Plastic lock pin clips

[lannvouivre]

I need to replace the lock pin clip things. They're the plastic clips that hook the lever of the lock to the locking mechanism of the front doors.

I found that unlocking and locking the key cylinders has no effect whatever on the actual locking mechanism. I know a linkage must be loose, but can't see where the problem is at.

Do I need plastic clips, or is there a work-around? If I can get new clips, I would be happy with that. My preference is to not have to do repairs that aren't factory-acceptable.

[Petros]

these clips get brittle as they age, sometimes you can find them in the junk yard (any model of similar year toyota uses the same linkage clips) that are still flexible (not as bad in the PNW, but dry desert areas would not fare as well). I have pulled them off the rear doors to use on the driver's door (lubricate with silicone spray first), and than fabricated one for the rear door out of fine stainless wire, wrapping it around the joint in a figure 8 pattern so it holds the rod on the end of the lever. worked okay but not sure how long it would last, figured the rear doors would not get used nearly as much as the driver's door.

If they are available they would not cost much, but I have not check any dealer, there are none near me.

[lannvouivre]

I'm thinking that I may find some on ebay. The issue I have run into is that the pop-in end of the clip that goes into the locking cylinder lever is too big on the ones we got. My solution may to find out if I can get levers the same length that fit the cylinders, or to drill the holes out just a leeeettle bigger.

[irowiki]

Dorman HELP brand had a box of generic ones (like six different ones) and I think one out of the whole set worked...