|
|
How to Open Driver's Door Stuck in Locked Position
|
|
|
| |
|
|
dal3m
New User
May 17, 2023, 3:51 PM
Post #1 of 7
(1036 views)
|
|
How to Open Driver's Door Stuck in Locked Position
|
Sign In
|
|
The 94 Corolla has 268,000 miles on it.
Electric locking stopped working long ago
This problem with the mechanism apparently began when I locked the door for the first time after performing an otherwise satisfactory improvised repair to the no longer functional outer door handle.
I cut most of handle away then fashioned a small finger-tab-handle, which I connected to the protruding remnant-stub of the original actuating lever with a #8 machine screw.
Getting the nut on the screw did involve pulling the lever, perhaps further than it had been previously.
The result was serviceable and looked like it might last.
However the next day, I was unable to unlock the door.
Researching this, I am mostly advised to liberally lubricate the lock through the key slot with wd40 and I've done that again. The lock will not release either with the key or interior button.
It's not easy to remove the door panel with door closed, but I have been able to move it far enough to see where the rods from lock and latch enter the mechanism. I have put an ample amount of lubricant at these locations and still no luck. I've applied a bit more force through vice grips on the rods.
But the lock mechanism appears to have become mechanically interlocked with the latch.
I can think of things to try if I could get the door open , but I'm not sure what I could do at this point
Thanks,
Dale
|
|
| |
|
|
Hammer Time
Ultimate Carjunky
/ Moderator
May 17, 2023, 4:10 PM
Post #2 of 7
(1026 views)
|
|
Re: How to Open Driver's Door Stuck in Locked Position
|
Sign In
|
|
You're pushing 300K miles. Things wear out, even on a Toyota.
It just may be time to replace the whole latch. It could have something to do with your rigging on the outside door handle. Those handles break all the time and they are relatively cheap to buy so it should be fixed right.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
We offer help in answering questions, clarifying things or giving advice but we are not a substitute for an on-site inspection by a professional.
|
|
| |
|
|
Tom Greenleaf
Ultimate Carjunky
/ Moderator
May 17, 2023, 5:01 PM
Post #3 of 7
(1020 views)
|
|
Re: How to Open Driver's Door Stuck in Locked Position
|
Sign In
|
|
Been a while, was a '99 Camry busted off handle. It still opened still so NBD tossed it for new wasn't hard.
Question is the nightmare ones were a feature may or may not have for driver's door?? A small tab that allows interior open handle to unlock that door or not if locked?
Not a Toyota but others, own one IDK lock and latch maker but an OE SUV if a whole decade of another then this someone moves that selector leaving it part way it will not open inside or out key or no key!
Other with miles/use/age is to push or have helper inside you outside push hard on door toward closed more THEN move interior manual unlock - high chance it works once toss anything ruined or worn.
Apparently you get in other side and can jump over and drive it if enough trouble contact on auto body shop should have tools for forcing it open (collision damages) figure it out or isn't my trade to be pretty - body work but cut the door is extreme also ends that door.
HT already said your "rig" job now may be the fault the miles and time do crazy things.
I wish you luck - been there LOST HAIR over these things :-)
Tom
|
|
| |
|
|
dal3m
New User
May 18, 2023, 2:44 PM
Post #4 of 7
(996 views)
|
|
From OP Re: How to Open Driver's Door Stuck in Locked Position
|
Sign In
|
|
2 replies and both suggest my repair could be the cause of this problem.
Yes, it worked well for a while but eventually small movement in the repair closed some clearances and stuck it. Now that I can open the door and see this, I think I can fix.
Sorry for any trouble, but the cause wasn't visually apparent. I might replace the handle eventually. It would be the first time and I'm leaning a lot about how the mechanisms work with these experiments.
Thanks
Dale
|
|
| |
|
|
Hammer Time
Ultimate Carjunky
/ Moderator
May 18, 2023, 3:23 PM
Post #5 of 7
(992 views)
|
|
Re: From OP Re: How to Open Driver's Door Stuck in Locked Position
|
Sign In
|
|
These door handles are cheap and readily available everywhere. I've seen them as low as $7
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
We offer help in answering questions, clarifying things or giving advice but we are not a substitute for an on-site inspection by a professional.
|
|
| |
|
|
Tom Greenleaf
Ultimate Carjunky
/ Moderator
May 18, 2023, 10:13 PM
Post #6 of 7
(981 views)
|
|
Re: From OP Re: How to Open Driver's Door Stuck in Locked Position
|
Sign In
|
|
Dale,
World changed for a few years (as we know) these were "road" calls for me, folks stuck or tried and busted stuff EMERGENCY things.
Anything to get it open with no extra damage, either see the obvious or fixed right there.
Used was easy parts would find similar wrecked (popular cars like this) as HT just said and I was shocked the JUNK YARD had a ton of new stuff cheaper than hassles with used!
Face it ~300k of use, just look at it all now, plastic covered jaws the plastic gone and rod's connections, pivots worn out fussy to replace.
Generic metal stuff stocked by me at shop fix or whatever while there W-D 40 then thicker spray grease careful of electrical things inside at latch.
It is available stuff, plain hardware fix and adjust so last another round or more.
Worst cause was the "DOOR SLAMMERS" that stuff can't take wild slamming almost bus the glass or knock it off track!
It made it this far so probably not that.
Can do or whole door the era wasn't so bad for that plus 80% of these were that sand color beige a few hours fussing never need to go back again.
Good luck you are inside so can see what you need to do didn't destroy door so go from there options galore on approach, Tom
|
|
| |
|
Auto Repair Home
SEARCH
WHO'S 
LOG 
2006 Toyoto Camry XLE Driver Side Electric Window Trouble
Tierod end change caused some kind of leak
Grounding Cable, 2017 Jeep Renegade Trailhawk
equipment
Howdy
