Door handle issue - door not opening

[dinsdale]

Hi all,

Got a strange issue with my front passenger door not opening, that I fear is going to fail the MOT tomorrow (it never occurred to me that door handles functioning is on the MOT test, but I've just been told it is!)

This started a few weeks ago when I replaced the window regulator. After putting the door back together, the door will no longer open using either the inside or outside handles. However, if I take off the inside handle, unclip the wire and pull, it opens!

I can't figure out where the problem lies. First thought was that the wire between the inside handle and the catch has stretched, so the handle doesn't pull it quite far enough. But in that case, why doesn't the outside handle work? (Once I've unclipped the wire from the inside handle, it's also possible to open the door from the outside.)

Any ideas? Has anyone had this same problem? I've tried searching, but all I come up with is problems with the lock: unlocking the door is not the problem in this case.

Thanks,
David

 

[Xode]

same thing.. but i dont get power to doorlock.. so its basically open if the wire is connected outside handle even when car is locked.. can you tell me how you got the door panel open when the door is closed? or how did u manage open the door?

 

[dinsdale]

Update: I rescheduled the MOT for next week. Then thought, that doesn't leave very much time if it turns out I need to order any parts! So I stripped the door down this evening.

It turned out the problem was the cable between the lock and the inside handle was not correctly located in its slot at the lock end. That must have meant it was always under a little too much tension which is what prevented it unlocking.

Fingers crossed now that there are no other issues getting this 22 year old car through its MOT!

 

[dinsdale]

same thing.. but i dont get power to doorlock.. so its basically open if the wire is connected outside handle even when car is locked.. can you tell me how you got the door panel open when the door is closed? or how did u manage open the door?

It sounds like my problem was quite different to yours. There are a lot of other threads here about problems with the lock module.

I didn't need to take off any more than the door handle to get it to open. But once the handle is off, the top of the door card comes away when you pull it. The difficulty is getting the two screws out at the bottom, although others have reported managing to do that by pushing the seat right back and pulling away the trim around the bottom.