Hi everybody,

I've got a 1997 Civic LX and the power locks don't work. They work like ~10% of the time from the button on the driver's door, and I can always hear clicks from all around the car when I use the button. There is something moving in each door, but the locks usually don't move.

I've taken off all the door panels but I just can't figure out what's going on.

Possibly related to this is the fact that the door handles on the inside of the car are sort of intermittent. The left passenger door stopped working from the inside a little while after I got the car, and then the driver's door, and then the front passenger. Then the two front doors came back. No idea what's going on here. I'm thinking about trying to shorten the metal rods that connect the handle to the mechanism to see if I can get more power from the handle, perhaps that will fix it?

Thanks in advance

 

grease is needed, or lubrication.

 

Check whether the inner door handles are cracked where the rod attaches.

Also test all 4 lock actuators.

You're asking for bigger problems by modifying any parts.