Door wont open

ckorbecki · 02-15-2013, 06:39 AM

I'm pretty sure this is not an Operator Error, but my door wont open from the interior or exterior door handles and the door is closed. I'm not sure how I'm going to get my door panel off to fix the problem. Does anyone have any insight or has it happened to you. Opened just fine before i went rock climbing and then when i went to the store it wouldn't open.

TomatoSoup · 02-15-2013, 07:35 AM

Never heard this one before. Unfortunately you can't get the door panel off (non-destructively) without the door being open due to its shape and screws in the jamb.

What are the symptoms of the issue? How do the handles feel (compared to the opening side) when you try to open. Does it feel like it's locked? Have you tried jiggling the lock pull? Or does it feel like everything's working but the door is just stuck? Could it be frozen?

chickenwire · 02-15-2013, 08:28 AM

I ask this with all sincerity and without trying to be an a$$, but is it unlocked? Just a possibility that the RKE isn't working or the door lock isn't working.

I'm not aware of a manual "trip" for the door but I'm sure it's possible. I'll nose around a bit to see if I can learn anything.

chickenwire · 02-15-2013, 08:36 AM

Driver side door won't open!

ckorbecki · 02-15-2013, 09:25 AM

I can lock and unlock the doors but the handle has no restriction. I can just pull and it will fully extend with no pressure. its not frozen nor is the door stuck. I'm pretty sure the latch just came off some how but no one ever rides with me. I was trying to put my groceries in the passenger side and the door wouldn't open.

TomatoSoup · 02-15-2013, 11:32 AM

Have you manually unlocked the offending door (with the pull tab)? How does that feel... does it feel connected?

chickenwire · 02-15-2013, 11:45 AM

If there is no resistance I'd be tempted to wager it is indeed a disconnected rod/lever. Don't have access to my shop manuals here in the office, but will try to remember to look tonight when I get home. Might give us an idea of where to "pull" to get the door open so you can pop the panel off.

LatinVenom · 02-15-2013, 03:26 PM

If you cannot get it to open, there are lots of places that will do it for you.

chickenwire · 02-16-2013, 01:20 PM

My service manual doesn't have any good diagrams - none detailed enough to see where to grab on the latch mechanism to manually trip it.

TomatoSoup · 02-16-2013, 02:18 PM

I've been into my doors multiple times. Don't know of a way to get to the latch mechanism without it already being open and the inner panel off

chickenwire · 02-16-2013, 03:00 PM

Awright. phuqit. I'm goin' in. I have a clunk in the driver's side window that needs to be checked out anyway.

TomatoSoup · 02-16-2013, 03:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by chickenwire

Awright. phuqit. I'm goin' in. I have a clunk in the driver's side window that needs to be checked out anyway.

I'm hearing Wagner playing loudly in the background (and some Valkyries flying overhead).

chickenwire · 02-16-2013, 06:12 PM

lol! Just hopin' CK checks back in.

I popped off the driver's side panel to see what was "what" on the inside. (And I did find the reason for the "clunk" when the window was going up and down - big piece of styrofoam "deadener" that was loose from it's fastener.)

This is a pic from the inside showing a bright plastic "clip" that the outside door handle pushes down to trip the latch and open the door.

You should be able to catch it and push down from the weather stripping inside the window - this pic is from just in front of the door lock button.

You might have to fish around a bit, but a slim piece of metal (slim jim) should get you to the point of popping it loose. Once open I have pics of how to pull the door panel and go further.

Treeman · 02-17-2013, 07:30 AM

CW, I am trying to remember from when I had my door panels off, is there a way to partially remove the panel, something OP could do with the door closed? Enough to peek inside and maybe grab parts to reconnect?

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TomatoSoup · 02-17-2013, 08:00 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Treeman

CW, I am trying to remember from when I had my door panels off, is there a way to partially remove the panel, something OP could do with the door closed? Enough to peek inside and maybe grab parts to reconnect?

No unfortunately (as I said earlier). There's a screw in the outside door jamb.