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G'Day everyone,
I have never resolved the problem I have with my 2001 3L V6 S-Type.
The rear passenger door is shut and will not open at all with any method, electronic, outside handle or inside handle. The window operates fine. As I cannot remove the inner door trim until I can open the door, I am at a loss as to how to proceed. Any ideas??? Your help would be much appreciated by this bewildered Aussie.
When you pull on the exterior handle, do you feel any resistance, as if the linkage is still connected but something is jammed? Or does the handle move full travel but with no resistance?
If you feel some resistance, try pushing in on the door to relieve tension on the latch. That might be just enough to let the latch release. Also, check if the seat belt got caught between the door and body. That could be putting excess tension on the latch.
If there is no tension on the handle, the situation is trickier. That would indicate the latch is broken or the linkage has come undone. In that case, you could remove the panel on the opposite door to get an idea how best to proceed, such as feed a Slim Jim (car theft tool) at some particular spot, or something like that.
Hello KR ,thank you for the reply and unfortuneately there is nil resistance on either handle , they just move to the fully open position without any "feel".
I removed the other door trim to have a look-see but even with a dentist type mirror it gave no clue as to how to remedy it. If I unbolted the door at the hinge side do you think I would have room to remove the trim then?
Regards
Steve
If I unbolted the door at the hinge side do you think I would have room to remove the trim then?
No, I don't think unbolting the hinges would help much at all:
1) The wiring harness does not have a single disconnect at each door. The harness is continuous across the hinge area, with very little slack. To remove the door (or even maneuver the hinged side outboard a little), you'd have to remove the liner to disconnect the individual components and free up some slack.
2) The door check device (holds the door fully open and halfway) has some VERY strong detents. Even if the harness wasn't an issue, I think that device would stop you in your tracks. I recently replaced a door and was amazed how strong those detents were.
Before you ask, you would not be able to remove the door by unbolting the hinges, even if you could get around the wire harness and door check device. The latch would still stay firmly hooked on the fixed loop on the jamb (chassis side). Also, you've got a protruding bolt about a foot below the latch, that engages with a V-shaped receptacle. That also prevents sliding the door forward even if the hinges were unbolted.
Have you considered taking the car to a body shop? They've probably seen something similar. All I can suggest is to study the opposite door interior more thoroughly. Maybe pick up one of those inexpensive snake cameras and feed it in there. You may have to sacrifice a door panel for access. That's why I'd suggest talking to a body shop first.
If I unbolted the door at the hinge side do you think I would have room to remove the trim then?
Steve,
I did a quick looksee on my car this morning. If you remove the lower cushion for the back seat, and slide the front seat all the way forward, I think you could remove the trim panel even with the door closed. I'm not 100% positive, but I think it might work.
Look at this FAQ (by Joycesjag) for an idea of what the latch looks like. This isn't your problem exactly, as it's a repair of the electric lock actuator, but the article has some good pics of the latch assembly:
Obviously you can't remove the latch, as there are three bolts on the aft edge of the door. But look at this picture, stolen from the FAQ and lightly edited:
At the top, you can see where the cable comes from the interior handle. At the bottom, the linkage (on the opposite side of the latch) comes from the exterior handle. Either input appear to rotate the bellcrank in the middle, which rotates another piece where I've added the two arrows. I think that is the piece that needs to rotate for the latch to release. If you can snake your hand in there, lift up where the vertical arrow is pointing. If your hand won't fit, you might be able to fabricate a hook to grab the slot where the horizontal arrow is pointing. Pull forward there and it would be the same as lifting up where the vertical arrow is pointing.
Hi Karl,
Thank you so much for your kind attention to my door problems.
I agree now that the hinge idea is a no no as the latch will stll hold fast anyway. The picture will certainly help now I know what to manipulate and the idea regarding the cushion and seat-squab may just work.
Its piddling down with rain the whole weekend here in sunny Western Australia but I will give that a shot and let you know results. Thanks again,
Steve.
Hi Karl,
Just a kwik hello and thanks for the pic you sent. It gave me an idea. I made a skinny aluminium tool the size of a hacksaw blade and cut a 3mm slot on the end, inserted it down past the rubber of the quarter glass seal and heard a click, Hey presto!! the child lock was engaged and as the outside handle was busted only the inside handle could open the door but not with the child lock engaged.
It must have been engaged for years judging by the crap that was between the door and the jambs.
Thanks again for the inspiration Karl.
Steve the happy Ozman.
the child lock was engaged and as the outside handle was busted only the inside handle could open the door but not with the child lock engaged.
Ah yes, the old "two issues at play" scenario. Hadn't thought of that. Brilliant move with the homemade tool. Glad you got it sorted out and thanks so much for letting us know.
Inoperative door handles.
