Hi

 

My drivers door sometimes fails to lock/unlock with the buttons on the keys and i'm guessing its the door locking mechanism, and i was wondering how bad of a job it is to replace as the metal panel behind the door card is riveted on?

I have heard that the window regulator job is a pig of a job to do and doing this looks as if it could be as well seeming as its in the same area.

As the mech isn't completely broken as of yet is there anything i can do which may make it better?

 

I have  replaced the battery in the key to make sure it wasn't low battery causing this but it did not make any difference.

Every door except this one locks and unlocks every time.

 

The car is a 2005 Fabia vRS.

Any advice is greatly appreciated.

 

Thanks

The metal carrier panel is riveted on from about 2004. Earlier cars have bolts. You would have to drill out the rivets and obtain new ones and you will need a lazy tongs riveter to install the new rivets. The window regulator is also riveted to the panel with different size rivets. The easiest option is to buy a whole new panel with regulator already assembled on it. Replacing the lock mechanism and regulator is not a job to do if you aren't reasonably skilled. If you decide to tackle it we can give you the rivet sizes and part numbers.

Just to be completely clear, you need to get this work done now while you can still get the door open, if you don't do it and it deadlocks itself permanently you'll really regret it.