Door Lock Issues
Posted: Fri Dec 03, 2010 11:24 amJust wanted to let you know about a problem I ran into with my 2009 Jayco Eagle 5th wheel and what the solution was in case it happens to you. The initial door deadbolt lock became very difficult to open so the dealer replaced it. We went camping about a month later and 3 days into the trip I came back from a walk and was not able to get the key into the door deadbolt to unlock it. I had to call a locksmith who initially heavily lubricated the lock but was still unable to get it to work. Then he spent about 20 minutes picking it before he finally got it open. He told me not to use the deadbolt until I could get it replaced because he didn’t trust it so we went back to the dealer on the way home. The dealer replaced the whole lock again. A week later I went to the storage area and was again unable to get the new deadbolt lock open. In each case, the key would not go all the way into the deadbolt lock. Having the locks replaced several times made me think that there must be something else causing the problem but the dealer’s lock guy just replaced the whole thing each time.
I found the solution to my key insertion problem after much research on the Internet. Apparently this problem is somewhat common with newer locks NOT just the one that I have in my Jayco which is a FIC lock. The older locks only allowed the key to come out of the lock when the lock slit was vertical so no issue; however, newer locks allow the key to come out when it is either vertical or horizontal. Unfortunately, when the key is removed while in the horizontal position, the tumblers inside the lock sometimes shift and you cannot get the key in all the way.
According to the posting I found, you should insert the key in as far as possible and then tap on it lightly with a hammer until the key eventually goes all the way in. I could actually feel it moving in click by click. Once it is all the way in, turn the key and the lock opens. I followed the procedure and it works!!! Make sure in future that you do not remove the key unless it is vertical in the lock. To me, this is still a defective lock and you would think that the locksmiths and technicians would know about the problem and solution. Maybe this knowledge will help someone else in the future.
I found the solution to my key insertion problem after much research on the Internet. Apparently this problem is somewhat common with newer locks NOT just the one that I have in my Jayco which is a FIC lock. The older locks only allowed the key to come out of the lock when the lock slit was vertical so no issue; however, newer locks allow the key to come out when it is either vertical or horizontal. Unfortunately, when the key is removed while in the horizontal position, the tumblers inside the lock sometimes shift and you cannot get the key in all the way.
According to the posting I found, you should insert the key in as far as possible and then tap on it lightly with a hammer until the key eventually goes all the way in. I could actually feel it moving in click by click. Once it is all the way in, turn the key and the lock opens. I followed the procedure and it works!!! Make sure in future that you do not remove the key unless it is vertical in the lock. To me, this is still a defective lock and you would think that the locksmiths and technicians would know about the problem and solution. Maybe this knowledge will help someone else in the future.
Or worse yet, getting stuck, as we are all not as agile as Sharon. Linda
