I know, I've searched. No one else has a problem like mine it seems. The thing is, the door works fine if it never gets locked. The problem happens once you lock it. It doesn't matter where you lock it from, the outside or the inside, but once it's locked... it's locked. Try turning the key, won't move more than 1/3 of a turn. Try moving the little doodad from inside by the handle, takes some muscle to get it 3/4 of the way but as soon as you let go, it goes right back to locked. I can't open it now at all. Any suggestions??

 

(Rubs the stubble on his chin as lightning stikes in the background) Hmmmm.... very interesting. This must be why I couldn't find it when I searched. The problem is as mysterious as who ate the left-over pizza. Yes, yes, very interesting.

 

hmm you must not have searched too hard its been less than a week since i posted with the same exact problem

 

no one is answering because it is a common problem.

linkage is jammed up or broken inside the door. take the door panel off and clean the linkadge, replace broken parts as needed

 

So... my question is... how do I get the door open or the door panel off with the door closed and locked.

 

you don't

Slim jim the door open

 

How is slim-jimmimg it going to help? I've tried pulling on the rods and that doesn't help either. I do seem to have the same problem as totalimmortal. So, totalimmortal, how did you fix it? The other thread didn't say, that's why it didn't help when I searched. But I did search.

 

how can you pull the rods if you can't get into the door???

isbelief:

 

disbelief?

 

I've had this problem for a while. At one point the panel was off and everytime I tried to unlock and open the door, I would have to mess with the little latching mechanism where the door latches to the car. That is when I was able try the rods. Since then my dad put the panel back on and locked the door. Now I can't open the door or get past the panel.

 

open your hatch and get in and open it from the inside

 

It won't open from the inside or the outside.

 

My suggestion wont solve anything, but this is what I usually do after a long day of suffering with an FC issue...

KICK her really hard and go inside cussing lovely anti-mazda curses. LOL

That helps you feel better for a while to come back out and try new stuff.

 

Yeah... I've done that many'a time. The main problem is that I'm across the country from my car so I'm having my friend do the work. I'm just gonna have him rip the door panel out, I can always get a new one. Any ideas on what I'm gonna have to replace when it gets opened up?

 

well, if you are willing to sacrifice your door panel (hopefully it's not leather), you could probably find some way to 'saw' into it, or break it in half... I don't know... Try removing the screws to take off the arm-rest (it's a lot easier if you have manual windows), remove the screw to take out the small door handle "bin", roll down the window and remove the black plastic inner mirror piece, remove the screws in the door card (if any), rip off the manual window "roller upper" (lol), pop out any tabs holding the door card in place, yank up and out on the whole card and you should get it. Or, if it was me working on your car, I'd take a skill saw and cut the crap out of it... Good luck... Or, good luck to your friend.

You probably wont have to replace anything, like Icemark said, you probably only have to clean up the linkage.

 

you dont have to cut your door panel. its possable to get it off with your door colsed belive me i've done it.

 

Yeah icemark pulling the rods didn't do **** for me either like i said on another thread i had to stick my fingers in the actual brass colored mechanism that latches. I can't explain much better than that cause once your hand is in there if it fits mine barely did then you can't see andythin in there but your hand

 

There is a spring on the actual mechanism that is broken. The solution is to replace the mechanism. It is possible to open the dor with the lock broken, BUT you do run the risk of ruining the door panel

 

I have had this same thing happen all you do is put some wedges between the door and glass so you can see inside , shine a light down there at the bolt where the door latches , move the door handle look down at the end of that rod on mine a spring had broke that was causing the problem maybe you will see that, get a long rod I used a gun cleaning rod I pushed down the little thing the spring was attached to and then it would unlock. Don't cut your door .

 

Do that from outside the car .

 

use your fist and pound on the key hole. pound hard. i have same problem and solved it like that.

 

well if this guys problem is the same as mine was that won'tdo anygood, take the otheres advise and replace the mechanism its not too hard and well worth it unless you like climbing in through the window

 

How much is that mechanism? How hard is it to replace?

 

Once you get the door open, ita a 20 minute Job. I have one for $20 shipped

 

If got this same problem on the current bought -to -fix car in my garage.... the return spring has broken or has fallen off...

to get the door open.... get intot he from the other side and wind down the window... now take the window moulding off the outside of the door. down on the locking mechanism is a lever that needs to go back down for the door to open.. i used a very long screwdriver to hold that lever down, and then pulled up the handle. the door will not open if that lever is up.... its supposed to go back down when the lock is unlocked, but if it binds up..... the door will not unlock....