Markarts

Hello,

I have a 86 RX7 and came back from work to find that the drivers side door does not open.

The key turns and the door hadle works fine, climbed inside through the passenger side and flipped up the door button which works and the inside door latch works fine also.

BUT... the door is locked...

Any clue how to open the door without taking off the door panel which with the door closed I assume can not be done???

I am also looking for a good dealership or shop that might fix this or someone in my area which I will pay to make it work and fix it.

So... Other than climbing over the shifter **** everyday to get in does the powers at be here have a clue to help me make this event NOT a life long problem.

Greatly waiting to hear solutions...

Can you help?

Thanks.

YearsOfDecay

Yeah.... but you aint gonna like it....

there is a littel lever down on the lock mechanism that isn't going back down when you unlock the door.... you have to stick something down in there and push that lever down...

Its REAL hard to explain, but its on the side of the lock mechanism that is towards the rear of the car, kinda near the top.

edmcguirk

I probably have the same problem. My passenger door cannot be unlocked if it is locked.

I could not find a way to unlock the door without removing the door panel. And it was no picnic because I have a roll cage in there as well as a passenger seat pushed up against the door panel on that locked door.

There is a small spring across the top of the striker mechanism. It broke and the door cannot be unlocked unless I reach into the door and push the little lever described above.

I suspect I will have to dismantle the door this weekend or next weekend to pull the striker mechanism out and replace the tiny spring.

ed

Markarts

So what's the fix for this exactly......

misterstyx69

iTrader: (142)

if you can't get at it from the outside you will have to find a way from the inside ..which means gettin to the lock mechanism by removing the door panel..window rolled up ..pop the panel or rip it offyour choice ..that or a friggin hatchet ..sorry about that

Markarts

Car removing the door handle from the inside get at something?

Or I heard that if you take a coat hanger, make it straight and try to push it down around the lock area you might be able to push a bar or something down to make the door unlock???

Anyone heard of that?

Were exactly could this be and what area???

Thanks...

ps... the car is in perfect clean condition, 61 thousand miles and summer driven only and garaged.. so messing up anything is NOT what I would like to do...

cool_as_crap

yeah just slim jim the bitch. easy

Markarts

I got the door open with a coat hanger.... Yea!!!

Got the door panel off and sure enough were the lock is the one metal pole was not connected, I reconnected it and when I close the door the door will not open still. Seems something is not straight with the metal poles inside or the door handle part is not operating right.

Anyone got a clue to the next step...

When I close the door the door will not open from the outside or inside still but with a coat hanger in 10 seconds I am in again whenn I tug on the bottom area of the lower wire pole near the door hunge... but thats not a fix.

Anyone know a dealer in the chicago area that does work on 86 RX7's still that might be able to make this work?

Any suggestions welcome.

Thanks

RETed

Most likely this little spring on the door latch broke.
Check the door latch mechanism toward the rear of the inside of the door right in the center, you should see one side of the spring hanging.
I usually just run down to Home Depot and find a spring about the same diameter.
Last time I did this, Home Depot had a spring about the same diameter, but it was twice as long - I just cut the spring in half and used one side.

Getting the spring back into position is a royal pain in the ***!
You gotta be really patient, unless you get really lucky.
There's a black, PVC(?) sleeve that goes onto the spring body, but you have the option to not use it cause it just makes everything harder to install!

Good luck!


-Ted

Markarts

Thanks for the info...

I wish I had a picture of it, I think I will take the other door panel off and look at that side to see were exactly this spring is or attaches, I can't see the spring hanging or missed it though I saw the black slieve was inside the door caught up in a areas.

I'll have to have a re-look at it.

If you have any more info that would be great.

Thanks.

I wonder if any manual or part book pictures are still around that show the area???

Markarts

Yea you were right, there is a little spring behind the window rider, after I removed the window rider and flipped it up I could see the area were the latch is attached with a apring.

I pulled the spring off and the end hook was broke off, I then remade a hook in the spring and peered through the pencel size whole in the door panel area and rehooked it to the latch.

Closed the door and ... It works perfect!!!

Thank you to all who gave me the information on were to look and what to look for, you guys made the repair easy and saved me about $300 to $400 from not having to take the car in for repairs.

This forum and the RX7 owners here are top shelf.

Thank you.

RETed

Sorry I got no pictures of the fix right now - I really need to do a write-up, cause I've done this fix too many times.

I would highly suggest replacing it if possible.
The (stainless?) steel in the spring is metal fatigued, and this is why it broke in the first place.
I would not want to reuse the original spring, as it will most likely break again...soon?
This is why I recommend using a new spring.

Great job though!


-Ted

MichaelFregoe

iTrader: (1)

I had the same issue with the "little spring" a few years ago. Not a diffacult fix, but took about an hour and a half. RETed is right on with his diagnosis.

edmcguirk

I replaced the spring today and I have a few comments on the procedure.

1 - That's a great tip to remove the lower portion of the window track, I don't think I would have thought of it. I probably would have attempted to work around it for a long time.

2 - I found that partially disconnecting the striker mechanism makes it MUCH easier to get a tight spring onto the tiny mounting points.

3 - Home Depot around here no longer carries springs. I could not find any at Lowes either until I found a 100 spring assortment for about $4. Kind of wasteful but I needed the spring. Someone suggested a hobby shop or Staples Office Supply (really? Staples? ok...)


So, the procedure is:

Remove the door panel
Remove the window glass
Remove the lower window track
Remove the easy clips on the striker actuator rods (let the difficult one remain)
Remove the screws retaining the striker to the door
Pull the striker as far as it will stretch and replace the spring
And put it all back together

Should take around 45 minutes or less than 30 if you've taken a door apart before.
Thanks for the tips.
ed