Just curious if anyone had this happen before. The drivers' door lock will unlock when closing the door on my 72 Cutlass S. The lock rod will fully lock down and when the door is closed, needs a little force, the lock rod pops up and unlocks. I just have to lock it with the key. The passenger side will lock and stay locked when I close the door. The only thing I can think of its something with the door sags a little and it jars it, but the passenger side is about the same. Or the latch itself is bad. I haven't taken the door panel off to inspect the latch yet.

 

Try spraying some brake cleaner in it to dissolve and dislodge old hardened grease. Then spray some white grease into it to restore lubrication and motion.

Past that, worn-out latch or linkage problem.

 

You need to hold the outside door handle button in while closing the door.

 

Latch may be swapped out from an earlier car. I believe 72 you didn't have to hold the button. Earlier cars you did.

 

^^^THIS. Or the whole door was changed.

 

I think I did hold the button once and it didn't unlock. Maybe I will try that and see if that works. I have no idea if the door was swapped or not. The body color is the same as the rest of the body is/was. I wouldn't doubt if it was because the drivers quarter panel didn't have a badge and the edge of the firewall/body had a small fold in it behind the quarter panel. Also, when I got it, the shifter was out of a different model of Olds and the detent pins weren't even touching the guide. Luckily, I'm not keeping it factory so I'm not too worried.

 

My 1969 needed the button to be held down or the lock would pop up. Not the case in my 71, I actually noticed that right away lol.