door lock

[Valcuda]

My driver's door lock has suddenly ceased to lock, though the handle works OK. The key won't turn and the push button inside won't move. I've taken off the interior trim to have a look.

From the limited access there is, I can feel that the push button rod is attached to an angle piece driving a second rod and I can feel (and just about see if I crouch down) that the lock cylinder is also attached to a rod. Both rods go to a lever on the latch assembly. This is what the workshop manual indicates in the diagram.

From the diagram, I assume that when the lever is pulled up by one of the rods, it locks the latch in some way. Is that right?

To see whether it's the lock cylinder that has suddenly seized rather than the lever, I'm trying to disconnect one of the rods attached to it. I'm hoping that then I'll still be able to lock the door either with the key OR with the push button. If I can't, that indicates the lever on the latch assembly is seized up.

I'm reluctant to take the whole latch assembly out. Unfortunately this means that I'm working by feel!!!!

How do I release the two rods in turn from that lever? If I unscrew the two screws holding the angle piece to the door inner skin and unscrew the plastic button, it looks as if I can drop that half of the mechanism into the door bottom, which would release one side of the lever but that won't prove whether it's the lock cylinder or latch at fault (assuming that the lock still doesn't work)

I can't see how to detach the rod from the lock cylinder--there doesn't appear to be any retainer there, as shown in the diagram in the manual and there's no slack to unhook it from the cylinder arm.

So...any thoughts anybody?

[latil]

From memory the lock cylinder has a tang that just slides into a slotted hole in the mechanism and the lock barrel is held in the door with a slide clip on the back of the door skin. If I'm right slide clip off and the lock comes out.

[db]

Yup, what Latil said. Once you release the lock barrel you sort of jiggle it upside-down and it comes off the rod.
I've just stripped 2 doors for my Truk and swapped some of the hardware over.
I didn't get keys so I've stripped the barrels and dumped all the pegs and springs out. This means I can open the door with any key, a screwdriver, a penny, etc so I wouldn't recommend this for anything you care about
You'll most likely find it all clagged up so try drenching with WD40 and working it free first. If you have to strip the barrel, do it over a cloth on a tray. First pop off the little shiny cover, then I use a watchmakers screwy to pick out the springs. Then you need to tap out the 2 pegs from each hole. VERY CAREFULLY note exactly where each peg comes from! If you lose any or mix them up you'll never unlock it again