Opening Stuck Doors - All the tricks

[DrewCole]

Hello all,

Now before I'm told to use the search function, I would point out that I have done this many times over on many forums and search engines. The results of which I have tried and still I'm not getting anywhere with my issue.

The dreaded lack of opening issue that is common on our (and other) cars, I will list below the way I have tried to open my door and the symptoms.

First of all the door in question is my rear offside and I've tried the following:

• - The door will not open with two pulls of the inside handle.
  [*]- The inside button does try to pop op with an inside handle pull, but not all the way.
  [*]- The outside handle is free to move, but the cable from the mechanism is come out from its fixing on the exterior handle.

What I have tried:

• - Palming of the inside and outside of the door locking area has only resulted in a slight dent to the door
  [*]- Using a coat hanger to try and hook the mechanism lever through the cable hole hasn't worked.
  [*]- Door card cannot be removed from the inside with the door close as there is no access to bottom fixings.
• - Screaming and the use of colorful language with threats has little effect.

The only thing I can think of now is to remove the exterior window sill and use something like this: http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B00ERBTE...TF8&colid=3L50S8EQL0JM1&coliid=I1SEF4K0W5OHR5

Or undo the bolts from the B Pillar hinges and try to wiggle the lock into opening?

If anyone has found a way to sort out this issue that isn't covered above please let me know.

 

[Bigjohn84]

I had the same problem, couldn't open the back doors for the inside but could open them from the outside, what had happened is I had the door cards of and put everything back together but forgot to put the tiny plastic clip back in its place on the end of the cable on the inside of the door card.

If I were you I'd just smash my back window and open the door from inside the window slit.

 

[DrewCole]

Not sure smashing the window is a way forward really!

 

[Bigjohn84]

£10 for back window from scrapies gonna cost you more in parts ripping the inner door apart

 

[mty12345]

If it's deadlocked then i'm not sure you would be able to open it through the window slot anyway??

I think you will have to break the door card at the bottom and then get another one from the scrappy/ebay etc. don't think there is any other way to get at it from experience on here. Even then you may have to force the lock once the card is off.

 

[Bigjohn84]

True mate, just a thought

 

[mty12345]

You may well be right buddy, but i'd be scared to try it,lol

Drew, if you can force the card from as close to each of the 2 bottom screws as possible, then you may be very lucky and the plastic may just break around/inside the recess for the screws and not be noticeable. You might want to run the engine for a bit first and get the interior nice and warm, and that will make the plastics more pliable and less likely to split/shatter.

I'm sure it will still be hard work and pretty painful though tbh. Again from experience on here, a couple of seat dealers have said the same thing to people in the past. Breaking and then replacing the door card is how they would have to do it too.

 

[Bigjohn84]

There's no screws on the rear door cards just so you no mate, I'd just smash the Window £10 is nothing, that's if the deadlock isn't on

 

[mty12345]

There's no screws on the rear door cards just so you no mate, I'd just smash the Window £10 is nothing, that's if the deadlock isn't on

Ah right mate, i was thinking there was 2 at the bottom like the fronts.

Yeah i guess it's up to drew on the window. It;s not the £10, I'm just thinking that if he does smash it and then still can't open it, then he's left with the door still locked with no way to replace the window and stop the rain getting in etc.

 

[Bigjohn84]

Yeh I know what your saying, totally up to him, if I knew it was deadlocked I'd rip the door card off prob cost about £10-£15 out scrapies, everyone has there own ways of doing things lol

 

[matt_s]

Try driving around and getting someone to keep trying the inside handle. Worked for me when the microswitches in the lock started to die.

 

[spudboy6]

You can remove the rear door card easy , I've done it twice when both my back door locks died ,
Removed rear bench cushion easy to get out , then you have more than enough room to get door card off with no damage , then inner skin can move away , hammer and bar - then hit the lock (they shatter ) then the door will open , then replace lock and refit

I have done this twice and is fiddly but not impossible and no damage caused other than to the old lock

 

[DrewCole]

Thanks for all the replies guys!

I can get hold of a window after John mention removing it But as MTY mentioned if it is deadlocked then I'll be a little buggered anyway.

I wasn't aware there aren't any screws on the rear door cards so will remove back seats and give it a crack at the weekend.

I'll take some pictures so I can write up a guide if it works!

 

[Homer Simpson]

From my experience (front door) you need to make the outer lever that connects to the door handle go through it's full movement. I was fortunate in that i had already stripped the doorcard and so it made life easier.

Still, no matter what I did, it would not open until I moved the mechanism fully in and out and then pressed the lock/unlock several times to get it to pop open.

 

[DrewCole]

From my experience (front door) you need to make the outer lever that connects to the door handle go through it's full movement. I was fortunate in that i had already stripped the doorcard and so it made life easier.

Still, no matter what I did, it would not open until I moved the mechanism fully in and out and then pressed the lock/unlock several times to get it to pop open.

I had seen that on a YouTube video actually, there is also a secondary spring near the leaver that is used when installing, apparently it can cause the mechanism to rub or get stuck so can be removed as it is redundant.

 

[DrewCole]

So... I'm currently sitting in the rear of my car with the internal panel removed.

In the process you have to drill out the rivets to remove the window carrier and motor... The window is now taped up.

I can get to the door mech and move the lever.. But it will still not budge.


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[DrewCole]

I think the time has come for ruthless removal of door using power tools and a visit to a friendly breakers years to buy a complete door.


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[MajorBrownEye]

I feel your pain!

You have electric rear windows, mine are manual in the back, but this worked for me in the front. disconnect the window motor and leave it for as long as possible, hours, days, weeks. Just kidding, an hour or so will do. Then reconnect and try to unlock.

You may have to disconnect the front one too. The window motors control the lock mechanisms and front and back are linked.

On mine, the back door would unlock but wouldn't lock with the front winder motor disconnected.

Try it. It might just work. Might not though.....

 

[DrewCole]

Will look into that, sadly as I had to drill the rivets for the window channel to remove the ancillary panel the cable all unraveled...

The window is currently being held up like this....

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[spudboy6]

Get a bit off wood on the door lock and smash it to bits then the door will open and release , then replace lock no harm done to door