Door lock

I have a 2007 Tundra and the driver side door will not lock or unlock when the key is inserted in the door. If I use the fob it will lock and unlock. Any ideas what is wrong?

 

Is this a problem that maybe came with the truck or did it happen under your ownership? And do you live in a cold climate?

 

I don’t live in a cold climate. I did buy the truck used and I am not sure it was working when I purchased the truck. I have always used the fob and recently the battery died and that is how I found out the key doesn’t unlock the door.

 

Could the lock tumblers just be gummed up/dirty? Sometimes when I try to use my key after long periods there is some resistance. I attribute it to dirty lock mechanism and lack of use.

 

Does the key turn smoothly or at all?

I figure it's purely mechanical, so maybe some contact cleaner (for quick drying) followed by some graphite to lube.?

My truck came with the opposite problem. Door would not unlock with the fob, and only with the key... Then one day it just fixed itself. I assume it will return some other day, but that's a problem for future Trey

 

can you clarify if you can turn the key and nothing happens? or the key does not turn in the lock?

 

The key turns easily both left and right.

 

I have now taken the lock off and use a screwdriver and it locks and unlocks the door. However, now that I have the lock off the key will not turn to the right

 

sounds like you need a new lock tumbler. Usually what messes them up is a door lock that is frozen and you force the key to open it, and it either bends the rod from the door lock tumbler or it messes up the tumbler.

 

Thanks for all the assistance from everyone. I called out a locksmith and he installed a new tumbler and I put everything back together and the door lock works.

 

Had the same issue with my old Tacoma. A locksmith came out and fixed everything in under an hour.