Locked myself out -- please help!
Thread Starter
Heel & Toe
Joined: Feb 2012
Posts: 24
Likes: 0
From: Newport Rhode Island
Locked myself out -- please help!
Hi,
My passenger outside door handle has never been working (passenger door opens fine from the inside -- so it was not on the top of my list to fix it...)
Well, now the drivers side lock decided to act up -- as I was trying to shut the door it would shut and bounced back. I turned the know to the lock position and the door would shut. Unfortunately, I cannot get it back to unlock -- neither from the inside or outside. I decided that I will deal with it the next day as I was tired from a long day and exited the car from the passenger side and of course shut it (windows up). I know -- very smart move...
Now I am stuck -- cannot open either door. Are there any tricks to unlock/ open the doors from the outside? Drivers door is locked and cannot be unlocked/ passenger door outside latch does not work...
Thanks in advance for any suggestions!
My passenger outside door handle has never been working (passenger door opens fine from the inside -- so it was not on the top of my list to fix it...)
Well, now the drivers side lock decided to act up -- as I was trying to shut the door it would shut and bounced back. I turned the know to the lock position and the door would shut. Unfortunately, I cannot get it back to unlock -- neither from the inside or outside. I decided that I will deal with it the next day as I was tired from a long day and exited the car from the passenger side and of course shut it (windows up). I know -- very smart move...
Now I am stuck -- cannot open either door. Are there any tricks to unlock/ open the doors from the outside? Drivers door is locked and cannot be unlocked/ passenger door outside latch does not work...
Thanks in advance for any suggestions!
Melting Slicks
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 3,030
Likes: 0
From: CFOT
Well.... this is a worst case scenario thought but.......
If it is a flat back window year, I think you could break the glue that holds it in from the outside with a putty knife or a razor blade. Apply suction cups as a "grab point" to prevent the window to keep it from falling through and potentially breaking.
Then either slide yourself, or a midget into the back window opening. Open door from inside.
Good luck.
If it is a flat back window year, I think you could break the glue that holds it in from the outside with a putty knife or a razor blade. Apply suction cups as a "grab point" to prevent the window to keep it from falling through and potentially breaking.
Then either slide yourself, or a midget into the back window opening. Open door from inside.
Good luck.
Racer
Joined: Nov 2011
Posts: 261
Likes: 1
From: Montgomery TX
Get a slim Jim from the auto parts store. Slide it between the glass and weather strip in front of the door handle and angle the handle to the front of the car. With some effort you can catch the lock rod and unlock it. This worked on my 81 and a 73. If you have an AIM, study the position of the locking mechanism in the door to help guide you to the right spot. It takes patience but it works with no damage. Then get a magnetic key box and a spare key to hide under the car for the next time.
Race Director
Joined: Apr 2000
Posts: 17,676
Likes: 201
From: Who says "Nothing is impossible" ? I've been doing nothing for years.
Hit the T top panel above the lever fairly hard with you fist. The lever will drop down at the back and will cause no damage. Then take the T top off. I did this after a newpaint job, I phoned a tow truck company and the dispatcher told me about this so it is common knowledge amongst tow truck drivers so thieves already know about it so I don't mind posting it 
Last edited by MotorHead; Oct 7, 2012 at 02:41 PM.
Racer
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 424
Likes: 9
From: Killeen Texas
If you DO have T-tops, and can get the window down enough, just a hair, you can get a flat bar of some kind in to push the t-top handle DOWN. I did this, but chewed up my weather stripping getting it in there. Used a spatula handle, from my wife's kitchen tools, that is flat and about an inch wide, and was able to flex alittle. The slim-jim is a great idea if you can get it to work. Also, a lock-smith can use that pump-up bulb to create a space to get a tool into the door. It may be cheaper to get a professional to do the job, rather than tare some **** up. And this is coming from a guy who always wants to do everything himself w/o the help of a professional.
Drifting
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 1,281
Likes: 927
From: Indiana
2024 C3 of the Year Finalist- Unmodified
I was able to unlock the door on my daughters 72 by using the local locksmiths tools. He was trying to use the jimmy-jack down past the window but that wouldn't work.
I used one of his tools to push down thru the hole under the finger flap door opener. By pushing hard in several places I was able to hit the correct lever that unlocked the door. There is a plastic guard to discourage that effort but I was able to force the guard down to unlock.
Look at how the lock assembly functions and you can see what I mean.
I used one of his tools to push down thru the hole under the finger flap door opener. By pushing hard in several places I was able to hit the correct lever that unlocked the door. There is a plastic guard to discourage that effort but I was able to force the guard down to unlock.
Look at how the lock assembly functions and you can see what I mean.
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Pro
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 503
Likes: 17
From: Jacksonville FL
Years ago, I used a small flat blade screwdriver bent 90 degrees. After pushing the door glass down as far as the slop in the mechanism would allow I slid the screwdriver between the glass and T top to unlock the T top levers.
Yea, that was the coupe 25 years before the convertible in the picture!
Locke
Yea, that was the coupe 25 years before the convertible in the picture!
Locke
Thread Starter
Heel & Toe
Joined: Feb 2012
Posts: 24
Likes: 0
From: Newport Rhode Island
Hi,
Surprisingly AAA was able to open the passenger door by putting a wedge between the window and pillar and pulling the door latch with one of the those long steel rods.
From there I went in and lowered the driver's side window and after some investigating with a flash light finally found the lever I needed to push with a screw driver to open that side. Then I took the door panels off both doors and found that the lock mechanisms where very dry -- and slightly bent. After a lot lithium (and elbow) grease I got them to work again. Both doors now open very well.
Surprisingly AAA was able to open the passenger door by putting a wedge between the window and pillar and pulling the door latch with one of the those long steel rods.
From there I went in and lowered the driver's side window and after some investigating with a flash light finally found the lever I needed to push with a screw driver to open that side. Then I took the door panels off both doors and found that the lock mechanisms where very dry -- and slightly bent. After a lot lithium (and elbow) grease I got them to work again. Both doors now open very well.