How to Change a Corolla Door Lock

There can be a number of reasons why you might need to change the door lock on your Toyota Corolla. If you lose a door key, you might need to change the locks for security. If one of the locks becomes damaged, it definitely needs to be changed. You should change the locks on all doors together, or you'll find yourself needing multiple key to open the doors. You have to work inside the door to change the lock cylinder.

Instructions

Removing the Door Panel

1

Disconnect the car's negative battery cable.

2

Pry off the power window controls from the panel with a trim stick and disconnect the electrical connectors. If the Corolla has power windows, disconnect its clip by working a cloth behind the handle from the underside.

3

Remove the trim pieces for the inside door handle and the armrest panel with a trim stick. Remove the outside mirror's trim cover by removing its retaining nuts. Unscrew its control handle or unplug its electrical connector.

4

Unscrew all the mounting screws for the door panel; many of them will be behind the smaller trim panels you removed. Pry the panel off the door by working a thin screwdriver, wide putty knife or trim tool around the edges.

5

Lift the panel off the door and disconnect all electrical connectors.

Changing the Lock Cylinder

6

Disconnect the control rods from the lock cylinder and the outside handle; work through the access holes in the door to reach these rods.

7

Pull off the small plastic cover on the side of the door frame to find the retention screw for the lock cylinder. Loosen this screw with a Torx bit.

8

Remove the two mounting screws for the outside door handlethe screws must be removed from the inside of the doorand disconnect the control rod to remove the handle with the lock cylinder.

9

Pry off the lock cylinder's retaining clip or remove its retaining bolteither one of which can be done with a screwdriver. Remove the cylinder from the handle.

10

Install the new lock cylinder onto the door handle with the clip or retaining screw,

11

Mount the handle and cylinder back in place within the door with the handle's mounting screws and tighten the Torx bolt within the door frame. Connect all the control rods.

12

Reconnect the door trim panel in the reverse order of removal.