Stuck Door Lock!

[Tone]

All that sounds rather drastic - try the other solutions and then pull the door panel off carefully - I think I have written up the how to somewhere on here there are 3 screws on the door panel and one on the tweeter pod - then it pulls straight off and then up. You can then close the door without the panel on (important - the passenger side controls must be plugged in for the system to work) and see the mechanism as Nater suggests but you will NOT have to cut into the metal - geesh, Nater, you scare me. This is a simple repair but best done with the interior panel off.

[nater]

Tone, it's my understanding that the DOOR WILL NOT OPEN. That being said, here is the only logical course of action:

-Find any way you can to get the door open without damaging it. Tone, if you know of a way to get the door panel off with the DOOR CLOSED, post it here. (It's unclear in your response if this can be done). If so, there's the solution, and my drastic scenario is pointless. Otherwise, consult everyone you can think of, the dealer, a local repair shop, a guy who is good with a slim jim, etc. Get LOTS of people to look at it before giving up. Maybe even try a tow truck driver with break-in experience.
-IF you conclude (after exhaustive attempts) that the door WILL NOT open without gaining access to its internals, try like hell to get the door panel off with the door closed.
-IF you must penetrate the door, try to do as little damage as possible to the interior panel if it cannot be removed intact from the inside. Before starting, consider ways to repair the panel, then damage it appropriately.
-IF the panel is irreplaceable, unrepairable, or extremely expensive, consider, as a last resort, coming in through the door skin's sheet metal. Yes, it's drastic. This is only if you CANNOT get a new door panel, or are certain you could not get an existing door panel repaired after tearing it off in pieces.

Me personally, I would try to find a panel at a junkyard for under $100, then carefully tear apart the existing panel until I gained access to the latch. Pop the door, pop the old panel off, disconnect the solenoid, then test the latch with a screwdriver (instead of the striker). Once I had the latch working reliably (and the solenoid physically disconnected) then you could open and close the door until you get the repair parts (lock cyl, solenoid, or whatever is needed).

There is also a possibility that the solenoid has a short inside it and tugging on it a little is causing it to activate the other way. (Unlocking with key causes the lock to pull back down). I don't know the latch internals enough to know if this is a possibility. Disconnecting the battery and then using the manual lock mechanism (key and knob) should work fine if this is the problem. (You need to cut the power to the solenoid). If the solenoid has siezed, cutting the power won't help the situation.

Tone, do I still scare you? ;-)

Nate

[VX crazy]

Call Pop A Lock or go by a locksmith or body shop and let them slim jim the lock open. I will bet it is simply jammed - suprised using the key and pulling on the latch / button will not open - how about key and pulling on the inside opener loop? The inside latch can be removed with the door shut but I agree the panel cannot be removed w/o damage with the door closed.

Hope you are not going to tell us later that it has been in an accident recently or that an alarm has been added....

[RAZ]

The door will not open!
Can I get the door panel off with the door closed?
I sprayed a alot of wd-40 in there and worked the key and button together.
With the fuse for the door locks pulled out.
Still no luck

STEVE

Not from a accident! Viper alarm put in 4 years ago

[nater]

Tone, do you have any ideas for this? I know my ideas are drastic, but my ego won't be crushed if you post a solution...

Raz, did you try disconnecting the battery? Also, did you call around to try to find a replacement door panel?

Nate

[RAZ]

I GOT IT OPEN!!!
Sprayed more WD-40 in there with window down and keep working
the key and button together heard a pop and it opened!
Took off door panel and found power door lock was the
problem. Took it apart and gears had broken teeth.
Did not put it back in will have to use key till I get a new one.

STEVE

[Triathlete]

That is exactly what was wrong with mine. If you find a good price on the part let me know. I've been to busy/lazy to search yet!