99 civic ex coupe lock problem; can't lock the driver side door.

The lock at the driver side door has been acting strange. Basically I
can't lock it by any means from outside: can't lock by key, can't lock
it by power master switch and can't lock it by the inside manual lock
tab either. And when I push the inside manual lock tab, I feel that it
doesn't move much as if it is stuck somewhere. One more funny twist is
that sometimes after driving a bit, the driver side door seems suddenly
to wake up and being locked automatically and I can't opened it. At
that time, I might unlock it by pushing/pulling the inside power master
swtich repeatedly and after a few times, I might then open the door. At
times it doesn't work, then I have to get out of the car from the
passenger side door, walk around and strangely I can open the driver
side door easily by simply pulling the outside door handle (if that it
means it is not locked, right?! but I can't open it from inside by
pulling the inside door handle). Anyway, seems to me it is all messed
up. When you are inside, it can lock you up and when you go outside,
you can't lock it. There is also a minor issue with the passenger side
door. When I pull the inside door handle to open the door, the inside
door handle can't go back to its original position automatically. I
have to push it firmly back to its original location. Compared to the
driver side door, this issue is minor. Any ideas how to fix the door
problems?

" wrote:
>
> The lock at the driver side door has been acting strange. Basically I
> can't lock it by any means from outside: can't lock by key, can't lock
> it by power master switch and can't lock it by the inside manual lock
> tab either. And when I push the inside manual lock tab, I feel that it
> doesn't move much as if it is stuck somewhere. One more funny twist is
> that sometimes after driving a bit, the driver side door seems suddenly
> to wake up and being locked automatically and I can't opened it. At
> that time, I might unlock it by pushing/pulling the inside power master
> swtich repeatedly and after a few times, I might then open the door. At
> times it doesn't work, then I have to get out of the car from the
> passenger side door, walk around and strangely I can open the driver
> side door easily by simply pulling the outside door handle (if that it
> means it is not locked, right?! but I can't open it from inside by
> pulling the inside door handle). Anyway, seems to me it is all messed
> up. When you are inside, it can lock you up and when you go outside,
> you can't lock it. There is also a minor issue with the passenger side
> door. When I pull the inside door handle to open the door, the inside
> door handle can't go back to its original position automatically. I
> have to push it firmly back to its original location. Compared to the
> driver side door, this issue is minor. Any ideas how to fix the door
> problems?

------------------------------

For starters, you may have damaged it if you've been trying to lock it
by pushing down the plunger with the door open. When door is OPEN, you
have to hold the outside handle out a bit before it will lock with the
power switch, or by pushing the plunger down. It's to prevent locking
the keys inside, and it's in your Owner's Manual. Forcing the plunger
down will BEND components in the mechanism, or BREAK some of the plastic
parts.

Your dealer can get you an owner's manual in a couple of days.

'Curly'