Door Lock Damage: Need Advice

EternalTrance · **Posted:** Tue Jan 15, 2008 7:10 pm

The lock on my 06 Liberty was damage. It looks like someone tried to shove a screwdriver in it. The key no longer even fits, but the remote and interior lock controls still work. I only have a lock on the driver doors; none of the other doors have locks on them.

I called the local dealer, Rosenthal in Arlington VA, and the guy gave an estimate of "about $300" to take the door apart, inspect, replace the lock, and fit my key. I'm highly suspect of this price, but I'm a novice when it comes to such things. I'm more than willing to do the work myself, but kind of need to be pointed in the right direction. I found a previous post here, http://www.lostjeeps.com/forum/phpBB3/viewtopic.php?t=6211&highlight=door+lock with a link to where I can purchase a lock here, http://www.newmoparparts.com/mopar-parts.htm. I have some questions though:

1. I'm assuming I only need the lock cylinder, is there anything in particular about the lock cylinder I should pay attention to?
2. How difficult is the install? I know this is subjective, but could a novice do it?
3. How difficult is it to find a locksmith that can make my key work? Anyone in the Washington DC area would be especially helpful. I'd be willing to go to Baltimore or Richmond for an inexpensive but reputable locksmith who could help me out.

If you can think of anything I'm missing or don't have right, please feel free to correct me. I'm looking for advice.

I'll post some pictures of the damage as soon as I get them uploaded to my side (I'm having some technical difficulties at the moment).

Guest · **Posted:** Tue Jan 15, 2008 9:13 pm

is this what they did?

nlife · **Joined:** Thu Aug 16, 2007 11:43 pm **Posts:** 226

Have you talked to your insurance company yet? $300 is pretty steep, but they will have to get the part then key it to your ignition which isn't cheap.

N

EternalTrance · **Posted:** Tue Jan 15, 2008 10:23 pm

No, I haven't called the insurance company and really don't plan to unless costs are higher than even $300.

Here are pictures of the damage:

Guest · **Posted:** Tue Jan 15, 2008 10:26 pm

I know some policies will cover it with no deductible if it's caused by theft attempt or vandalism...I'd call them anyway. I was more mad about when somebody tried to break into my Jeep because they tried and FAILED. It would've been nice if it would've been attempted by somebody that was at least GOOD at it...that's just insulting!

You can still get into your Jeep and drive it, right? they didn't get in and foul up the ignition switch or anything?

KJKev · **Posted:** Tue Jan 15, 2008 10:32 pm

Considering the high cost of dealership labor plus the parts, $300 may not be far fetched from their point of view.

$50 an hour, maybe 2 hours with parts probably in excess of $100. Pretty ballpark but that's how a dealer works.

Ask them for a breakdown of parts and labor.

But since you have the remotes, I'd probably not worry about it too much.

I can't remember the last time I used the key in the door.

KJKev

EternalTrance · **Posted:** Tue Jan 15, 2008 10:32 pm

I'll have to check the policy. Maybe I'll call my agent with a what if question. I definitely don't want to claim it if I don't need to...I'm young, so the less on my insurance claim history, the better.

Nah, they didn't get in at all...just screwed up the outside lock. Everything works fine: remote, inside locks, etc.

It does piss me off that it damaged the outside...my first blemish wasn't even from going off road

myjeepwalks · **Posted:** Tue Jan 15, 2008 11:22 pm

$50 an hr? :shock:

mine is like $100.

although i wouldn't let them work on it even if they charged $5 per hour. :lol:

Anyway to the o/p you should be able to just get the lock cylinder and just rekey it to your key. The only thing worse than a theif is an amature. The scum bag should of just broke the window it would of been cheaper.

WoodysKJ · **Posted:** Wed Jan 16, 2008 9:51 am

Check you insurance company. Most policies allow for zero deductables on safety issues. I know that auto glass is covered this way.

AZScout · **Posted:** Wed Jan 16, 2008 5:39 pm

ThunderbirdJunkie,

Do you live in AZ? Both me and my girlfriend, who has a KJ as well, have the same thing you do when someone went through our apt complex and stole from a bunch of cars. They were trying to pry their way in apparently. I see it everyday and it pisses me off.

Rush345 · **Posted:** Thu Jan 17, 2008 1:29 am

Rosenthal was a respectable dealership, but alas time changes everthing. I have worked for a dealership in the past and lock smithing is a learned art. So I agree with my bretheren and suggest checking with insurance, I beleive this falls into the vandalisem catagory, setting the keys to a lock does require some labor add to it. With the advent of newer security measures I'm sure it's more challenging then it use to be. Go to the insurance that what you pay for and they can't fault you for the damage.

EternalTrance · **Posted:** Fri Jan 18, 2008 11:40 am

I checked my insurance contract, and there's no added provision for door locks like there is for windshield repair. I carry a $500 deductible and just pay for smaller stuff out of reserve, so if it's under $500 I won't even claim it. I will have the dealer inspect it and request a written quote before I fork out the full $300 to have it fixed. There's another dealer, Bill Britt in Fredericksburg, that seemed to think it was less labor intensive than Rosenthal so I may check it out there and hopefully save a little money.

Thanks for everyone's input though

Guest · **Posted:** Fri Jan 18, 2008 1:16 pm

AZScout wrote:

ThunderbirdJunkie,

Do you live in AZ? Both me and my girlfriend, who has a KJ as well, have the same thing you do when someone went through our apt complex and stole from a bunch of cars. They were trying to pry their way in apparently. I see it everyday and it pisses me off.

It's funny that you mention it, because I lived in Phoenix when that happened (I'm back in Cincinnati now)

My passenger door handle works intermittently, but that's ok because I rarely have a passenger. I've been meaning to get it fixed for about 35,000 miles now, but I just havne't gotten around to it. A tow truck driver that I know that used to do bodywork told me it'd be less than $250 for labor to fix, and the parts are fairly cheap.

Just out of curiosity, where in AZ do you live? if you're familiar with Phoenix, I lived at 17th ave and Camelback (OH the joys of picking out an apartment before you move! NEVER doing that AGAIN)

AZScout · **Posted:** Fri Jan 18, 2008 6:39 pm

17th and Camelback? That is...umm...the adventurous side of town. Are you coming back to AZ or was it just temporary? I live at 7th st and Greenway.

Additionally, I'll have to check around. I was quoted much more than you to fix this but it looks like they were trying a lot harder on my vehicle. Pisses me off just thinking about it...

EternalTrance · **Posted:** Wed Feb 06, 2008 10:49 am

A Quick Update:

I ordered the lock cylinder from the www.newmoparparts.com website for $33 and received it quickly. A local locksmith was able to key the lock for $55. I'm going down to my dad's to do the installation along with some other maintenance this weekend. The locksmith asserted several times that it's an easy install, but they'll do the install for $110 if I need it.

I'm going to take some pictures during the repair and get them posted once it's complete.

Provided everything goes well with the installation, the total cost is under $100, so I'm as pleased as I can be given the circumstances.

dgeist · **Posted:** Wed Feb 06, 2008 11:12 am

EternalTrance wrote:

A Quick Update:

I ordered the lock cylinder from the www.newmoparparts.com website for $33 and received it quickly. A local locksmith was able to key the lock for $55. I'm going down to my dad's to do the installation along with some other maintenance this weekend. The locksmith asserted several times that it's an easy install, but they'll do the install for $110 if I need it.

I'm going to take some pictures during the repair and get them posted once it's complete.

Provided everything goes well with the installation, the total cost is under $100, so I'm as pleased as I can be given the circumstances.

Nice research. Glad you could get things fixed on the cheap and learn something while you're at it (lemons into lemonaid). Looking forward to the write-up.

Door Lock Damage: Need Advice

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