Ford E-150 Econoline Locks and Hardware
One of the most important features of your Ford E-150 Econoline thats designed to keep you and your cargo safe is your vehicles locks. Without your E-150s locks, you risk your doors opening inadvertently in an accident, and you leave your valuable possessions vulnerable when you walk away from your vehicle. Thats why keeping your Ford E-150 Econoline locks and hardware in good working condition at all times is important.
How do you maintain the locks on a Ford E-150?Maintaining your Ford E-150 Econolines locks is a process that can be easily overlooked during normal maintenance routines. The following tips can help you keep your locks maintained and in working order.
- Protect them: If you live in a cold weather climate, or you ever drive in one with your Ford E-150, you might be susceptible to a frozen lock. Protect against this phenomenon by covering your key in hand sanitizer and then inserting it into the lock cylinder. The alcohol in the hand sanitizer will help prevent the lock from freezing and will help unfreeze a frozen lock.
- Clean them: Although your Ford E-150s lock cylinder is protected with the small latch door that moves out of the way when you insert the key, contaminants can still make their way inside the cylinder. This is especially true if there is fuzz or dust on your key when you put it in the lock. To undo this damage, use a can of compressed air to blast the debris out and restore the like-new functionality of your locks.
- Maintain them: If your lock begins to be hard to turn over time, dont simply try to force it using the key. This will only result in frustration and costly repairs. Instead, use a dry lubricant such as graphite in the cylinder to lubricate the small parts that make up the lock cylinder and restore their functionality.
As you select a replacement lock for your Ford E-150 Econoline, its important to remember that the Econoline lock system is made up of much more than the lock cylinder. The lock assembly also includes the lock cable actuator, the lock cables, and the door latch. You can find these components either as Original Equipment Manufacturer, labeled as OEM, or aftermarket models. Additionally, you can find the above components either separately or as an entire unit.
One item to keep in mind is that you need to make sure you select parts that are designed for the door youre servicing on your Ford E-150 Econoline. A broken lock on the drivers door requires a replacement lock thats designed for the drivers door, as the tight clearances in the door cavity will only allow for one specific design to be placed where the old assembly is removed from. This will ensure that your replacement works properly.