3rd Generation Specific (1993-2002) 1993-2002 Discussion including performance modifications and Technical Support Sections.
Sponsored by:

cant unlock drivers side door

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old Nov 18, 2004 | 06:12 PM
  #1  
WANKEL POWER's Avatar
Thread Starter
Full Member
Tenured Member 15 Years
 
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 112
Likes: 1
From: Austin
cant unlock drivers side door

i searched but i cant find any help


lately (for the past few months) i have found it increasinlgy hard to turn my key from the drivers side door.

just now, i tried to unlock my door and its not unlocking. it is very hard to turn the key and when i do, my alarm disengages because if i turn my key the other way, the alarm is armed.

i try from the passenger side and i can unlock it and when i try to open my drivers door from the inside, it doesn't open. when i push on the button to lock/unlock it, i can't hear the noises that i normally do (the power locks)


is the power lock actuator bad?

i can't remove the inside panel of the door cause ... well the door is closed.


any suggestions

Last edited by WANKEL POWER; Nov 18, 2004 at 06:15 PM.
Reply
Old Nov 18, 2004 | 06:45 PM
  #2  
jd to rescue's Avatar
Senior Member
Tenured Member 05 Years
iTrader: (3)
 
Joined: Apr 2003
Posts: 542
Likes: 1
From: scottsdale, az
Look down in the pocket that surrounds the inside door trip lock. There is a small plastic snap-in cover in the bottom of the pocket. Remove that cover and you should find a screw beneath that. Remove the screw and you should be able to pull out the plastic pocket. This may give you a view of the inside of the door sufficient to see what has come apart with the lock assembly.
Reply
Old Nov 18, 2004 | 09:00 PM
  #3  
DaleClark's Avatar
RX-7 Bad Ass
Tenured Member: 20 Years
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
iTrader: (56)
 
Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 15,622
Likes: 2,725
From: Pensacola, FL
Probably just need to clean the lock mechanism if it's tough to turn. Get some graphite lock lube and squirt some in there.

I've got a writeup on removing the door panel at my site http://www.clubrx.org - it's likely a simple mechanical problem with the lock.

Good luck!
Dale
Reply
Old Nov 19, 2004 | 06:26 AM
  #4  
KINETIK_FD3S's Avatar
almost done
Tenured Member 05 Years
 
Joined: Dec 2001
Posts: 1,049
Likes: 0
From: 250 HZ
take of the plastic cover behind the driver side door lock when its off there will be two 10mm nuts take them off then from outside of the car pull the door handle out the will be the two metal rods one that goes to the door handle and the other goes to the lock they have little clips slide them to the side and pop them off, now that the door handle is off pull the rod that goes to the lock up so that it sits a bit higher then before not to much just a bit now put the door handle back on and try to open it with the key if it still doesnt open do the same thing again till it works, thats what worked for me.
Reply
Old Nov 19, 2004 | 09:22 AM
  #5  
WANKEL POWER's Avatar
Thread Starter
Full Member
Tenured Member 15 Years
 
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 112
Likes: 1
From: Austin
Originally Posted by KINETIK_FD3S
take of the plastic cover behind the driver side door lock when its off there will be two 10mm nuts take them off then from outside of the car pull the door handle out the will be the two metal rods one that goes to the door handle and the other goes to the lock they have little clips slide them to the side and pop them off, now that the door handle is off pull the rod that goes to the lock up so that it sits a bit higher then before not to much just a bit now put the door handle back on and try to open it with the key if it still doesnt open do the same thing again till it works, thats what worked for me.

thanks mucho. i did this and do yours (and mine) avail, it worked
Reply
Old Nov 19, 2004 | 09:35 AM
  #6  
the_glass_man's Avatar
Will u do me a kindness?
Tenured Member 10 Years
iTrader: (2)
 
Joined: May 2001
Posts: 5,030
Likes: 4
From: Parlor City, NY
I've bent and snapped a few keys off in my drivers side door. lol Someday I will get around to looking at it.
Reply
Old Nov 19, 2004 | 08:01 PM
  #7  
KINETIK_FD3S's Avatar
almost done
Tenured Member 05 Years
 
Joined: Dec 2001
Posts: 1,049
Likes: 0
From: 250 HZ
when i was a sevenstock this year both my door locks did not open so i had to get in through the hatch.
Reply
Old Jan 29, 2005 | 01:51 AM
  #8  
jeremyb's Avatar
Hi....
Tenured Member 15 Years
 
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 845
Likes: 0
From: bay area
Originally Posted by the_glass_man
I've bent and snapped a few keys off in my drivers side door. lol Someday I will get around to looking at it.
Reply
Old Jan 29, 2005 | 10:12 AM
  #9  
`sl!mXP's Avatar
I
Tenured Member 10 Years
 
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 599
Likes: 0
From: Pittsburgh
i had a similar problem a few weeks ago, my drivers said door key was getting increasingly harder to use, I ended up bending my key trying to open the lock!!! I had a new key made it and it worked great. A week later the door handle itself got stuck and I had to start getting in from the passenger side. I took the handle mechanism apart (Pop off the cover remove two bolts voila) took the connectors off and just sprayed wd-40 and lock stuff all over everything, put it back together and it works better than the day I got it now!

Try that - it might help
Reply
Old Jan 29, 2005 | 01:16 PM
  #10  
BlueRex's Avatar
Rotary Freak
Tenured Member 05 Years
 
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 2,444
Likes: 0
From: Bay Area, CA
Had a similar problem about a year ago...

Make sure you lube up the parts good. I used wd40 and it worked great.
Reply
Old Sep 2, 2005 | 11:47 PM
  #11  
jasonlel's Avatar
Junior Member
Tenured Member 10 Years
 
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 38
Likes: 1
From: Malaysia
Angry Help plssss.s....

Originally Posted by KINETIK_FD3S
take of the plastic cover behind the driver side door lock when its off there will be two 10mm nuts take them off then from outside of the car pull the door handle out the will be the two metal rods one that goes to the door handle and the other goes to the lock they have little clips slide them to the side and pop them off, now that the door handle is off pull the rod that goes to the lock up so that it sits a bit higher then before not to much just a bit now put the door handle back on and try to open it with the key if it still doesnt open do the same thing again till it works, thats what worked for me.
Ok, now I manage to open the door. But after much checking,I peep throught the hole from inside the door panel, I'm able to see how the lock lever works. I notice that when i use the key to lock, the lever will pull the rod up (lock). But when I try to unlock using the key, the lever did not push the rod down (unlock). Why is this so? Is my rod out of position? Rod too short?

I was told that the rod connecting to the lock have to be place outter side of the lower screw. See my picture below.... But even thou I try to position the rod to the outter screw I'm not able to put the handle back in place and I notice the rod holder wont be able to catch the rod too. Anyone can help? By the way, mine is a right hand drive car... :p
Attached Thumbnails cant unlock drivers side door-resized_picture-72-.jpg   cant unlock drivers side door-resized_picture-96-.jpg  
Reply
Old Sep 3, 2005 | 03:03 AM
  #12  
jasonlel's Avatar
Junior Member
Tenured Member 10 Years
 
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 38
Likes: 1
From: Malaysia
The real problem is the rod connecting to the lock is weak, thus when unlocking the door, instead of "pushing" the rod down, the rod is flexing and in actual fact not completely pushing the rod down. Guess I need a new placement rod.

Another thing is I suspect my remote looking "GUN" arent working too. 2 in 1 combo....
Attached Thumbnails cant unlock drivers side door-resized_picture-104-.jpg  
Reply
Old Sep 3, 2005 | 10:09 AM
  #13  
FDZero's Avatar
It's Ole' Yeller!
Tenured Member 05 Years
iTrader: (10)
 
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 1,294
Likes: 1
From: Florida
Originally Posted by jasonlel
The real problem is the rod connecting to the lock is weak, thus when unlocking the door, instead of "pushing" the rod down, the rod is flexing and in actual fact not completely pushing the rod down. Guess I need a new placement rod.

Another thing is I suspect my remote looking "GUN" arent working too. 2 in 1 combo....
My driverside door, at the time when I first got it, had an HUGE "arch" in the rod shape thus didn't allow my door to open most of the time...I just straighten (do not straight all the way!) mine out w/ much lesser arch and ever since, door opens perfectly all the time.

Also, at the time, my passenger side would not even open at all. I thought it was same prob with the driver but unfortunately it wasn't. You can sorta' play with the unlocking rod (pulling up n' down, etc) in the door handle (once removed) and then pop open the door (takes effort). Later found out the passenger side door had a misaligned rod in the actual door locking mechanism (see photo):
Attached Thumbnails cant unlock drivers side door-lockunitright01.jpg  

Last edited by FDZero; Sep 3, 2005 at 10:17 AM.
Reply
Old Sep 3, 2005 | 10:27 AM
  #14  
jasonlel's Avatar
Junior Member
Tenured Member 10 Years
 
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 38
Likes: 1
From: Malaysia
Originally Posted by FDZero
My driverside door, at the time when I first got it, had an HUGE "arch" in the rod shape thus didn't allow my door to open most of the time...I just straighten (do not straight all the way!) mine out w/ much lesser arch and ever since, door opens perfectly all the time.

Also, at the time, my passenger side would not even open at all. I thought it was same prob with the driver but unfortunately it wasn't. You can sorta' play with the unlocking rod (pulling up n' down, etc) in the door handle (once removed) and then pop open the door (takes effort). Later found out the passenger side door had a misaligned rod in the actual door locking mechanism (see photo):

Hmmm i tried lots of time, trying to adjust the rod..... But still didnt manage to. I think the rod has weaken Anyway, I'm getting the rods soon... ;p :p

But I think is best not to use the key to lock/unlock the door. The rods design sux!!! Is best to use remote entry.


Cheeer,
Jason X
Reply
Old Sep 3, 2005 | 10:34 AM
  #15  
FDZero's Avatar
It's Ole' Yeller!
Tenured Member 05 Years
iTrader: (10)
 
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 1,294
Likes: 1
From: Florida
I see. Good luck with getting it squared away.
Reply
Old Sep 3, 2005 | 12:07 PM
  #16  
ManGaZeRo's Avatar
Living the Dream
Tenured Member 15 Years
iTrader: (1)
 
Joined: Apr 2003
Posts: 1,342
Likes: 0
From: Temple city, CA
My car door can't open well only when the car has been parked in the heat for awhile.
Reply
Old Sep 15, 2005 | 06:54 PM
  #17  
jasonlel's Avatar
Junior Member
Tenured Member 10 Years
 
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 38
Likes: 1
From: Malaysia
Thumbs up

HI guys...

After I replace the whole door lock mech. Everything works fine!!!! :p :p :p
Reply
Old Sep 15, 2005 | 07:12 PM
  #18  
jeffrored92's Avatar
Senior Member
Tenured Member 20 Years
 
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 349
Likes: 0
From: Perth, Australia
Glad to see you got it sorted mate, well done
Reply
Old Sep 16, 2005 | 08:58 AM
  #19  
CantGoStraight's Avatar
What's your point ?
Tenured Member 10 Years
 
Joined: Feb 2001
Posts: 3,573
Likes: 0
From: Gainesville, Fla.
[QUOTE=jasonlel]The real problem is the rod connecting to the lock is weak, thus when unlocking the door, instead of "pushing" the rod down, the rod is flexing and in actual fact not completely pushing the rod down. Guess I need a new placement rod.
Originally Posted by jasonlel
Another thing is I suspect my remote looking "GUN" arent working too. 2 in 1 combo....
I suspect that if your using an aftermarket door locking actuator it has the unlocking mechanisim bound up (this is typical of most aftermarket keyless entry actuators) If you can get the door open now try removing the door panel and check out all of the linkage.
Reply
Related Topics
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
ppritchard
Interior / Exterior / Audio
1
Aug 21, 2015 06:02 PM




All times are GMT -5. The time now is 12:00 AM.