Door key will only lock with door opened
 

My passenger door lock would only 'lock' with the door open. With door closed, could not depress the door lock button or lock the door using the key.
This stumped me for a few days. Liberal lubrication achieved no improvement.

Solution:
I had new weatherstripping installed about 6 months ago when the problem began. I carefully applied pressure inward on the door while standing outside. With the other hand, I rotated the key to lock. PRESTO! The door lock worked!
I loosened the 3 screws on the door latch and was able to slightly move the assembly 'outward.' I then loosened the four 9/16" bolts on the striker assembly and was able to move it 1/16" outward. That was enough to get necessary clearance for the pawl to move properly. Now my door lock works.;)

Re: Door key will only lock with door opened
 

Thanks for posting this info, I bet it's gonna help some people. Congrats for figuring it out!

Re: Door key will only lock with door opened
 

Great tip. I went through the same thing.
After I pushed on the door and it locked i was like a kid at Christmas.