Lubricated the driver's door key/lock...a mistake?

Recently I was lubricating all of the locks in my house, been using this dry lube stuff that specifically is for locks. Man! It's been fantastic, all of my doors open super smooth and the locks turn really easy.

Well I may have gotten a bit overzealous, I thought it might be a good idea to spray a bit on the key, put it into the door keyhole and lubricate the internal door lock on the truck...
Since then it's just gotten worse and worse and worse, it takes more effort and sticks now... Shit.

Any idea if I can fix this? Or did I miss it up?
I was thinking that maybe it doesn't like dry lubricant, I could try a tiny bit of 3 in 1 but I'm afraid to do anything else...haha

 

Graphite

 

I think I have some of that, does it go bad? Might be old...haha.

Okay, so a little on the key and then work it back and forth?

 

Yup. Graphite is what I use in my salty air environment have never had an issue

 

Did you use a penetrating fluid to lubricate the truck lock? If so you probably washed out all the graphite based lubricant and that's why the lock is acting the way it is now. Be careful spraying the Graphite lube around any electronics. Graphite lubricant shouldn't go bad sitting on the shelf so if you have old can it should be good to go.

 

Yes thanks forgot about the electronics warning

 

The door lock comes out really easy. There's a black plastic plug on the edge of the door. Pop it out. Then, in the hole is a bolt. Unscrew it. It's captive so it won't fall out. Then you just pull the lock assembly out. Snap the plastic cover off and you have the lock in your hand. Then you can spray the living daylights out of it. The locksmith I use recommends Triflow.

 

What may work for the guy in Hawaii may not be the right product for you if you are in a colder climate. I avoid spraying anything in a lock unless it is already having issues. Frost (moisture) collects on dirt before a clean surface. Therefore dirty locks or ones with crap in them will attract moisture and freeze more often than a clean lock.

We can discuss products that repel moisture or should have this characteristic or another. This is my experience and the internet engineers can argue the finer points all they want.

 

You might be able to douche out the junk with compressed air. Pencil lead works great as key lubricators, and crushing it into dust and blowing it into locks is a cheap, but effective way of lubing a lot of locks (mostly padlocks.. but kinda not so much with car doors)

Cars use wafer locks, since they are an easy way to use a double sided key. You probably just clogged the tracks the wafers ride in with whatever is in the dry lube (ptfe based stuff?)

 

I used 3 in 1 lock lubricant. I figured since it was for locks it would be okay.

You don't happen to know if there's a write-up or photos showing this do you?

I'm in Georgia so we don't get super cold around here...haha, just super humid. Yuck.

Wow is that the door lock? I guess it wouldn't hurt to take it out and clean it up.

 

Pencil lead is Graphite.

 

Steps 1 through 3 and 5.

https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/door-handle-removal-installation.456066/

 

That’s kinda the point.

 

Excellent! Looks like this is my next mini project.

Anyone know what new black handles cost these days? Might as well replace them with nice new non-faded black ones

 

I think I paid about $80 or $90 for new speedway blue color matched handles and lock covers for my access cab. Not sure what I did with my black ones. Make sure you get the correct "lock cover" for the passenger side based on if you have a passenger side key lock or not.

 

It takes about 5 minutes to remove the locks. Super easy. Had to change mine out

 

Damn. I guess I'll just clean mine and throw them back on haha.

 

My locksmith guy is very good. I have seen him do some amazing things. This is what he recommends, so that's what I go with. It also works great for motorcycle/ATV chain lube in the dunes.

 

Thanks I'll try to pick some up. Do they sell it in places like Lowe's or Ace?

 

This is what I use. I spray it on everything...squeaky bushings, bearings, door locks, etc. It doesn't attract dirt like regular WD40 or lithium, silicone, etc. does.
I've learned the hard way never to spray silicone on bearings or bushings, might make them quiet at first but the dirt that it attracts will ruin them in short order.

I spray the dry lubricant though right into the keyhole on my trucks doors and it works well.