I have a 2006 Lariat Super Crew which someone tried to break in by trying to punch in my door lock cylinder. They were not successful but I could no longer use the key which was no big deal since I have a remote and the door keypad to unlock with.

The problem I am now having is the door lock cylinder has now dropped down in the door and has left an empty hole where it used to be. I can no longer open my driver door with my remote. I have to crawl in from the back seat and reach forward from the inside and open the driver side door. The locking mechanism in the door in the inertior of the cab raises up and then falls back down but does not raise up enough to open the door.

Any advice on how to replace the lock cylinder without going into the door through the interior door panel? If I have to go through the door panel, guidance to removing the panel and replacing the lock cylinder would be greatly appreciated.

 

If the door lock cylinder was "punched through" - there is a good chance that a body shop will have to rebend the door around the lock cylinder itself....

To get the cyclinder out of the door - go to any auto part store. They have an "interior panel" tool that looks like a small notched crowbar with a screwdrivers handle. What you do is carefully lift off the interior panel and you will see the "locking tabs" that you need to slide the tool around the tabs shaft and carefully lever off the door frame removing the tab from the door frame. Typically you will see about 8+ of these tabs... Then - be careful of the wiring for the mirrors, switches etc. but you should be able to reach in the door and get to the fallen cylinder!

After that it's simply trying to reinstall, which probable won't work as outer ring is damaged then it's off to the body shop!