Locked Door
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 6,248
Likes: 4
From: Lancaster PA
Locked Door
OK I give up. I have a passenger door that will not open. I think the lock is stuck. Manual lock works back and forth but I think it's not unlocking. How can I open this door without destroying anything ?
Racer
Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 348
Likes: 2
From: Lowell MA
Seen that problem many times on GM vehicles. When you either press down on the outside handle or pull the inside door release, an actuator is pushed down which is not mechanicallly connected to either release. It has its own spring to restore it to its proper position. Many times that spring will either break or the pivot the lever is mounted on will rust to the point where the spring can't return it to its home position. The give away to that problem is you may think the lock cylinder or inside turn **** is fully restoring the actuator but it is just shy of fully restoring it to allow opening of the door.
If that is your situation, you manually have to use a car opening tool to lift the actuator up. Then the key or inside turn will unlock the door. Like I said, seen it many times on GM vehicles. Sometime a spray of WD40 sprayed blindly down the door panel will free the actuator with some vibration and allow you to open the door.
Then pull the panal and make the fix. Thats my first suggestion.
If that is your situation, you manually have to use a car opening tool to lift the actuator up. Then the key or inside turn will unlock the door. Like I said, seen it many times on GM vehicles. Sometime a spray of WD40 sprayed blindly down the door panel will free the actuator with some vibration and allow you to open the door.
Then pull the panal and make the fix. Thats my first suggestion.
Team Owner
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 40,408
Likes: 792
From: Redondo Beach, California
Your passenger's latch is buggered. Go ahead and buy a replacement (~$100) and with the replacement and the photos on this forum, you can see how to place your screwdriver down into the assembly to trigger a release.
Once your latch has locked up, you need to get rid of it. That's why I advised buying a new on.
I bought new latches for my 70. No problem. However I had to buy one for my 68.....big problem. 68 is a one year different latch!
Inside the latch mechanism, are levers of soft steel 0.070 inch thick. The pivots for the levers are just simple lever holes and shafts, with no lubrication. Over the years, the shaft holes get worn open and if an interference condition occurs, the internal levers will bend. Once they bend, you can experience a lock condition.
Racer
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 417
Likes: 0
From: Red Deer Alberta
Somewhere on here is write up with great pics showing you how/were to reach down along the glass with a long skinny screw driver and push on the right lever of you door opening mechanism to unlock.
I found it a few years ago and was home free in minutes. Painted the little lever yellow in case it ever happened again. Unnecessary I guess since I forgot all about it until now.
search door mechanism tech and general
JR
I found it a few years ago and was home free in minutes. Painted the little lever yellow in case it ever happened again. Unnecessary I guess since I forgot all about it until now.
search door mechanism tech and general
JR
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Le Mans Master
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 8,812
Likes: 2,029
From: eastern NC
Just posted this earlier for a similar problem... with a bit of practice it works very well and best of all... no destroyed door panels!!!
You'll need a small flashlight and a long thin straight bladed screwdriver. With the window down, reach inside the door with the screwdriver and place the flat of the blade on this lever in the lock mechanism. Use the flashlight to find the sweet spot. Strike the handle sharply with the palm of your hand and the latch will release. It may take a few tries to find the lever and to place the flat of the blade on it, but once you get the hang of it, it works every time.
I remove the latch assembly and clean them thoroughly with a good degreaser. These things get very gummed up over time with dirt and old grease and resist operating smoothly. Once you get the latch thoroughly clean, use a light coating of white grease (lubriplate) and it will give years of excellent service.
Good luck... GUSTO
You'll need a small flashlight and a long thin straight bladed screwdriver. With the window down, reach inside the door with the screwdriver and place the flat of the blade on this lever in the lock mechanism. Use the flashlight to find the sweet spot. Strike the handle sharply with the palm of your hand and the latch will release. It may take a few tries to find the lever and to place the flat of the blade on it, but once you get the hang of it, it works every time.
I remove the latch assembly and clean them thoroughly with a good degreaser. These things get very gummed up over time with dirt and old grease and resist operating smoothly. Once you get the latch thoroughly clean, use a light coating of white grease (lubriplate) and it will give years of excellent service.
Good luck... GUSTO
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 6,248
Likes: 4
From: Lancaster PA
Just posted this earlier for a similar problem... with a bit of practice it works very well and best of all... no destroyed door panels!!!
You'll need a small flashlight and a long thin straight bladed screwdriver. With the window down, reach inside the door with the screwdriver and place the flat of the blade on this lever in the lock mechanism. Use the flashlight to find the sweet spot. Strike the handle sharply with the palm of your hand and the latch will release. It may take a few tries to find the lever and to place the flat of the blade on it, but once you get the hang of it, it works every time.
I remove the latch assembly and clean them thoroughly with a good degreaser. These things get very gummed up over time with dirt and old grease and resist operating smoothly. Once you get the latch thoroughly clean, use a light coating of white grease (lubriplate) and it will give years of excellent service.
Good luck... GUSTO
You'll need a small flashlight and a long thin straight bladed screwdriver. With the window down, reach inside the door with the screwdriver and place the flat of the blade on this lever in the lock mechanism. Use the flashlight to find the sweet spot. Strike the handle sharply with the palm of your hand and the latch will release. It may take a few tries to find the lever and to place the flat of the blade on it, but once you get the hang of it, it works every time.
I remove the latch assembly and clean them thoroughly with a good degreaser. These things get very gummed up over time with dirt and old grease and resist operating smoothly. Once you get the latch thoroughly clean, use a light coating of white grease (lubriplate) and it will give years of excellent service.
Good luck... GUSTO
I know just what your talking about. Easy now that I lived through it
Burning Brakes
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 816
Likes: 1
From: Finland
Just posted this earlier for a similar problem... with a bit of practice it works very well and best of all... no destroyed door panels!!!
You'll need a small flashlight and a long thin straight bladed screwdriver. With the window down, reach inside the door with the screwdriver and place the flat of the blade on this lever in the lock mechanism. Use the flashlight to find the sweet spot. Strike the handle sharply with the palm of your hand and the latch will release. It may take a few tries to find the lever and to place the flat of the blade on it, but once you get the hang of it, it works every time.
I remove the latch assembly and clean them thoroughly with a good degreaser. These things get very gummed up over time with dirt and old grease and resist operating smoothly. Once you get the latch thoroughly clean, use a light coating of white grease (lubriplate) and it will give years of excellent service.
Good luck... GUSTO
You'll need a small flashlight and a long thin straight bladed screwdriver. With the window down, reach inside the door with the screwdriver and place the flat of the blade on this lever in the lock mechanism. Use the flashlight to find the sweet spot. Strike the handle sharply with the palm of your hand and the latch will release. It may take a few tries to find the lever and to place the flat of the blade on it, but once you get the hang of it, it works every time.
I remove the latch assembly and clean them thoroughly with a good degreaser. These things get very gummed up over time with dirt and old grease and resist operating smoothly. Once you get the latch thoroughly clean, use a light coating of white grease (lubriplate) and it will give years of excellent service.
Good luck... GUSTO
Yes, million thanks!!!