KBlair

OK, I have tried everything I can think of shy of a 5 lb sledge to get these doors open on this parts car.

Ny next course of action is to go in behind the rear interior panels or inside the rear fender well (whichever gives access) and drill out the mounting points for the lock post, unless anyone has other ideas.

AO

What about drilling out the lock itself? It's alot easier to access and you will never use the locks again since either you don't have the key, or it's the wrong one.

Once you get it drilled out, a standard screw driver should allow you to turn it and access the insides. I would think this would be the fastest way without damaging any other part of the car.

Let us know what you end up doing.

WallyP

It might help to know why they won't open...

Locked?
Broken handle?
Just jammed?

Drewster67

I still say - do the windshield. Isn't it smashed already?.

AO

</font><blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana,Tahoma,Helvetica">quote:</font><hr /><font size="2" face="Verdana,Tahoma,Helvetica"> I still say - do the windshield. Isn't it smashed already?. </font><hr /></blockquote><font size="2" face="Verdana,Tahoma,Helvetica">That's another great idea. Everyone says that they break anyway when you go to pull them. So what's the loss asside from the time it might take to clean up.
<img border="0" alt="[cheers]" title="" src="graemlins/beerchug.gif" />

KBlair

Sorry Wally, I had another thread on this earlier.

I believe that they won't open because the latch mechanism is frozen. This is on my parts car. Access to the inside is available via any window opening, all the glass is busted out anyway. I'm not the first person to try and get them open, I believe the PO tried as well. All of the lock mechanism has been disassembled by the PO, the only thing that is left is the part that's bolted to the inside of the door. You can clearly see where he took a large screwdriver or hammerdriver to the mechanism, it's bent and distarted and I'm thinking it's either jammed in the "lock" position or the release is jammed.

Andrew, I thought of the screwdriver but the lock cylinder isn't connected to the lock mechanism anymore. The littl eplastic pieces are in the floorboard, broken.

In case anyone was wondering, access to the back side of the lock post is in the rear fender well behind the forward splash guard.

Rob M Budd

If the lock is gone, you should be able to unbolt the mechanism from the inside and disconnect the door handle and power mechanism leaving just the striker plate on the outside of the door. You can also get the protective shield out of the way if its still there.
Once that is done, you will be able to see, on the inside of the door, the release pin of the striker plate. This pin is spring loaded and pushing it up or down (I forgot which)will release the latch.

I just did this one mine. Give it a try.

KBlair

Rob,

All of that was removed by the PO. I can see the striker plate and the release pin. It's so mangled by the PO that I believe the latch is stuck. I've tried to push a up and down on everything that moves in there with no success.

Jay Wellwood

OMG...

I just read thru this and it struck me as incredibly funny.

Who would of ever imagined that the doors would be so difficult to open?

Since the doors are apparently already mangled and the windows are smashed - why not use an air chisel to 'open' the doors completely?

Just a thought...

tresamore

Find a local car thief, they'll know a way in.
<img border="0" alt="[icon107]" title="" src="graemlins/icon107.gif" />

Greg86andahalf

Or the "jaws of life"

Erik - Denmark

KBlair,
Still not open!
The best will be if you can hold of a door look, with this in your hand you can easely see how it lock. I have one on my table, but not esy to explain.
If you do not find out, come back and I will try to explain you and eventual. take some photos
For sure that's simple to open that door, when you know how to do, so the idea to hire car thief is maybe not so stupid, except he comes back after dark! <img border="0" alt="[nono]" title="" src="graemlins/nono.gif" /> <img border="0" alt="[icon501]" title="" src="graemlins/icon501.gif" />

Zandramus

LOL

Hey I used to repo cars which made me a professional car thief. Problem is though that all of the lock mechanisms are out of the car. that is what the car thief uses to get the car open. best bet would be to drill out the latch inside the door where it is mounted at this point. once it is removed it should open freely.

Joe R

Sawzall

KBlair

Thanks guys. At this point, I'm leaning towards and air hammer to remove bolts for the lock mechanism inside the door. I'm sure the release is jammed, but you wouldn't think it'd be this hard to get the doors open. I hate to cut the doors off because they are in great shape AND this car does not have the side bump strips.

If I can chisel off the bolts and free the mechanism, the door should open....RIGHT?!!