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We've got a deadbolt that decided to stop working today. When we turn with either the key (outside) or the lever (inside), the knob/key moves the full motion, but the deadbolt only moves about 1/2 an inch. It does not retract all the way inside the door, and therefore we can't get the door open.
As I said, the movement seems fluid, but the deadbolt just doesn't move far enough. What would cause this, and how might I go about fixing it?
You'll have to remove the dead bolt and thumb turn mechanism in order to inspect it. It could just be gummed up in which case it needs to be cleaned and lubricated, but also common is someone forcing the lock and bending a component. If bent, you can try and straighten whatever is bent with a pair of pliers, but if it bent that easily it is probably a low-end deadbolt in which case it's probably better to replace it. A locksmith can key a new deadbolt to your current key if that is a concern. There might also be debris lodged in the mechanism which can be removed.
Ever notice how it was a little difficult to lock and unlock that deadbolt over the years? The stress placed on the bolt from the poor alignment with the frame has caused the bolt to break. Unscrew the lock from behind, manually scratch the bolt back to open the door. Replace the bolt, file the strike.
Since you said it's a rental, I'd start by calling the landlord. It's their lock, it's their property, it's their responsibility to fix it (or to authorize you to get it fixed and deduct the cost from your next rent check, or something of that sort).
If you want to try doing something yourself: Dismount the thumbturn and lock cylinder. Looking into the resulting bore through the door, you'll be able to see the deadbolt's mechanism. Try turning its hub with a screwdriver and watch it move. I'm betting you'll see part of the linkage banging into the surrounding wood, and that if you remove a bit of wood there for the linkage to operate it'll solve your problem. (Uncommon but not unheard-of problem; wood shrinks as air humidity decreases, and sometimes things shift enough that a hole bored in midsummer won't quite align well enough in midwinter.)
The other (less likely) possibility is that the bolt mechanism is broken. In which case you'll have to figure out how to retract it, since you can't replace it until you can open the door.
HOWEVER: If the bolt mechanism appears to operate normally with the thumbturn and cylinder removed, the issue is probably one of "timing". There is a limited range of free motion designed into the linkage between lock, bolt mechanism, and thumbturn; this is what allows the lock or thumbturn to retract the bolt without the other turning. The parts need to be installed in such a way that this freedom is at the right point in the locking/unlocking cycle; if you get that wrong, that can produce exactly the symptoms you're seeing where the key or thumbturn stops before it can retract the bolt. The solution in that case is to reassemble these parts correctly aligned, which is a bit of a pain to describe in text and which varies a bit from lock to lock. If you can tell us what brand of lock it is, we may be able to talk you through that.
You've probably fixed it by now, but generally it's because the deadbolt has slipped out of alignment - entering the deadbolt hole at a slight angle instead of horizontal. Since your door won't open, try lifting your door up by the handle and see if that frees up the deadbolt enough to retract it. Then try pushing down (more unlikely) and see if that frees it. If one of those two work, then the angle is the problem and can be repaired by tightening or adjusting the receptacle plates. If not, you'll have to take the assembly apart and troubleshoot the parts on the inside. Good luck.
First if your lock is not working with you key, 1st step: take off the deadbolt. 2nd step: Remove the bolt in the middle. 3rd step: Get a few new parts for it. 4th step: Replace the cylinder for a Assa Abloy one or Multi-Lock. 5th step: Get new screws for security. 6th step: Put the lock on the door and it should word again.
I had a similar problem and it was just because I'm guessing overtime it somehow turned...it wasn't straight. So I took out the screws and just lined up the screws so that they were at level and bingo! No sticking!
