Hardware key issue

greiswig · Tuesday at 5:22 PM

So...getting ready for summer travel season, I decided to make sure things are still working. And the recent thread about getting into the vehicle without a working battery in the key fob made me want to test that, too.

Short version is that it worked...once.

Long version is that the key was REALLY hard to turn in the lock. So I decided to put some graphite powder in there and work it back and forth to lube things up a bit. Now it doesn't work at all. (EDIT it will lock the vehicle, counterclockwise, but not UNLOCK…which is kind of the point.)

Any suggestions? I've tried two different hard keys, but neither one has an effect on the lock now.

scapistron · Tuesday at 6:20 PM

Can you get the straw from a computer air duster can into the lock? Spray some air in there.

greiswig · Tuesday at 6:44 PM

I did work open the little "door" on the opening and pushed a lot of compressed air through it, in case I'd overloaded it with graphite. Some came out, but no change in the behavior.

greiswig · Wednesday at 3:17 PM

Found a good YT vid here that seems to describe what is likely happening. I was thinking it was an electrical issue, but no, it's mechanical and likely not in the lock mechanism at all. So cable ordered, and meanwhile hoping that I won't need emergency entry.

Rover Range · Wednesday at 4:52 PM

Pop the cover off the driver door handle to reveal the key slot.
Open the driver's door. Inside the rear part of door, at the outside door handle level. Pop the little round cap off. Allows access to door lock tumbler.
Take a T25 Torx, remove the bolt. NOT all the way out.
Slide the lock cylinder assembly out and inspect the inner plastic pieces for damage.

txfromwi · Wednesday at 5:57 PM

I cannot find it right now, but I have seen a series of videos by PowerfulUKLTD
addressing this exact issue.

Sorry I can't be any more helpful...

greiswig · 2025-04-17T12:04:55-0400

Rover Range said:
Pop the cover off the driver door handle to reveal the key slot.
Open the driver's door. Inside the rear part of door, at the outside door handle level. Pop the little round cap off. Allows access to door lock tumbler.
Take a T25 Torx, remove the bolt. NOT all the way out.
Slide the lock cylinder assembly out and inspect the inner plastic pieces for damage.

View attachment 25854

Right. I did try that, but TBH I couldn’t see down inside enough to make out whether the cable case is intact all the way or not. But the symptoms are just like in the video I linked to above. So I ordered the part and hope for the best.

Hardware key issue

greiswig

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greiswig

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