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Re: Door release issue - Stumped!
Posted: Mon May 11, 2026 6:35 pm
by 07turbeaux
I am beyond stumped/.. I doused mechanism with white litheum grease and the little release lever moved up and down, so I closed the door. Now I am locked out. I used to be able to crawl in from the passenger side and use the inside door handle and that would open the door. Not so much anymore. Some questions
1: would AAA with a slim jim get it open ( they have also gotten me in with a bladder that when inflated bends the door enough to do something but I am not sure what)
2. Would it help to drill out the lock and hope poking around would release the mechanism?
3. I can get inside the car so can I remove the door panel from inside?
Hopefully someone has had this predicament and can help me out
Thanks
R
Re: Door release issue - Stumped!
Posted: Tue May 12, 2026 7:24 am
by Tom
07turbeaux wrote: Mon May 11, 2026 6:35 pm
I am beyond stumped/.. I doused mechanism with white litheum grease and the little release lever moved up and down, so I closed the door. Now I am locked out. I used to be able to crawl in from the passenger side and use the inside door handle and that would open the door. Not so much anymore. Some questions
1: would AAA with a slim jim get it open ( they have also gotten me in with a bladder that when inflated bends the door enough to do something but I am not sure what)
2. Would it help to drill out the lock and hope poking around would release the mechanism?
3. I can get inside the car so can I remove the door panel from inside?
Hopefully someone has had this predicament and can help me out
Thanks
R
Are you completely locked out of the car, or is it just too hard to get in from the passenger side or rear hatch?
Re: Door release issue - Stumped!
Posted: Tue May 12, 2026 7:58 am
by 944er
Re-reading his question, I think the door mechanism itself no longer works. That's a problem because you can't get the door card off with the door locked in order to release the door from the inside (somehow.)
Re: Door release issue - Stumped!
Posted: Wed May 13, 2026 3:02 am
by Outlaw944
07turbeaux wrote: Mon May 11, 2026 6:35 pm
I am beyond stumped/.. I doused mechanism with white litheum grease and the little release lever moved up and down, so I closed the door. Now I am locked out. I used to be able to crawl in from the passenger side and use the inside door handle and that would open the door. Not so much anymore. Some questions
1: would AAA with a slim jim get it open ( they have also gotten me in with a bladder that when inflated bends the door enough to do something but I am not sure what)
2. Would it help to drill out the lock and hope poking around would release the mechanism?
3. I can get inside the car so can I remove the door panel from inside?
Hopefully someone has had this predicament and can help me out
Thanks
R
As the outside and inside handles will not work it sounds like a problem with the cable. Although, your initial problem of just the ousdide not working suggested a problem just with the exteriior handle mechanism. You'll need to remove a few screws on the door card enough to reach into the mechanism from the inside.
Re: Door release issue - Stumped!
Posted: Wed May 13, 2026 5:43 am
by chrischrischris
This happened to me when I over extended the plastic ball socket piece that connects the door handle latch to the door release mechanism. I don't think the panel can be completely removed, but I was able to remove enough of the fasteners to allow me to open the top edge and then I could get my fingers inside. It was a bitch, but it worked.
Re: Door release issue -solved
Posted: Wed May 13, 2026 5:04 pm
by 07turbeaux
thanks for the tips. Was able to pry the top of door panel back and grab the vertical knob. Door popped open.
Printed out Clark's BODY 12 Door Handle---removal adjustment installation
We shall see how things go during tonight's project
Re: Door release issue - Stumped!
Posted: Wed May 13, 2026 5:05 pm
by 07turbeaux
Re: Door release issue - Stumped!
Posted: Fri May 15, 2026 12:53 pm
by 07turbeaux
I got the door open but while fiddling with the lock i set off the alarm and now it will not go off.
I removed fuses and relay for horn without success. So I assume the noise comes from a horn that is attached to the firewall just behind the battery. Will the sound be gone if I just disconnect the wires to that horn?
Re: Door release issue - Stumped!
Posted: Fri May 15, 2026 1:51 pm
by dr bob
Disconnect the battery to stop the noise, plus it resets the alarm/immobilizer. If it's like mine --
-- Alarm trips when you attempt to unlock without the key in the lock.
-- Alarm active relocks the doors for you. Disconnecting just the horns doesn't reset the alarm/immobilizer.
I just received a couple bags of the white door-card 'pins' if you need some. I can deliver.
You have my phone number.
I added a battery switch for when the car is hibernating or in surgery.