lock smith can rebuild them for about $25.00 each.

this makes sense. If this is the case you may be able to free things up with lock-lube, actually u could use DeepCreep to loosen things up then spray in a lock lube containing graphite. You may need to pull the door panels to lubricate the back of the lock assembly and the pivot points on the remote rods.

By the way, new ACDelco door lock cylinders are $20 each from Rockauto.com.

really?! I need both the left and the right. both sides took a dump simultaneously

robotennis61 wrote:

albertj wrote:

bigdave wrote:

Well Galen, living in Buffalo I am too familiar with door lock cylinders that don't work. It is more likely that the locks are corroded from our Buffalo winters and not that they are in need of a different key. Most cars in our area have this problem because the keys are rarely used to open the doors. A lock smith can rebuild them for about $25.00 each.

this makes sense. If this is the case you may be able to free things up with lock-lube, actually u could use DeepCreep to loosen things up then spray in a lock lube containing graphite. You may need to pull the door panels to lubricate the back of the lock assembly and the pivot points on the remote rods.

By the way, new ACDelco door lock cylinders are $20 each from Rockauto.com.

really?! I need both the left and the right. both sides took a dump simultaneously

really... as of the day I wrote that, no telling what they are now, guess you have to check.

Albertj

I checked.$22.95 at the Rock. I swear,the Riv is like a high maintenance chick.Ya gotta constantly throw gifts at her to get a good time.

robotennis61 wrote:

I checked.$22.95 at the Rock. I swear,the Riv is like a high maintenance chick.Ya gotta constantly throw gifts at her to get a good time.

My experience: Riv is nowhere near as high maintenance as a similar-vintage (or even somewhat newer) Audi. Don't even get me started. Riv is higher maintenance than say a Lincoln; routine maintenance on the Lincoln is cheaper (lots of standard Ford hard parts) but every once in a while you take a BIG hit unless you DIY (the air springs, which are definitely worth it).

are the lock cylinders at Rockauto the same for the trunck as well as the doors?

$22.95 - no more than the price of an oil change. If that's all I have to spend for a good time, I'm one happy dude.