Clicking sound when locking doors

[P-O Selander <p-o.selander@ericsson.com>]

I have been fighting a "mechanical" clicking sound when locking and
unlocking my doors. Has been from the passenger side and left rear door,
both doors taken a part by me earlier.

I thought it was just a matter of poor/missing lubrication in the
latching mechanism itself, but it turned out to be even more silly and
easy.

On my 1989 100E, the inside door handle is connected with a wire to the
actual door latch. That wire's housing can be positioned in TWO
positions when re-attaching it to the inside handle. If you use the same
position I did initially (and that was the one that made most sense),
the wire is slightly tensioned and keeps the latching mechanism somewhat
tensioned. When locking/unlocking, you might here an unnatural
"mechanical click" from the locks.
If you have the same symptom, check installation of interior door
handles and reposition the cable housing.

P-O Selander
89 100E
91 300ZXTT (for sale)