Topic: Driver Door Won't Open
in Forum: C3 Body
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Former Member
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Cramerton, NC - USA
Joined: 8/22/2006
Posts: 1094
Vette(s): black 1982 coupe slate gray interior, 350 crossfire, 1985 fuel pump, Steeroids R&P conversion
If your car has power door locks the power lock actuator itself can sometimes make it difficult to fully unlock the door. When operated electrically the lock knobs may move only slightly and when a key is used it will be very difficult to turn. I recently replaced my electric lock actuators because of this problem and it made a huge difference.
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Former Member
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Lusby, MD - USA
Joined: 10/18/2003
Posts: 56
Vette(s): 1981 WHITE ALT WITH ALL THE BELLS
Hi everybody. My car would not let me in. The power door lock motors were the problem. I had to use a slim-jim and worked the lock at the pivot were the lock motor hooks up. Im going to do all the door repairs and may need new lock motors. Does anyone know how to take the door lock switchs apart?
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Standard Member
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macedon, NY - USA
Joined: 7/20/2006
Posts: 367
Vette(s): 68 COUPE 454
HAS MOTION HOOD SCOOP, REVERSED GILLS
ZL-1 FENDER FLARES AND
MOTION REAR SPOILER, LEMAN'S GAS CAP,
BUCKET HEADLIGHTS.
CAN-AM FRONT
RACING SPOILER. CHROME HOOKER HEADERS AND SIDE PIPES! 4 SPEED M20,
LOOKS FAST STANDING STILL !!
eddie20875 said: i had a problem with my door not opening. first time i got a rod and moved all the linkages around inside the door and it finally opened. looked like it happened to the PO as the edges of the locking mechanism was bent outwards. i bought a used mechanism off ebay and installed it and figured my problem was solved.
door wound up not opening again and no matter what i tried i couldn't get it open. even took to the body shop where my 90 was fixed and three of us could not get it open. wound up taking a pry bar and breaking the locking mechanism to pieces and then the door finally opened and i saw why it wouldn't open but if i tell you i will have to kill you
.
.turned out it was the striker get caught on the door frame. when i looked someone had put extra washers behind it to move it out. drivers door only had one. took it out and then i found out why the extra washers were there. they stripped the nut that the striker screws into. took a tap and cleaned the threads and rinstalled the striker with one washer. had to reinstall the locking mechanism that came with the car and the door opens perfectly. may want to check that the striker is not going into the lock too far.
So, looking back, do you think that you could have gotten it opened without breaking up the lock mechanism?
I have the same problem right now.
Locked the pass door for the first time a few days ago, now it will not open, My door panel is off, so I can see in there, but no matter what linkage I move, it wont open.
Then,I read this thread and I noticied that my stricker is interfering with the latch.
I am going to try with an extra person tonight, wish me luck !
Joe
Standard Member
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macedon, NY - USA
Joined: 7/20/2006
Posts: 367
Vette(s): 68 COUPE 454
HAS MOTION HOOD SCOOP, REVERSED GILLS
ZL-1 FENDER FLARES AND
MOTION REAR SPOILER, LEMAN'S GAS CAP,
BUCKET HEADLIGHTS.
CAN-AM FRONT
RACING SPOILER. CHROME HOOKER HEADERS AND SIDE PIPES! 4 SPEED M20,
LOOKS FAST STANDING STILL !!
OK,
I got it to unlock and open.
I had to push one of the Lock levers on the inside with a screw driver while I turned the inside lock knob.
Something is catching within the mechanism, I will probably get a new one done the road. For now I just will not lock it.
Joe
I got it to unlock and open.
I had to push one of the Lock levers on the inside with a screw driver while I turned the inside lock knob.
Something is catching within the mechanism, I will probably get a new one done the road. For now I just will not lock it.
Joe
Lifetime MemberManteca, CA - USA
Joined: 11/20/2005
Posts: 3623
Vette(s): 1978,two tone,Metalic Rootbeer & gold
1975 L48 4 speed
Interesting phenomena, the wifes '78 has the very same problem on the passengers side 
. Doesn't seem to be any solution short of replacement. With money tight, I hate to go there so we just don't lock it.
. Doesn't seem to be any solution short of replacement. With money tight, I hate to go there so we just don't lock it.Jimmy B.
Just can't wait to get on the road again. 
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I do not know if this could be some of the problems people are having? I could not get my door locks to adj and work properly when I first got my 77. when I went to try and get the stock alarm to work peoperly I discovered the door handle rods where reversed the left doors was installed on the right door they are different
Lifetime MemberManteca, CA - USA
Joined: 11/20/2005
Posts: 3623
Vette(s): 1978,two tone,Metalic Rootbeer & gold
1975 L48 4 speed
Food for thought Robert. Can't get enough of that 
.
.Jimmy B.
Just can't wait to get on the road again.
Click to see larger views!
I had a similar problem where it was difficult to unlock the driver-side door.
My mechanic took it apart, cleaned and lubed everything.
When I got it back, the key moved freely, but did not unlock the door.
I took it back and he found that a small clip had come off.
He put a new clip on and now it works great.
Of course now I have a problem with the passenger side, but that is another story.
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What story is that, Dave? 
I had the problem with my driver's door. Sometimes it would lock but not unlock. You had to put the window down and work the key and the lock button at the same time until it unlocked. Then when in OC, MD last year for the boardwalk cruise I had two occasions when the door would open then not latch. Both times I had to remove the inner door panel and slide the lock mechinism with a screwdriver until it worked (for a while). when I got home I took the door panel off and discovered that the lock mechinism slides up and down in the CENTER of the door latch. After much cleaning and lubing, the lock works much better, no problems. Nothing is more embarasing than having your car break at a show!
I had the problem with my driver's door. Sometimes it would lock but not unlock. You had to put the window down and work the key and the lock button at the same time until it unlocked. Then when in OC, MD last year for the boardwalk cruise I had two occasions when the door would open then not latch. Both times I had to remove the inner door panel and slide the lock mechinism with a screwdriver until it worked (for a while). when I got home I took the door panel off and discovered that the lock mechinism slides up and down in the CENTER of the door latch. After much cleaning and lubing, the lock works much better, no problems. Nothing is more embarasing than having your car break at a show!
Barry
Lifetime MemberLemon Grove, CA - USA
Joined: 10/17/2007
Posts: 2041
Vette(s): 1982 C3 Collectors Edition 44000 miles, sat in the sun most of its life, My wife purchased it for me for Father's Day in 2007 from her girlfriend that had it for 19 years. It is on the road again. I'm retired but it is now my daily driver.
When that happened to me I called a AAA lock smith. I locked the only set of key inside the car.
No snickers please. Like one of my old bosses used to say "I can dish it out but not take it". 
The real scary part is he came out tried a couple of normal things then looked it up in his AAA locksmith book and showed me the answer. “Break side window no know reliable means to unlock”. That may not be true but according to AAA (he left his book by mistake I called him and he never came back for it).
Short story my window was down about ½ inch on the passenger side he was able to get a strong enough pry bar to unlock the T-top latch and I got in. I was surprised when someone in an earlier post got a slim-jim to work. The AAA guy could not. Talent I guess. Mmm I wondering about what he did in his youth. Not wanting to mention any names but check out the previous posts.
in Forum: C3 Body
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