Passenger Door Won't Unlock

tmwsccsh

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Hi all,

So it would appear that the passenger door won't open - it won't even unlock. You press the unlock button on either the passenger door console or drivers on and nothing happens. Also won't open on the key from the outside - the plastic pin thing that pops up out of the door is going nowhere.

I have tried opening using the handle from the inside and it's very stiff and the pin will come up about a centimetre or so (slowly) but not enough to release the lock.

I suspect from what I have been reading that the actuator has failed - great! Looks fairly straightforward to replace, assuming the door is open!

I think the door card will come off with the door shut but not fully certain.

Has anyone got any prior experience with this situation and could share release / opening stories?

Thanks in advance.

TMW
 

ttocs

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I have seen many actuators fail, but never lock up like you are saying. normally the gears inside get stripped and you will hear them try to move, but not be able to but you are still able to manually move the lock. I would suspect something is jammed up inside and the hard part there is you will need to remove the door panel to look and that will be a little bit harder with the door closed.....

if you remove the rubber trim around the window you might be able to get a little bit of a look at the latching mechanism but even if you can see it reaching it is another problem.
 

ttocs

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Is there any chance maybe the seat belt or something else is caught in the door or the latch and creating tension that keeps it from moving? Try pushing in on the door while you turn the key and see if you can make less tension and move it. Otherwise I would try to get a good grip of the lock rod with a pair of pliers or something and see if another good yank will move it. It might mess up or break the rod cover but at this point it sounds like something is broken or might need to be to get it open again.
 
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tmwsccsh

tmwsccsh

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That's not a bad shout actually.

I'll take a better look tomorrow and see if anything has got caught in it.

Thanks for the suggestion.

TMW
 
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tmwsccsh

tmwsccsh

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Only problem with grabbing the lock rod is that they are flush in the door when it's locked but I can get it up a little so will see if I can grab it.

TMW
 

95opal

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Pull the door panel it will be much easier and less waist of time.
 

ttocs

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The back part is no problem but I think the front part you will be fighting the dash to pull it out after sliding it up enough to take the panel off.
 

07GtS197

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Isn’t there a Christmas tree push pin in the door jamb? I don’t think you’ll be able to open it from the inside. You’ll probably have to use a slim Jim to get the door lock rod unstuck.
 
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tmwsccsh

tmwsccsh

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Yeah there is - but I think there's enough gap to get that out between the door card and the main frame from what I can tell. I've got trim removal tools so can slide something in there easy enough.

Job for the weekend.

TMW
 

ttocs

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there are no tools needed other than a screw driver for the single screw. Hopefully there is enough space to slide it off then you will only need to contend with laying across the car, or sitting in the seat and trying to work back behind your butt.... I would not be surprised if maybe part of the window guides or something fell off and is caught in the latch somehow.
 
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tmwsccsh

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Oh I've had the drivers door card off a couple of times - changed the Window Regulator and Motor in October so I'm Ok with the process - just not when the door's shut! :eek:

TMW
 

ttocs

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Yea I know that is what I was thinking. If it was the front of the door it would not be that bad but you need to get access to the back of the door. My back starts to get sore imagining sitting in the seat and trying to twist to see and work on the area and then my stomach/gut can just imagine the parking brake poking me as I lay across it.....
 
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tmwsccsh

tmwsccsh

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I think if the passenger seat goes all the way forward and tips there will be enough room to get access in there.

Just had a quick look to see if anything is stuck in the door - there's not.

Bashed it a few times where the mechanism is - still nothing.

So, as said, looks like a challenge for the weekend!

TMW
 

ttocs

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Just out of stupidity before ya go doing anything, try some technical taps around the back of the door. See if you can thump it just hard enough that if there is something that is wedged in place or blocking what ever might move enough to make it work. No need to hit it hard enough to break anything but I have troubleshot/fixed a lot of stuff with technical taps.
 
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tmwsccsh

tmwsccsh

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I like that - technical taps.

Yeah that will be plan A. It would be so much easier to get to with the door open!

Even if for now I can get it open and have to use the key to lock / unlock for a while I don't mind.

TMW
 

ttocs

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my first freshman year in electronics school maybe a month in we were putting a circuit together to test. A guy in the row behind me told the prof that his signal generator didn't seem to be working. Mr Birch was BIG and didn't even get out of his chair to teach, just wrote on an overhead projector on the desk so he asked about some switches to make sure he had the right settings, and he did. He started to get up and behind me I hear the kid wack the top of the signal generator 2x, and then announce he fixed it. Mr Birch got excited enough to tell the kid that always sleeps to wake up as this was important(no shit). He then started to tell us about technical taps and how useful they are, and that we can bill for them....
 
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tmwsccsh

tmwsccsh

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It's a fine line between a technical tap and a broken unit!

TMW
 

95opal

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You can also try just pulling the door cup out. That will at least allow you to slide your hand into the door panel and possibly reach the lock rod.
 
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tmwsccsh

tmwsccsh

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You can also try just pulling the door cup out. That will at least allow you to slide your hand into the door panel and possibly reach the lock rod.
That's not a bad shout actually.

TMW
 

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