P38A Door lock not working

'99, 2.5 DSE, automatic

Yesterday the key stopped working in the door lock. The FOB will lock/unlock the car, but the key itself just spins in the lock barrel without locking or unlocking. This is a problem in case the battery would run flat, as I can't open the door to open the bonnet. It was working just fine until yesterday and I was using it daily almost.

What could it be? Many thanks

Take off the door card, you will probably find the rod between latch and key has dropped out.
If I remember theres a plastic clip that can break. But yes needs sorting before you need it. I have been there .

Easy fix.

J

If you are unlucky, it will not be the rod dropped out or the plastic clip broken but the arm on the end of the lock that the rod goes into will have broken off. The lock is not designed for daily use.

Thank you both

I turned out to be lucky this time, the rod had come off, probably whilst green landing.