Door lock question

A couple of days ago I found that my driver's side door key lock had become disconnected. The lock tumbler turned freely left and right but didn't move the door lock.

I just took off the door panel and saw that the connecting link rod that goes on back of the lock tumbler had come loose. The picture is poor, but the rod is in the foreground. At the top of the rod is a little groove.

Attachment 3754

When I pushed the rod back into its plastic receptacle and it went in with a "snap".
Is that all that it is supposed to do?
Is there supposed to a clip of some sort on the back end of the connecting rod?
What will prevent the rod from coming out again?
There was a cone extension on the backside of the plastic receptacle that covers the groove on the rod, so I don't see how a clip would fit on it.

Attachment 3755

A mud dauber's nest on the inside top of the door:
Attachment 3756

Mud Dauber:
Attachment 3757

I think I'd remove the wasps, but then it may be a good theft deterrent.

I think the plastic clip is made so it does a little "wrap" around the lock shaft, but that's the only thing there. Folks used to knock them off trying to break in to the cars.

We call those paper wasps here.

Mud dauber is a bird that makes nests out of mud. Usually on the side of a building. I think they are also called river bank swallows..

Dennis, mine had that same clip you find on your throttle linkage. It has a place the rod goes through and then a part of it that clips onto the rod itself. Probably not the best description but I'll see if I can find one and take a picture of it.
But if your plastic clips are good you shouldn't need the extra piece I'm thinking of. [thumb]