2nd Generation Specific (1986-1992) 1986-1992 Discussion including performance modifications and technical support sections.
Sponsored by:

Passenger door not opening --- help me lol

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old 12-25-07, 04:20 PM
  #1  
wtf rotary wtf

Thread Starter
iTrader: (3)
 
hurleysurf24's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: Who knows
Posts: 2,756
Likes: 0
Received 1 Like on 1 Post
Passenger door not opening --- help me lol

As the title says, I think the cable either snapped or became disconnected. This wouldnt be so bad if the door panel had already been removed .. or if the door had been open.

So I am now sitting here wondering how in the hell I am going to be able to get the door open. It's not the end of the world, but its annoying none the less.

I think theres five options unless you guys know something I dont

1. Try to maneuver through the door and window sills .. and go fishing for the cable
2. Pull off the inside door handle and go fishing that way (tried this ... does not look promising)
3. Rip apart the door panel (would much rather not do this .. but wouldn't be to expensive to replace the panel).
4. Somehow get the locking mechanism itself open where the door contacts the body
5. Other

Thoughts?
Old 12-25-07, 06:53 PM
  #2  
Do you feel lucky punk!!!

 
Nitrometano's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: Puerto Rico
Posts: 356
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
oh man that sucks. A good choice would be to call a locksmith to open the door. Another would be to remove the seat and take remove the door panel to acces the lock mechanism.
Old 12-25-07, 07:34 PM
  #3  
Rotary ≥* Soul

 
86GXL's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2003
Location: Oregon
Posts: 785
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
sounds like the handle itself broke... pull it out and put in another.

common problem
Old 12-25-07, 07:36 PM
  #4  
Smoke moar

 
cmanns's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: The yay, California
Posts: 2,530
Likes: 0
Received 1 Like on 1 Post
^ Yep hes correct.
Old 12-25-07, 07:40 PM
  #5  
Rotary ≥* Soul

 
86GXL's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2003
Location: Oregon
Posts: 785
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
wait.. you cant open it from the inside??
Old 12-25-07, 07:45 PM
  #6  
Smoke moar

 
cmanns's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: The yay, California
Posts: 2,530
Likes: 0
Received 1 Like on 1 Post
If the cable snaped, no. Remove the door handle cover on the inside of the car and try to fish for the cable, if that fails not sure what else ya can do lol...
Old 12-25-07, 07:46 PM
  #7  
wtf rotary wtf

Thread Starter
iTrader: (3)
 
hurleysurf24's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: Who knows
Posts: 2,756
Likes: 0
Received 1 Like on 1 Post
yea i cant open it from etiher side
Old 12-25-07, 07:47 PM
  #8  
Is he planning to fly?!

 
demontwig's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2007
Location: Kent, WA
Posts: 282
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
This happened to me too. I took it to the dealership and they had it good to go in a few hours without breaking anything and didn't charge much!
Old 12-25-07, 07:50 PM
  #9  
Smoke moar

 
cmanns's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: The yay, California
Posts: 2,530
Likes: 0
Received 1 Like on 1 Post
Originally Posted by hurleysurf24
yea i cant open it from etiher side
Do what I said mate, its the furthest you'll get instead of just browsing here we had both sides break, one was the handle, one was the inside handle part on the other door.... but for the cable snaping off what I said above is the best advise I can think of
Old 12-25-07, 09:38 PM
  #10  
HAILERS

 
HAILERS's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2001
Location: FORT WORTH, TEXAS,USA
Posts: 20,563
Likes: 0
Received 21 Likes on 19 Posts
Ain't no cable thar.

Main Entry: 1ca·ble
Function: noun
Pronunciation: 'kA-b&l
Usage: often attributive
Etymology: Middle English, from Old North French, from Medieval Latin capulum lasso, from Latin capere to take -- more at HEAVE
1 a : a strong rope especially of 10 inches (25 centimeters) or more in circumference b : a cable-laid rope c : a wire rope or metal chain of great tensile strength d : a wire or wire rope by which force is exerted to control or operate a mechanism
2 : CABLE LENGTH
3 a : an assembly of electrical conductors insulated from each other but laid up together usually by being twisted around a central core b : CABLEGRAM ; also : a radio message or telegram
4 : something resembling or fashioned like a cable <a fiber-optic cable>
5 : CABLE TELEVISION

It sounds like the rod isn't attached to the door handle mechanism anymore. The idea from the post above where he suggests pulling the passengers seat (only four bolts) and then removing the panel seems promising. Might work. Maybe.

There's no way the exterior door handle can be removed without pulling the interior door panel.
Old 12-25-07, 09:55 PM
  #11  
rotorhead

iTrader: (3)
 
arghx's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2004
Location: cold
Posts: 16,182
Received 429 Likes on 263 Posts
angle grinder

it solves a lot of problems
Old 12-25-07, 10:17 PM
  #12  
Smoke moar

 
cmanns's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: The yay, California
Posts: 2,530
Likes: 0
Received 1 Like on 1 Post
HAILERS

If he removes the inside handle stuff he may beable to pull the rod

oh yeah your right no cable, its a rod I remember now, that was soo long ago though that I had the doors open (trying to get the side speakers working.... gave up lol)
Old 12-25-07, 10:51 PM
  #13  
wtf rotary wtf

Thread Starter
iTrader: (3)
 
hurleysurf24's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: Who knows
Posts: 2,756
Likes: 0
Received 1 Like on 1 Post
anyone havea picture of a door without the panel on so i can see where exactly i shold try fishing for the rod
Old 12-26-07, 08:13 AM
  #14  
HAILERS

 
HAILERS's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2001
Location: FORT WORTH, TEXAS,USA
Posts: 20,563
Likes: 0
Received 21 Likes on 19 Posts
No picture here. But with the panel pulled, you'll need access to the rear end of the door, and all the way up and across from the exterior door handle. Window up. You remove the plastic sheeting from that area and reach in thru the holes in the metal door sheet metal and feel for the linkage on the exterior door handle and pull/push on the linkage.

No. That's not a very good description. Maybe someone will come up with a picture.

I was just being a smartass about the cable/rod in the post above. humor.

I think it's still going to be a bit hard getting that interior panel off even with the seat out. Seems the only way without destroying the exterior handle.

Makes me wonder. If the window is down, there might be enough room to fish with a ????coat hanger for the linkage??? I might go out and look at the car later and see.
Old 12-26-07, 08:25 AM
  #15  
HAILERS

 
HAILERS's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2001
Location: FORT WORTH, TEXAS,USA
Posts: 20,563
Likes: 0
Received 21 Likes on 19 Posts
Your looking for the HOLE shown in this J-RAT picture attached. It' the only picture I could find. https://www.rx7club.com/forum/attach...6&d=1181516677

I searched for a name J-RAT and the words DOOR HANDLE. His other pictures don't show the whole door, but you might take a look.
Old 12-26-07, 09:17 AM
  #16  
HAILERS

 
HAILERS's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2001
Location: FORT WORTH, TEXAS,USA
Posts: 20,563
Likes: 0
Received 21 Likes on 19 Posts
The rod went in the large 1/4 inch hole above the body of the door handle assy. Pictures attached of a handle.
Attached Thumbnails Passenger door not opening --- help me lol-doorhandleflipped.jpg   Passenger door not opening --- help me lol-doorhandle.jpg  
Old 12-26-07, 11:46 AM
  #17  
Senior Member

iTrader: (12)
 
DroptopRX7's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2001
Location: Aiken, SC
Posts: 582
Likes: 0
Received 3 Likes on 2 Posts
Glad you all resolved that issue with the cable vs rod matter. As you found out, there are several rods attached to the door handle.

My first instinct is to ask if the inside locking slide mechanism and the inside pull handle have any effect on opening the door. (Here's a stupid question...is the door locked from the inside?) If the inside door handle will not open the door and the outside handle doesn't open it, as you mentioned, I believe that the only way you are going to access this problem is to get the door panel off to look inside.

If possible, you'll have to access the several screws on the bottom of the panel, one at the top front, the 4 long ones that hold the door pull handle and the small screw that secures the inside door opening handle behind which sits another screw that attaches to the large inside door pull handle. Also, try to carefully remove the outside mirror triangle that covers its mounting screws. That one might break as the plastic is brittle, but they are easily sourced.

Once you have all of that removed, you will have to carefully try to pry the door panel off. This will be difficult I think since it will be jammed against the body of the car by the door.

As stated, try every other method cited above and by other posters to avoid having to remove the panel inside the car.
Old 12-26-07, 11:51 AM
  #18  
Mac Attack

iTrader: (5)
 
MaczPayne's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: California
Posts: 5,668
Received 20 Likes on 10 Posts
If you can get the windows to roll down, you'll see the latch rod(gold'ish colored) at the very rear of the window. Use a thin plier or vise grip to hold the rod, then push down. If you don't have a plier that fits, use a fat screwdriver to push the rod down. If the door is unlocked, you should be able to open the door that way.

If you don't see the latch rod, then you might have to remove the door panel to get your hand in there.
Old 12-26-07, 01:55 PM
  #19  
Mazda Tech
iTrader: (4)
 
MazdaMike02's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: Tottenham, ON
Posts: 1,589
Likes: 0
Received 1 Like on 1 Post
Fish with a telescopic magnet, call a locksmith...worst comes to worse tear the door apart....Start with the handle though.
Related Topics
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
bzebern
Build Threads
274
04-21-19 11:39 PM
Th0m4s
Build Threads
25
02-26-19 02:04 AM



Quick Reply: Passenger door not opening --- help me lol



All times are GMT -5. The time now is 08:58 PM.