For my first post, i'd like to give back in an attempt to replace the knowledge i've absorbed from this website over the years- even tho i've just finally purchased my first discovery only 4 days ago! i hope this post isn't in vain, as i haven't seen this fix posted anywhere else.

OK so apparently the door lock actuator spring (or door lock spring, whatever) is broken on both front doors on my 98 discovery. i read thru all of the possible causes for this, and diagnosed it as such because i had to hold up the door pin while pulling the handle from the inside, and from the outside, i had to unlock with the key whilst pulling the door handle. quite annoying.

-remove door panel (covered time and time over. takes about 3 minutes)


-on door latch side, pull back vapor barrier (if you have one! ha!)

-between the door lock actuator access hole, and the lower access hole, you'll find a shiny lever with a small hole in the top. if you move this lever left to right, you'll see the door lock pin move up and down. attach a spring to the little hole atop this lever, and the other end of the spring to the rod below. when doing this you'll notice the door lock pin moves up to the unlock position.

the image below is looking UP from the lower access hole on the door panel. see the fancy new spring on the left side? haha.


the image below is looking down thru the upper access hole (next to the door lock actuator)


-here's the caveat tho, too much tension on the spring will disable you from locking the door- the locking pin will pop right back up. so stretch the spring (releasing tension) until you are able to lock the door and the door pin stays down. this took me about 5 minutes of trial and error.

the final image shows the $5 box of springs i bought from harbor freight. i'm holding the spring i used.


this is not the appropriate way to fix this problem. but it's cheap and it's quick. this spring may wear out, it may break, who the hell knows. i know for now tho, i don't have to open the back door while reaching around to hold up the drivers door lock pin while pulling the door latch with my other hand to open the door! :thumbup:

 

Looks like it should work at least for a while
Correct fix are these tiny springs on the door latch assemblies that break and are a pita to replace

 

A shade tree sapling wilst be planted in your honor....