Locked and jammed door latch?

I fixed mine. Here's how to fix your's.

A passenger locked the door and forgot to unluck before pulling the handle. For the past year now, there was no way to get the door open.

The most relevant part of the following pictures is the little tab at the very top. Notice how much further upward it travels (while locked) when moving the lever that goes to the door handle.

When the tab is forced higher than it normally travels when opening the door, it sticks and the lock jams because of corosion. PB Blaster and a pair of plyers to wiggle it back and forth worked wonders. Good as new now.


Download full size pic here.


Download full size pic here.


Download full size pic here.


Download full size pic here.

Here are a couple videos I took too. The files are large but I didn't feel like doing video editing today.

C3 Lock Movie #1.

C3 Lock Movie #2.

This is a picture showing where to push to get the locked door to open. Hopefully your windows are able to be lowered. Otherwise your about screwed...


Download full size pic here.

 

Charles,
I downloaded your video but it wouldn't let me open it because I didn't know what program to associate it with. (Drop down box, I chose Kodak Imaging)
Any suggestions as I'd like to see the video.
I am not very computer smart
Kurt

 

I have been posting a very similar image the last few years.

 

The movies open with Quicktime on my PC.

WOW! that lock mechanism looks nice and shiney. I searched and searched but wasn't able to find good pictures when I was try to figure out how to get the door open. All I found was written descriptions of how to pop the latch.

I ended up taking the door panel off the other side to figure it out. Then stupidity took over. I wasn't going to have time to get everything apart and back together in the same day so I put the door pull handle back on without the door panel. While I was there I sprayed all the widow tracks on the drivers side trying to free them up. But then the window wouldn't return all the way to the top. So this morning I ended up completely removing all window components. Removing all old grease and replacing with new. That's when I noticed a shiny spot on one of the arms. Turns out the door pull screws extend an extra 1/4 - 1/2 inch inside the door cavity without the door panel there. The regulator was hitting one of the screws. ARGHH!!! At least the window works better now. lol

Anyway, I figured I would throw it out there in hopes it will help someone else one day. I also have a 67 Lemans that used to jam up if you tried to open the door when locked. I was always able to get it freed up by twisting the lock back and forth with the key. It took a while though and was very frustrating. I haven't driven that car since the mid 90's but I bet I know how to fix it now (if I ever put it on the road again).

 

if you don't have quicktime, download a program called VLC, it is freeware, do a google, it will play it along with just about any type of video file...

 

I cleaned and lubed my door mech. and have them looking and operating like new. This weekend I was reinstalling them. Problem arrises when I have them installed. They work perfectly in and out of the door except,when they are installed the locking mech. doesn't let go ?
My hands look like I have been catching wild cats, after the 5th in/out I gave up and walked away.............Anybody been down this road ?

 

ttt

 

The reason the latch in my picture looks so new is because it is. I had the un-openable door on BOTH sides. I used this trick to get them open, and I did what you did and cleaned and adjusted everything perfectly. The doors would operate fine unless the door was locked and tried to open while locked. That is usually what meant the door was stuck shut. That is when I purchased two new latch assemblies and both have been working flawlessly for over 5 years now.

 

This may be my only recourse as well, much easier on the blood pressure

 

If the mechanisms all function before mounting, I would look real hard at linkage adjustments. I had bent rods rubbing door panels and worn door handle linkages. I had to straighten (carefully) the rods and made a slight adjustment on the rod that comes down from the exterior door handle.

I would put it in the door and move all the parts with a coat hanger or something. If it doesn't jam up before you put the linkages on, the linkages are the problem. make sure that the pivoting doohickie at the very top moves as freely as possible and that the spring is strong enough to pull it back down. If that spring doesn't have the gusto to pull it back down, it's going to stick. But if you have a linkage that isn't adjusted to the correct length, it won't be leaving the levers in the correct "resting" positions which will keep the lock from going back to the unlocked mode. If you have to move any of the levers to get them to line up with the linkages when you put them on, that's your first clue that you've found the problem.

Another possibility... Push the latch closed witha screwdriver with the door still opened and see if you can get it to jam up. If not then the striker bolt in the door jam might be putting tension on the latch. That's all I can think of.

 

Now that you mention it, it worked ok until the outside door rod was attached. I pulled the car apart a few years ago and I am having a wonderful time reassembling now that its painted