FOD stuck in driver door lock cylinder

[tokuzumi]

When I picked up my 94 a few weeks ago, I noticed I couldn't put the door key in the lock cylinder on the driver's door. I could see something plastic in there. Fought with it using some 90 degree picks, cut hacksaw blades, needle nose pliers, etc. Got a 1/4" square piece out of the cylinder.

EUREKA!

Insert door key into door. Won't seat all the way *grumble grumble*

Now I can't really see what's in there. Piece I removed was plastic, so I have no reason at this point to suspect the remaining piece is anything other than plastic.

Watched a video of removing the lock cylinder, and it's definitely not a project I want to undertake if I don't have to. I could do it, but I'm trying to decide if calling a locksmith is the way to go, or if the C4 experts here have suggestions on how to remove something stuck in the door lock cylinder.

I do need to replace the exterior window rubber piece (window felt?), and I may install a keyless entry system to eliminate the PKE unobtainium fobs, so I could make a whole door rehab session. None of those things require me to disassemble the door, but "while I'm in there"...

[phrogs]

If its stuck it would need to be taken apart, remove all the pieces and remove the plastic. If I recall there was a plastic key included in the owners manual that you could cut to fit and open the door, Could be what's broken in there but who knows.

But the lock cylinder comes out with the door handle.
Once the door panel is off its not hard to get the handle out but the linkage needs to be removed.

If you don't
want to mess with it time to call a locksmith.

[tf95ZR1]

Just a thought: If the stuck piece is plastic
Heat the end of a straight wire (paper clip?) and see
if you can stick it into the plastic. Let it cool
and try to pull it out.


Or if you can attach to the piece you took out,
try and (crazy?) glue it back onto the stuck piece
and pull it out?

Depends how "stuck" the piece is and how much
BS you want to try before just taking the lock out.

[secondchance]

I replaced both cylinders (so that the left and the right sides are the same) maybe 6 - 7 years ago and it wasn?t as difficult as I feared.
I needed a long needle nose.

[Z51JEFF]

The door has to come completely apart to get to the lock cylinder. Do you want a lock smith taking that door apart? Find somebody with knowledge to help get the door apart,back together. When I say come apart I mean inner aluminum door panel,glass. And yes,while your at it replace the sweeps and try and find OEM GM, it to hard to find.

[Erik]

The door has to come completely apart to get to the lock cylinder. Do you want a lock smith taking that door apart? Find somebody with knowledge to help get the door apart,back together. When I say come apart I mean inner aluminum door panel,glass. And yes,while your at it replace the sweeps and try and find OEM GM, it to hard to find.

What?s a sweep?

[Z51JEFF]

What?s a sweep?

Window sweeps,top outside door.

[Z51JEFF]

What?s a sweep?

Window sweeps,top outside door. I had to completely disassemble the door to get the body trim off. On early 91s it's bolted from front/back. This was the only time on a C4 that I know the trim was bolted to the door like this. After destroying one piece of trim thinking it was only bolted to the front and back. I would like to narrow it down to when it changed to only to 2 studs,bolts and snaps in the center.

[secondchance]

The door has to come completely apart to get to the lock cylinder. Do you want a lock smith taking that door apart? Find somebody with knowledge to help get the door apart,back together. When I say come apart I mean inner aluminum door panel,glass. And yes,while your at it replace the sweeps and try and find OEM GM, it to hard to find.

Might be different with models before 94 but on my 94, I replaced lock cylinders in both doors after removing inside panel only. Didn?t even have to remove the glass. It did require an extra long needle nose plier and delicate touch.

https://www.homedepot.com/p/Crescent-13-in-x-2-Long-Nose-Pliers-with-Dual-Material-Handle-PSX200C-06/319108290?source=shoppingads&locale=en-US&&mtc=SHOPPING-BF-CDP-GGL-D25T-025_001_HAND_TOOLS-NA-Multi-NA-SMART-NA-NA-NA-NA-NBR-NA-NA-NA-Hand_Tools&cm_mmc=SHOPPING-BF-CDP-GGL-D25T-025_001_HAND_TOOLS-NA-Multi-NA-SMART-NA-NA-NA-NA-NBR-NA-NA-NA-Hand_Tools-71700000086053656-58700007291967538-92700065470082096&gclid=CjwKCAjwwo-WBhAMEiwAV4dybScejtdMqMd_1-VmeWCB95VmZ_IpEPmpKsG_j9akX5_Ifwo5XBzIwhoCHQMQAvD_ BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds

[Young1]

Yes definitely those extended reach pliers. I bought a straight and a curved for like 30 bucks on Amazon a couple years ago when I had a key stuck in a door lock. Took it then to a locksmith. I keep hacks away from my cars.