Has anyone here had to change the outer lock mechanism on a tintop? Is it generally easy?

when I first bought my tintop some git tried to break in with a screwdriver-in-the-lock trick. It didn't work and as the lock still worked I left it as it is. In the last two months some little scroat's gained entry to my car without breaking anything, so I'm assuming the lock is now finally going wrong.... (there's no central locking and I always test the door after locking to make sure it's locked properly)...

Is it worth changing the outer part of the lock (and if so is it easy?)... or do I just fit a effing loud alarm that will sound as soon as they open the door..... After all, they might just re-screwdriver the door as soon as I repair it....

Dilema...

Delock the door. You can get blank alloy bits to cover the hole and bolt up from the inside of the door skin. You could get some steel plate to bolt up behind the blank lock to make it more secure.
You could even take out the door pins for extra security if they are the type you can pull up. Make sure you leave the boot for access or have some external way to power the central locking if the battery goes flat.
Allan

Yup. Tempting idea!!!!

get a bloody great big dog that lives in the car

Yes, I'm quite tempted by a black mamba in the glove compartment....

Fords just have a square 'C' clip if that what its called, flick it out and the lock pulls out.

The hard part is removing the anti theft shielding to stop said scrotes using a coat hanger to flick the lock open by going down inside the glass.

If it is a ford then you can get a refurb kit, you just have to play around with the tumblers, the are numbered so you just match one for one, I guess its the same for other cars.

Rgds Mark