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Car Door stuck closed: Ideas? by RWDPLZ
Started on: 03-05-2009 08:27 PM
Replies: 16
Last post by: 84fiero123 on 03-08-2009 01:39 PM
RWDPLZ
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Report this Post03-05-2009 08:27 PM Click Here to See the Profile for RWDPLZSend a Private Message to RWDPLZDirect Link to This Post
Little brother's 2000 Mazda 626: The back driver's door is stuck closed. Pulling the outer door handle and inner door handle doesn't do anything, like it's locked. Pressing the eletric unlock on the driver's door unlocks all the other doors, but doesn't do anything to the back one, as if the door lock solenoid failed just in that door. The door panel can't come off with the door closed, since there are fasteners in the edges that aren't exposed unless the door is open.

Ideas?

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1984 Fiero SE

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jimbolaya
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Report this Post03-05-2009 08:43 PM Click Here to See the Profile for jimbolayaSend a Private Message to jimbolayaDirect Link to This Post
BMFH! I know that not really any help, but it's the best I got except for a friendly bump.

Jim
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Synthesis
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Report this Post03-05-2009 08:51 PM Click Here to See the Profile for SynthesisSend a Private Message to SynthesisDirect Link to This Post
Find a slim jim or coat hanger. You may be able to pull/push the release mechanism.
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Boondawg
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Report this Post03-05-2009 08:51 PM Click Here to See the Profile for BoondawgSend a Private Message to BoondawgDirect Link to This Post
[bro] I was A used car mechanic for 10+ years. Outer handle is probably broken and maybe child lock is on so inner wont work. The only way involves damaging inner door panel witch can be expensive. Gotta get to the latch and release it manually if your lucky.
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NEPTUNE
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Report this Post03-05-2009 09:15 PM Click Here to See the Profile for NEPTUNESend a Private Message to NEPTUNEDirect Link to This Post
Probably the electric lock motor is gone, stuck in the lock position.
If you can find a way to get the door panel off, disconnect the wire rod that goes from the motor to the actual door lock/latch. If not, maybe you can use a slim jim to release it. t'll take a bit of patience and a whole lot of fiddling.
You can still use the manual lock until you get a new lock motor.
They are a bet pricey at the local whore parts house,so try Ebay.

[This message has been edited by NEPTUNE (edited 03-05-2009).]

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turboguy327
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Report this Post03-06-2009 06:21 AM Click Here to See the Profile for turboguy327Send a Private Message to turboguy327Direct Link to This Post
you could go to the junkyard and look at another one and see how the door locks are setup inside the door. Might make it easier when ya actually try it. Is there any way to get to the hinges when the front door is open?? Could unbolt it there if possible
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84fiero123
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Report this Post03-06-2009 07:17 AM Click Here to See the Profile for 84fiero123Send a Private Message to 84fiero123Direct Link to This Post
When you move the inside door lock on that door does it feel like the others when you move them?

If so it sounds like the latch is broke.

If not it sounds like the rods have come loose. No mater what you are going to have to destroy the door pad to get that door open. Head to a bone yard and try and find a new door pad, and the same one with the pad off so you can see what is inside. Bring a digital camera.

Steve

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Technology is great when it works,
and one big pain in the ass when it doesn't.
Detroit iron rules all the rest are just toys.

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Gecko
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Report this Post03-06-2009 07:29 AM Click Here to See the Profile for GeckoSend a Private Message to GeckoDirect Link to This Post
disconnect the passenger side door and tell everyone they have to get in like they did in the Dukes of Hazzard.
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jimbolaya
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Report this Post03-06-2009 07:59 AM Click Here to See the Profile for jimbolayaSend a Private Message to jimbolayaDirect Link to This Post
 
quote
Originally posted by 84fiero123:

When you move the inside door lock on that door does it feel like the others when you move them?

If so it sounds like the latch is broke.

If not it sounds like the rods have come loose. No mater what you are going to have to destroy the door pad to get that door open. Head to a bone yard and try and find a new door pad, and the same one with the pad off so you can see what is inside. Bring a digital camera.

Steve



Although time consuming, I think this idea is your best bet.

Jim

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cliffw
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Report this Post03-06-2009 12:44 PM Click Here to See the Profile for cliffwSend a Private Message to cliffwDirect Link to This Post
 
quote
Originally posted by RWDPLZ:
Pulling the outer door handle and inner door handle doesn't do anything, like it's locked. Pressing the eletric unlock on the driver's door unlocks all the other doors, but doesn't do anything to the back one, as if the door lock solenoid failed just in that door.

I have never seen a power lock which did not have a manual backup. None the less, to remove the door panel, I would think that you would have to remove the inner door handle first. Do that and have a look see. Also, ... roll down the window. At least take a peak through the window channel opening.

 
quote
Originally posted by 84fiero123:
Head to a bone yard and try and find a new door pad, and the same one with the pad off so you can see what is inside. Bring a digital camera.

Or, , just take the door panel off the other side an have a look see.
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Lambo nut
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Report this Post03-06-2009 12:55 PM Click Here to See the Profile for Lambo nutSend a Private Message to Lambo nutDirect Link to This Post
Don't know if this will work in your case or not, but had this happen to a friends Firebird. Inner or outer handle seemed to do nothing to open the door. The door panel was not in the best of shape, so we did not worry about it. What i did was have some one pull on the outer handle, another pull the inner door handle, then I set in the rear floor board, and mule kicked the door, near the latch area. Opened on the second or third kick. In your case, maybe try, with a blanket folded up over the panel to protect it. If it doesn't work, yes, will probably have to tear off the panel. In some rare cases, you might be able to get it off with out tearing up too much. Good luck.

Kevin
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84fiero123
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Report this Post03-06-2009 01:15 PM Click Here to See the Profile for 84fiero123Send a Private Message to 84fiero123Direct Link to This Post
After thinking about this a little more, it sounds like the rods that go from the handles, inside and out are loose or the mechanism is broken. Most of these are covered so that you can’t just push a slim jim down on them.

If you can get the door pad off take a look at the release on the door itself.

There will be a rod going to it from the handles, sometimes one or two depends on the vehicle and seeing this is not something I am familiar with I can’t say for sure.

See if you can get something in there and push or pull on the part that is hooked to it. It may also be that someone has locked the child safety lock, so that may also need to be worked. I have no idea how it works on that vehicle ether.
Dynamite would be my best suggestion.
Steve

------------------
Technology is great when it works,
and one big pain in the ass when it doesn't.
Detroit iron rules all the rest are just toys.

[This message has been edited by 84fiero123 (edited 03-06-2009).]

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htexans1
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Report this Post03-06-2009 01:28 PM Click Here to See the Profile for htexans1Send a Private Message to htexans1Direct Link to This Post
Trade it. No mess, no broken door panel, no bleeding hands.
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RWDPLZ
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Report this Post03-06-2009 02:00 PM Click Here to See the Profile for RWDPLZSend a Private Message to RWDPLZDirect Link to This Post
I think I'll try taking the passenger panel off, seeing how the mechanism and link rods are connected and work, and see it I can use a coat hangar or something to manipulate them in the driver's door. A local junkyard has one, but the interior is the wrong color, and it's ridiculously expensive ($150).

 
quote
Originally posted by htexans1:

Trade it. No mess, no broken door panel, no bleeding hands.


I've tried to talk him into it. The (Ford) transmission failed at around 72,000 miles, and the transmissions in these cars are notoriuos for going bad. Luckily it was replaced under the extended warranty I just replaced the front pads and rotors on it, too, easy job compared to the Fiero. If I can fix the door and the aftermarket auto-dimming mirror (non-Gentex), maybe I can try talking him into it again. That trans is a ticking time bomb.

Thanks for all the suggestions. Hopefully I can get to it today while the weather is nice.
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RWDPLZ
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Report this Post03-08-2009 01:19 PM Click Here to See the Profile for RWDPLZSend a Private Message to RWDPLZDirect Link to This Post
Well I took the panel off the passenger door to see how it works. I took the cover guard off the driver's door mechanism, and pulled the lock rod toward the front of the car, but it fells like it's jammed locked, like the lock mechanism is glued or rusted together (but the other doors have no rust at all). I tried pulling the lock rod towards the front of the car while pulling the inside handle rod (to open) and lifting the door handle, but it didn't do anything.

Here's what it looks like. The lock rod pivots at one point. Pulling th erod towards the front of the car (right side in pic) should unlock it.



Only two options I can see left are

-Tear panel off and try to get to the mechanism
-get to the back of the striker and drill out the two bolts that hold it in

I couldn't figure out how to get to the back of the striker, though. It isn't accessible fom the trunk, and there doesn't appear to be a fender liner at that part of the wheel well.
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htexans1
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Report this Post03-08-2009 01:28 PM Click Here to See the Profile for htexans1Send a Private Message to htexans1Direct Link to This Post
sawz-all the striker (cut off the striker in the gap between the door and the quarter panel (will it even fit in that gap?

If not, tear off that door panel and go in... if you need a replacement interior door panel to replace the broken one...

www.copartfinder.com

has pics of the parts online too.
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84fiero123
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Report this Post03-08-2009 01:39 PM Click Here to See the Profile for 84fiero123Send a Private Message to 84fiero123Direct Link to This Post
Does this vehicle have a child safety lock?

If so that may be part of your problem. They are usually in the door jam an inaccessible unless the door is open.

But this sounds like you may have a jammed mechanism. I don’t think you will be able to do the above idea. Most doors over lap the striker.

Last resort, tear the door pad off as far as you can without destroying it, it may give you some room to look inside. You may want to take the back seat out to give you more access to the doorpad.

Steve

------------------
Technology is great when it works,
and one big pain in the ass when it doesn't.
Detroit iron rules all the rest are just toys.

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