I need some help.

My drivers side door will not unlatch and open. It is stuck in the closed position. It is unlocked. Neither the inside or outside handle works. There is very little resistance on either handle. Any ideas how to get the door open?

|UPDATED|1/26/2005 7:07:45 PM (AZT)|/UPDATED|

take the door panel off and reconnect the linkage..

it is probably one of the little pass through clips that is broken

Thanks Ben.

I hate to rip the panel off while the door is in the closed position, but that may be my only option.

Is there any tricks to getting the latch inside the door jam to release? It appears stuck.

Hinz-73 said: Thanks Ben. I hate to rip the panel off while the door is in the closed position, but that may be my only option. Is there any tricks to getting the latch inside the door jam to release? It appears stuck.

you might try a coat hanger.. you need to try to hook the locking mechanism

I have got the lock mechinism in the unlocked position. The arm that releases the latch is stuck in the down position. This should release the door but nothing happens. Any ideas welcome!

Hinz-73 said: I have got the lock mechinism in the unlocked position. The arm that releases the latch is stuck in the down position. This should release the door but nothing happens. Any ideas welcome!

glass em shut and "duke boys" it..

sorry.. had to.. have you tried tilting the seat forward and getting in there with some wd-40 and then wiggling the door while you jimmy around in there with a coat hanger..

My car is sitting in the shop with the door open now for the same reason. It wouldn't open.

a piece of nylon bushing decided to come loose and lodged itself against the latch pawl. We had to drive the pawl off of the post to get the door open. I'm not sure if it's repairable, haven't taken it out yet.
Get a small flash light and take a good look at the latch mechanism, you could have the same thing I did

Thanks Ben and Dave.

Ben - The thought crossed my mind. Where's Daisy?

Dave - Your diagnosis seems very likely. The latch arm is in the release, but the pawl will not release. How did you get the pawl off the post? Chisel? Did you remove the door panel?

Thanks

It's been alot of years since I've had the trim on my doors but I can get a thin blade screwdriver in between my window and door and push the lever to open the door. It may be ez'er than taking the door panel off.
If you get to that point I can shoot a photo and show you how it look in there. I dont have any door panels on my car yet.
But I think if you remove the trim on the top you can get to the door realse.

Thanks Makovai. Your suggestion and offer are appreciated.

I got it open.

Unfortunatly, I had to remove the inside panel with the door closed. It did damage the panel and rear quarter interior panel slightly. There was no other way. The problem seems to have been, and still is, the locking mechinism. It got stuck half way between locked and unlocked. This caused nothing to work, including the latch release. Once the panel was removed, I could get a screw driver on the mechinism and wiggle. I heard a click, and presto... the door opened. I am going to soak the entire mechinism with carb cleaner. Feels like a bind somewhere. Main thing is I got it open. Everything seems to work ok as long as I don't try to lock it. Once you set the lock, everything binds. Oh well, at least I am out of the "dukes of Hazard" entry mode.

Thanks to everyone for the suggestions.

Is taking the latch assembly off the door a big chore? Does it go in and out without trouble?

Bret