Morris Minor Owners Club

Hi everyone.

Does anyone know if it's possible to install an internal door lock on the driver's door?

Hebe of course has one on the passenger door, but only a blanking rubber on the driver's door.

I will be doing some alone night-time driving in Hebe come the Autumn (long distances too). I'd really like to be able to lock myself in when I'm driving alone.

Yes, I know it's a wimpy thing to want, but it's saftey primarily - And when I got my company car I made them change the central locking so that only my door opened first. I'm funny like that...

I suppose if it's not possible then I'll just have to start training with the mokey wrench

you could wind the window down and lock it with the key

If I do that, can I still get out by using the door handle?

I'm pretty sure you can, but check it on your car....
(It is an MOT requirement to be able to open the door from the inside but they don't always check it when locked etc..)
You can fit internal locks on both doors. The LHD had one on the right hand door, but i don't know if it uses the same bits or if they are handed.
The downside is that if you catch the internal latch when getting out of the car (to post a letter / open the garage door etc..) you will have locked your keys in the car.

This is a VERY simple mod IF you can get the correct part. The little locking lever is virtually a push-in part, with just a small sprung pin to retain it. The catch (no pun intended) is that the lever is handed, one for the left hand door, one for the right. You MUST get the right lever, or it will turn backwards and foul the B-post.

To order the part try the Birmingham centre, Mike has got them for me before, just specify that you want the lever for the RIGHT HAND door. If you think about it, on a left hand drive car, this is the passenger door!! Even if they are not normally fitted in the UK, they are made for the export market. The levers are not expensive.

Once you've got the little lever, simply remove the rubber grommet from the door. Also remove the trim panel so that you can see what you're doing (unscrew window winder, door lock lever, and door pull, and then gently prize off the panel). You can now see a little hole in the lock assembly. Push the lever through the hole in the door and into the one in the lock. Lubricate. Refit panel and handles. Job done.

And by the way, yes you can still open the door from the inside when it's locked from the outside, the lock operates only on the outer handle.

One word of warning: If you leave the keys in the ignition and then catch the lever on the door as you get out, you can lock yourself out

Good luck, stay safe, that's not being a wimp, it's being sensible.

they must be avalible for left hand drive cars. i have 1, not not sure of condition. the door will open from the inside while locked from outside

i seem to remember this being a tech-tip in a recent Minor matters. I cant remember the details, and don't have the magazine to hand, but i recall that it was possible to remove or adjust something that allowed the internal door handle to be turned forward to lock the drivers door, as with the passenger doors.

winger300 wrote:i seem to remember this being a tech-tip in a recent Minor matters. I cant remember the details, and don't have the magazine to hand, but i recall that it was possible to remove or adjust something that allowed the internal door handle to be turned forward to lock the drivers door, as with the passenger doors.

Are you sure this isn't just on the 4 door? I know the 4 doors lock by pushing the handles forward but the 2 doors don't have this facility. It would be cool if you can though

Yeh, that's the four-door. The driver's door isn't supposed to lock from inside, but by removing a bolt, you can move the handle forward to lock. However, this locks the whole mechanism so you can't unlock it from outside, unlike the 2dr system which just works on the lock itself, I understand...

I have a two door saloon and I have got into the habit of opening the door and locking it immediately. Once you get the habit you do it without realising it, the only downfall to this is that I have locked myself out twice but fortunately both times the quarter light was open

ah, i stand corrected.

Perhaps you could secure a spare key to the underside of the car somewhere for when you lock yourself out