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My driver's side door won't unlock on my 73. Saw other threads with pictures of where to push on the tab that should unlock the door - however, I have the plastic theft guard shields in place and can't seem to get around them to find the unlock tab. In a previous thread it was stated that you could 'break' the plastic shield to get at the lock, but shields are very flexible and won't break. Anyone have a trick for getting through the theft shield? Thanks
My driver's side door won't unlock on my 73. Saw other threads with pictures of where to push on the tab that should unlock the door - however, I have the plastic theft guard shields in place and can't seem to get around them to find the unlock tab. In a previous thread it was stated that you could 'break' the plastic shield to get at the lock, but shields are very flexible and won't break. Anyone have a trick for getting through the theft shield? Thanks
No trick you just have to be very aggressive and have a very long screw driver. You'll probably break the shield but hopefully you won't.
No trick you just have to be very aggressive and have a very long screw driver. You'll probably break the shield but hopefully you won't.
Willcox
Thanks - how 'long' a screwdriver are we talking? 12 inches? I can't see the tab due to the shield blocking it, even when I try to pry it back with a screwdriver.
Thanks - how 'long' a screwdriver are we talking? 12 inches? I can't see the tab due to the shield blocking it, even when I try to pry it back with a screwdriver.
I have 1 that I use when this issue happens..... but I'm 1000 miles away from home right now. It's pretty long though 12" or longer and you just have to be aggressive. You might try to poke a hole through it too... file or grind the edge of the screw driver with a sharp edge and maybe you can punch through the shield.
Another thing you might do is take the door panel off the passenger side so you can see exactly where the rod and tab are. With the window down you can then practice where and how to insert a screwdriver to get it unlocked or open. It is a lot easier if you can see what you are up against rather than blindly poking a tool down there in hopes of getting it open and breaking something out of frustration.
The shield is flexible, you should be able to use a long item like a yardstick or another screwdriver and move it toward the inside of the car and push down on the lever marked with the arrow:
The problem is when you are looking down from above, the lever in the pic above is barely visible. Only about a quarter inch or less of the tip can be seen from the window channel and is visible to the rear or past the plastic cover. You have to know exactly what you are looking for to see it. With the window down, getting past the plastic cover through the window channel is not a problem. The plastic cover only prevents entry from the outside with the window up.
Last edited by CanadaGrant; Jul 7, 2016 at 06:53 PM.
Got it open! Many thanks for all the help and the picture really helped me find the 'tab'. I'll have to pull the door panel now and find out why the lock **** on the panel got stuck in the locked position. Unlocking the door freed up the lock **** - for now. Thanks again.
There's a spring on the outside door handle that raises the flap back up when you release it. Ignore that one. There is a second spring on the bottom of the handle ***'y where a short rod attaches and goes down to the mechanism. If that spring breaks, or the rod comes loose on either end, the handle inner lever (not the flap) doesn't go back fully up. When that happens your door lock and unlock will not work and the handle won't open the door. It's just a short rod that runs vertically from the handle to the lock ***'y. I'll attach a picture of the handle ***'y with an arrow to where the spring is and the rod attaches.
I also have this trouble with my 82. Not driving it much these days, as I am busy with the others. And since my door panels are off, easy to use the screw driver. Thought I might need a new door latch, I did replace the door handle a while back, but with an inferior part. After some use, the outside door flap didn't feel right. So I am now assuming that the spring from the handle broke as 65GGvert mentioned. Would be a whole lot easier changing the door handle again as opposed to the latch. I have to check this out. And you think that now I'm retired would have all this time, I do, but the 74 is keeping me busy.....
Last edited by 74 LS4-454; Jul 8, 2016 at 10:25 PM.
There's a spring on the outside door handle that raises the flap back up when you release it. Ignore that one. There is a second spring on the bottom of the handle ***'y where a short rod attaches and goes down to the mechanism. If that spring breaks, or the rod comes loose on either end, the handle inner lever (not the flap) doesn't go back fully up. When that happens your door lock and unlock will not work and the handle won't open the door. It's just a short rod that runs vertically from the handle to the lock ***'y. I'll attach a picture of the handle ***'y with an arrow to where the spring is and the rod attaches.
Thanks - that may be my problem as I can now unlock the door with a screwdriver, but if I use the lock ****, I can't lock it (unless I use the screwdriver). I'll look at the rod and spring you indicated.
Driver door locked
, I do
, but the 74 is keeping me busy.....