80 Series Driver's Door won't open
Submitted: Wednesday, Aug 03, 2005 at 14:48
ThreadID:
25317
Views:
7552
Replies:
8
FollowUps:
7
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Member - Jack
Hi guys ...
Had a mispent youth ... learned how to crack vehicle door locks ... ???
Well, I need your help.
Over at the hardware store this morning and went to lock my 1991 80 Series Cruiser GXL, and the key felt "funny". On further examination, the key locked all doors, but now does not unlock the driver's side door. ( Note: I have Central Locking).
I thought I'd come home, get the door trim off and take a look. Got as far as removing the electric contol panel and the trim around the door handle and there it stops. As the door won't open, I cant wrestle the door trim off.
Is there any "trick" I can use to get into the lock from the inside of the car to get the door open so I can remove the trim and find what the fault may be. The fault is probably some lever that has become "unattached" inside the door, as everything else works..
I am sure it is easier if your engine just blows up ... gotta be an easier job that this.
Thanks in advance.
Jack
Reply By: Member - Jack - Wednesday, Aug 03, 2005 at 14:49
Wednesday, Aug 03, 2005 at 14:49
PS; I will grant you immunity for any information given.
Jack
AnswerID:
123581
Follow Up By: Ron173 - Wednesday, Aug 03, 2005 at 15:22
Wednesday, Aug 03, 2005 at 15:22
Jack,
Not that I had a mis spent youth, but...
I once had a vehicle locked with keys in, and had it opened by a mechanic.
The device he used was a thin piece of steel, like shim plate only about 1mm thick, like a school rule, approx 12" long and about 1" wide, on one end had a couple of 'vee' sections cut out of it on the length of it.
Idea is, you insert said tool or similair down between the rubber and the window glass and then attempt to hook onto the mechanism and pull up.
My vehicle had central locking and the bloke opened it in 30secs flat!!
Good Luck
Ron
FollowupID:
378593
Reply By: Truckster (Vic) - Wednesday, Aug 03, 2005 at 15:30
Wednesday, Aug 03, 2005 at 15:30
Remove the trim off the other front door, see how it works inside, then break into the door that wont open.
AnswerID:
123589
Follow Up By: Member - JohnR (Vic)&Moses - Wednesday, Aug 03, 2005 at 16:14
Wednesday, Aug 03, 2005 at 16:14
Bruce, you could borrow my highlift jack to lend a hand
FollowupID:
378610
Reply By: Willem - Wednesday, Aug 03, 2005 at 17:55
Wednesday, Aug 03, 2005 at 17:55
Does your Cruiser have a Central Locking, Lock Switch on the drivers door?
If you have one then activate that a few times to open the drivers door.
Electrical things confuse me too lol
AnswerID:
123628
Follow Up By: Member - Jack - Wednesday, Aug 03, 2005 at 19:00
Wednesday, Aug 03, 2005 at 19:00
Thanks Willem, but I have done that and it does not respond. Something weird is happening in there. Might end up giving to a mechanic and let him worry about it.
Jack
FollowupID:
378656
Reply By: Shaker - Wednesday, Aug 03, 2005 at 18:04
Wednesday, Aug 03, 2005 at 18:04
Go and
park it outside the Crown Casino!
AnswerID:
123636
Follow Up By: Member - Jack - Wednesday, Aug 03, 2005 at 18:59
Wednesday, Aug 03, 2005 at 18:59
: )
Nothing like a little lateral thinking. Thanks.
Jack
FollowupID:
378655
Reply By: Moz - Wednesday, Aug 03, 2005 at 20:06
Wednesday, Aug 03, 2005 at 20:06
Jack,
Does the inside lock button move or is it seized in the lock position?
Moz
AnswerID:
123668
Follow Up By: Member - Jack - Wednesday, Aug 03, 2005 at 22:28
Wednesday, Aug 03, 2005 at 22:28
Hi Moz:
The lock button moves, but the door does not unlock. I *think* the Control arm (or whatever it is called) has come unstuck. The movement of the lock is not as smooth or as free as the other locks in the car.
The biggest problem is caused by the fact that the door can't open, which makes getting the door trim off almost impossible (for me) because the trim goes behind the cowling on the front. I am even considering taking the door off at the hinges to "get at it".
Jack
FollowupID:
378697
Follow Up By: Member - Jack - Wednesday, Aug 03, 2005 at 22:37
Wednesday, Aug 03, 2005 at 22:37
Bit of supplementary info - the key does not seem to move fully to the "Unlock" position, even though the remaining 3 doors do unlock. Weird stuff.
Jack
FollowupID:
378700
Reply By: Horacehighroller - Wednesday, Aug 03, 2005 at 20:35
Wednesday, Aug 03, 2005 at 20:35
G-day Jack,
I have had a similar problem with my 80.
In my case, as
well as the key and central locking not working you can not move the "unlock" lever on the inside of the drivers door.
If that's your problem it's simple.
Open the window and from the outside put gentle "unlock" pressure on the interior "unlock" lever.
While maintaining pressure slowly raise the exterior door handle.
Release both slowly and you're in action.
The problem CAN be caused by (accidentally) "flicking"the outside door handle rather than releasing it gently.
Good luck Peter L
AnswerID:
123671
Reply By: Member - DOZER- Wednesday, Aug 03, 2005 at 23:05
Wednesday, Aug 03, 2005 at 23:05
If all else fails, take out the drivers
seat so the trim can be got out...
Andrew
AnswerID:
123712
Follow Up By: Member - Jack - Thursday, Aug 04, 2005 at 06:59
Thursday, Aug 04, 2005 at 06:59
Hi Andrew:
Yep - that look to be the best option. Looking at it again last night, I am starting to form the opinion that the problem is in the cylinder, as all the moving parts (that I can see) still move. I just can't get the key to fully tourn to "Unlock". But I shall perservere, as I would like to be able to open the door again.
Thanks for your help.
Jack
FollowupID:
378715
Reply By: Member - Jack - Thursday, Aug 04, 2005 at 21:42
Thursday, Aug 04, 2005 at 21:42
Many thanks for all your help and advice.
Problem turned out to be a broken spring in the lock. Got to it by removing the chrome strip at the top of the window. All good now .. no more gymnastics getting in and out.
Cheers
Jack
AnswerID:
123877