Driver door lock

[Mpitchf]

On my 97 XJ the driver side door won't lock. As soon as you take the door panel off it will lock. Anyone had this problem or know how to fix it?

[4.3LXJ]

That sounds like a frayed wire or bad connection on the switch

[bluedragon436]

Are you saying it won't lock using the power lock switch, the key or the little tab by the handle inside?? After I pulled my doors apart to install new speakers I couldn't get the drivers side door to lock using the key or the tab, but would power lock just fine (most of the time anyways).. but as soon as I removed the door panel and unlaced the little tab by the inside door handle it'll lock using the power lock and the key every time... (mine was actually like that when I bought it too, but didn't notice it until later).. So was just looking to see if your issue seems to be similar?? If so, I found mine is the little rods that connect the tab to the door lock mechanism, most likely got bent when the PO removed the door panel for something (not sure what, as the drivers window still didn't work as he said it did).. but I haven't been able to get mine bent back to the right configuration for the tab inside to work again, so right now I can only lock/unlock my doors by using the key or the power lock option, I can't use the tab thing on either of the front doors... But I know it's due to the rods being bent in the wrong configuration..