80 Driver's Door
Thread Starter
Intermediate
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 29
Likes: 0
80 Driver's Door
I can't open my driver's side door from the inside or outside. I suspect linkage issues. From the passenger seat, I can see the latch. I attempted to use a screwdriver to flip it up to get the door open. It didn't work. Do I have to take the panel off or is there a way to get that latch to release ? 
Drifting
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 1,562
Likes: 2
From: Spring Texas
I see you are new to the forum. Welcome aboard. My standard response to queries like this "You are screwed. If you live anywhere near zipcode 77388, you should sell me your car cheap".
That being said, you do have a problem. The door panel needs to come off to get to the door mechanism linkage, etc. and the door panel is not easily removed with the door shut. If you can get your window down, it may be possible to activate the latch with a screw driver, coat hanger, or specialty tool. If you don't have diagrams of the assembly, you need to get an Assembly Instruction Manual (AIM) for your year car to see how it works. If you search the forum for "door locked" you will find that this occurs often. Many of these threads will have diagrams or pictures. Once you get the door opened, you can remove the door panel to get to the mechanism. Often the repair only requires a few dollars worth of parts from the Dorman repair parts section of your local AutoZone, some cleaning of the major parts, and some grease. If any of the major pieces are broken, replacements can be obtained from forum vendors like Corvette Central, Willcox, Zip, or Ecklers.
Good luck
Orville
That being said, you do have a problem. The door panel needs to come off to get to the door mechanism linkage, etc. and the door panel is not easily removed with the door shut. If you can get your window down, it may be possible to activate the latch with a screw driver, coat hanger, or specialty tool. If you don't have diagrams of the assembly, you need to get an Assembly Instruction Manual (AIM) for your year car to see how it works. If you search the forum for "door locked" you will find that this occurs often. Many of these threads will have diagrams or pictures. Once you get the door opened, you can remove the door panel to get to the mechanism. Often the repair only requires a few dollars worth of parts from the Dorman repair parts section of your local AutoZone, some cleaning of the major parts, and some grease. If any of the major pieces are broken, replacements can be obtained from forum vendors like Corvette Central, Willcox, Zip, or Ecklers.
Good luck
Orville
