Just did the exterior door handle replacement Saturday and while I had the door panel off pulled my lock cylinder and washed it out with non-chlorinated brake cleaner. Was amazed how much gunk came out of it. Dried it out with canned air and shot just a little graphite in it. Working perfectly now. Been having to go from the passengers side for about a week while waiting on parts then found that an AutoZone nearby had the Dorman LH/RH in stock so went and picked it up Wednesday. Changed it in about 2 hours Saturday. Tomorrow's task is to pull the dash cluster and replace all the burned out bulbs then the radio/AC/heat cluster and replace all the bulbs in there too.. 2004 Ford Ranger 3.0L V-6 with Mazda 5 speed manual XLT package. 276,000 miles so far..
Hi 1968CudaGuy...thanks for sharing that you used "non-chlorinated brake cleaner" to flush the gunk out of your door lock cylinders. Glad your door locks are working again!
Thank you for this. I just fixed my 2006 Ford Ranger. Graphite had been working for the last decade or so, but I guess it finally got to be packed with too much. Cleaning it with WD 40 worked. I used a tiny bit of acetone after, but I think wiping away the excess WD 40 was enough. BTW, I thought you were saying take apart the mechanism after you got it out, but seeing as how I couldn't figure out how to do this, I just sprayed all openings with WD40 and kept trying the key until it started rotating the barrel, then I dried off the excess WD40 as much as possible. Great idea with the string. Saved me opening up the panel which I was thinking I'd have to do.
Great idea to not lose the rod in this process! My 09 ranger door only opens with key fob, not the key. Key turns both ways in it but does nothing. I've only had the truck for 4 months. I'd like to try this and see what's going on but I'm little scared. What if I make it so that I can't even open with the key fob? 🤔 Wouldn't the rod have to be attached to something for the key fob to open it? Do you suppose it was a dealer quick fix? Somehow hooked the rod up so it opens with fob but the key cylinder is not hooked up to anything? I'm just trying to figure it out.
I took the entire interior door panel off both doors to replace the speakers in my pickup. It's not complicated. Just keep track of which screw came from where and the order in which you removed them. I provide above a link to the video I used as guidance for removing the door panels. Good luck!
Thanks for the great detail and showing this. I am not clear on one thing do you unlock the door before beginning? Your correction states "Locking/unlocking the door makes getting the lock mechanism in and out easier." do you need to do both lock and then unlock? thank you. I love the paint brush on a string..that is an excellent idea
Thanks for kudos! The most important thing to remember about locked and unlocked is not getting locked out of your pickup while servicing the locks, which could have happened to me, but that's not your question. For the first few steps it does not matter whether the door is locked or unlocked. The lock/unlock position only helps when pulling the lock mechanism (with rod attached) out of the door and when reinstalling the lock mechanism after servicing it. My faint recollection is that I was trying to get the lock mechanism out of the door when I realized both doors were locked and both windows were rolled up. I thought to myself how irritated I would be if I got locked out of my own pickup, so I rolled down both windows and unlocked both doors. When I returned to my struggle with removing the lock mechanism, without dropping the rod down inside the door, the lock mechanism came out much more easily. That is, my recollection is that the lock mechanism is easier to remove and install when the door is in the unlocked position. It sounds as if you are going to give the process a try. Please post here your findings about which lock/unlock position(s) work best for lock mechanism removal and re-installation.
@@solarpoppop9398 I will surely post my findings. I am needing to do this for different reasons. My ranger was stolen and the passenger door and ignition cylinder were messed up. Mechanic replaced the ignition cylinder but now I have need 2 different keys , one for door, one for ignition. I "think" i may just take out the ignition cylinder and have it matched to a door key. However it does look like I will be needing to do some repair with the passenger door lock so I think this video and your direction will come in handy. It may take me a while before I am able to do this repair. but once I do I will post what i find. Thank you
I do not now if the locks changed between 1999 and 2005, so cannot answer your question with any certainty. If the 2005 Ranger has a similar retaining clip to hold the lock mechanism in place, I would guess the process for removing and reinstalling a lock mechanism will work. As far as the gaskets being the same, I would visit the linked web site and read to see what the gasket seller claims. (I have no association with the gasket seller other than to ask if I could provide a link to the seller's site in my UA-cam video.)
@@solarpoppop9398 thanks for the quick response! I just got through opening up the door panel, which isn't necessary for the repair, but I wanted to make sure the rods and clips weren't damaged. The door lock cylinder looks identical, so I might just have to match it up with what I see online. Here in Hawaii currently, no ones carrying them. Ive searched all over. Online my only choice, which sucks, but it is what it is. Mines did not have gaskets, but I'm sure I could find something. It's fookin amazing how easy these trucks are to break into 😑 but after watching your video, and a bunch of others, I'm stoked and confident I can get this repair done without going through my insurance. Thanks for putting this video out!
Anybody (including OP) know if this process is the same on a 93' ranger xlt? I just picked one up a few months ago for about $500 and I'm just doing some maintenance research while I get this nightmare of a title straightened out so I can jump right into making it a long lasting truck once again once its in my name. She's got good bones, but does need a good bit of TLC nonetheless. Locks are both stuck, one side of the tailgate latch doesn't open but moves freely, needs a backrest adjustment lever, 4x4 on the fly buttons/circuitry need some troubleshooting, and a wiring harness shakedown/rewire as I'm having multiple lighting issues as well, and a handful of cosmetic issues, peeling clearcoat, dents, headliner etc... Runs great at least, but will be a decent lil project though.
In short, I don't know. If the door has the same pull out type retainer clip as on my 1999, the process will likely work. The retainer clip I am referring to are shown 37 seconds into the video.
Sorry, I don't know. You could "gently" start the sequence of steps outlined in the video. If what you see on your Ranger is inconsistent with what is shown in the video, stop, and put everything back the way it was.
Way more complicated & difficult than it looks, I had bought new aftermarket locks & they were so shitty that I had to expand the lock rods because the hook part wouldn’t stop disconnecting from it.
Dang, I already started taking off the door panel and reached a point where I needed help before I break anything else...read first and be prepared better.
I ordered new gaskets from Amazon before I even started, this is my favorite "fixed it" of 2023!
🔧💪
Thanks to this video, I finally fixed my driver door that hasn't been able to be unlocked with keys in 3 years! Didn't realize how simple it'd be.
Fixed my 99 ranger today. You're technique worked like a charm. Thank you so much! God bless you!
Just did the exterior door handle replacement Saturday and while I had the door panel off pulled my lock cylinder and washed it out with non-chlorinated brake cleaner. Was amazed how much gunk came out of it. Dried it out with canned air and shot just a little graphite in it. Working perfectly now. Been having to go from the passengers side for about a week while waiting on parts then found that an AutoZone nearby had the Dorman LH/RH in stock so went and picked it up Wednesday. Changed it in about 2 hours Saturday. Tomorrow's task is to pull the dash cluster and replace all the burned out bulbs then the radio/AC/heat cluster and replace all the bulbs in there too..
2004 Ford Ranger 3.0L V-6 with Mazda 5 speed manual XLT package. 276,000 miles so far..
Hi 1968CudaGuy...thanks for sharing that you used "non-chlorinated brake cleaner" to flush the gunk out of your door lock cylinders. Glad your door locks are working again!
Thank you for this. I just fixed my 2006 Ford Ranger. Graphite had been working for the last decade or so, but I guess it finally got to be packed with too much. Cleaning it with WD 40 worked. I used a tiny bit of acetone after, but I think wiping away the excess WD 40 was enough. BTW, I thought you were saying take apart the mechanism after you got it out, but seeing as how I couldn't figure out how to do this, I just sprayed all openings with WD40 and kept trying the key until it started rotating the barrel, then I dried off the excess WD40 as much as possible. Great idea with the string. Saved me opening up the panel which I was thinking I'd have to do.
Are your door lock cylinders the same as the videos? I'm trying to replace mines atm. For an 05
Very helpful, thank you sir, you just helped me fix my problem, now I can finally unlock my door from the outside.
Thank You for the tutorial 😊
It's the best thing going: try it " you won't regret it.
Great idea to not lose the rod in this process! My 09 ranger door only opens with key fob, not the key. Key turns both ways in it but does nothing. I've only had the truck for 4 months. I'd like to try this and see what's going on but I'm little scared. What if I make it so that I can't even open with the key fob? 🤔 Wouldn't the rod have to be attached to something for the key fob to open it? Do you suppose it was a dealer quick fix? Somehow hooked the rod up so it opens with fob but the key cylinder is not hooked up to anything? I'm just trying to figure it out.
I took the entire interior door panel off both doors to replace the speakers in my pickup. It's not complicated. Just keep track of which screw came from where and the order in which you removed them. I provide above a link to the video I used as guidance for removing the door panels. Good luck!
@@solarpoppop9398 thanks I may give it a try.
You're the man! Thanks!
Thanks for the great detail and showing this. I am not clear on one thing do you unlock the door before beginning? Your correction states "Locking/unlocking the door makes getting the lock mechanism in and out easier." do you need to do both lock and then unlock? thank you. I love the paint brush on a string..that is an excellent idea
Thanks for kudos!
The most important thing to remember about locked and unlocked is not getting locked out of your pickup while servicing the locks, which could have happened to me, but that's not your question.
For the first few steps it does not matter whether the door is locked or unlocked. The lock/unlock position only helps when pulling the lock mechanism (with rod attached) out of the door and when reinstalling the lock mechanism after servicing it.
My faint recollection is that I was trying to get the lock mechanism out of the door when I realized both doors were locked and both windows were rolled up. I thought to myself how irritated I would be if I got locked out of my own pickup, so I rolled down both windows and unlocked both doors. When I returned to my struggle with removing the lock mechanism, without dropping the rod down inside the door, the lock mechanism came out much more easily. That is, my recollection is that the lock mechanism is easier to remove and install when the door is in the unlocked position.
It sounds as if you are going to give the process a try. Please post here your findings about which lock/unlock position(s) work best for lock mechanism removal and re-installation.
@@solarpoppop9398 I will surely post my findings. I am needing to do this for different reasons. My ranger was stolen and the passenger door and ignition cylinder were messed up. Mechanic replaced the ignition cylinder but now I have need 2 different keys , one for door, one for ignition. I "think" i may just take out the ignition cylinder and have it matched to a door key. However it does look like I will be needing to do some repair with the passenger door lock so I think this video and your direction will come in handy. It may take me a while before I am able to do this repair. but once I do I will post what i find. Thank you
Very Good!..
Terrific ~ Thanks!
Legit ty
I've got an 05 ranger, just got broken into, would this process and part be the same for my model?
I do not now if the locks changed between 1999 and 2005, so cannot answer your question with any certainty. If the 2005 Ranger has a similar retaining clip to hold the lock mechanism in place, I would guess the process for removing and reinstalling a lock mechanism will work. As far as the gaskets being the same, I would visit the linked web site and read to see what the gasket seller claims. (I have no association with the gasket seller other than to ask if I could provide a link to the seller's site in my UA-cam video.)
@@solarpoppop9398 thanks for the quick response! I just got through opening up the door panel, which isn't necessary for the repair, but I wanted to make sure the rods and clips weren't damaged. The door lock cylinder looks identical, so I might just have to match it up with what I see online. Here in Hawaii currently, no ones carrying them. Ive searched all over. Online my only choice, which sucks, but it is what it is. Mines did not have gaskets, but I'm sure I could find something. It's fookin amazing how easy these trucks are to break into 😑 but after watching your video, and a bunch of others, I'm stoked and confident I can get this repair done without going through my insurance. Thanks for putting this video out!
Anybody (including OP) know if this process is the same on a 93' ranger xlt? I just picked one up a few months ago for about $500 and I'm just doing some maintenance research while I get this nightmare of a title straightened out so I can jump right into making it a long lasting truck once again once its in my name. She's got good bones, but does need a good bit of TLC nonetheless. Locks are both stuck, one side of the tailgate latch doesn't open but moves freely, needs a backrest adjustment lever, 4x4 on the fly buttons/circuitry need some troubleshooting, and a wiring harness shakedown/rewire as I'm having multiple lighting issues as well, and a handful of cosmetic issues, peeling clearcoat, dents, headliner etc... Runs great at least, but will be a decent lil project though.
In short, I don't know. If the door has the same pull out type retainer clip as on my 1999, the process will likely work. The retainer clip I am referring to are shown 37 seconds into the video.
Where were you able to find the gasket...thanks
You may have missed the comments I left below the video.
Where I purchased the replacement gaskets.
www.ebay.com/itm/Ford-Ranger-Econoline-Van-Door-Lock-Gasket-Pair/192449408060
Does this procedure work for Rangers with a Fob?
Sorry, I don't know. You could "gently" start the sequence of steps outlined in the video. If what you see on your Ranger is inconsistent with what is shown in the video, stop, and put everything back the way it was.
I'm going to give it a shot on the passenger side first!
@@johnmark8576 Please let us know your results.
Way more complicated & difficult than it looks, I had bought new aftermarket locks & they were so shitty that I had to expand the lock rods because the hook part wouldn’t stop disconnecting from it.
Dang, I already started taking off the door panel and reached a point where I needed help before I break anything else...read first and be prepared better.
If it helps to know, I too make mistakes before resorting to instructions.
I had no paint brush. Crap
Anything with a decent amount of weight you can tie a string to should work, get your MacGyver on buddy