1993 Cobra Registry

OK, I replaced the window motors, lock actuators, door handles, power mirrors on both doors. Now passenger door wont open. Any ideas ? The actuator works. The door worked for a day. Now it wont open.

Won't open from inside or outside? Sounds like a rod fell off the latch.

wont open from either the inside or the outside, problem is how do I get the inside door panel off. And short of ordering another interior screw set where can I get the two long screws for the bottom of the armrest, that are covered by the plastic plugs....


thanks

if you cant get to the doorpanel screws , you may have to unbolt the seat.

The rod may have lodged itself in the latch mechanism resulting in your issue.

Merde

You don't need that door to open, just pull the ol dukes of hazard maneuver

#2098 wrote:NO

lol

escogt wrote:

#2098 wrote:NO

lol

Lol more!! Funny stuff

This is a REALLY bad problem.

Okay for starters... Remember that in the WORST case scenario... You can get away with tearing up the door panel to get to the innards (which you don't want to do)

Just keep that in mind when trying to take things apart... It will keep you from accidently tearing other things up.

As they stated before..

1. Take you passenger seat out. Its gonna be a bitch, but it can be done. (You may want to take your middle console out just to avoid damaging it in the process.)
2. Take off anything around the door like sill panels.. ect... that you can. Remember if you think your gonna tear it up... dont do it or save it for later.
3. Remove the arm rest... door handle pocket... ect as you would normally.
4. The hardest thing I think your gonna have to deal with is the DASH if you can pull the panel away from the door close to where the dash is.. you might be okay removing it.

... However... if not..


Also double check and make sure its nothing with your lock... Obviously the door should open if its locked...(from the inside at least).

So..
1. Outer door handle (door locked)
2. Outer door handle (door unlocked)
3. Inner door handle (door locked)
4. Inner door handle (door unlocked)

You never know.. you might get lucky.

Good luck!

Nice write up poo!

Thanks..

I just hope its helpful.

I know you said you replaced the door lock actuators, but even out of the box actuators can still fail.


Usually when the power door lock actuators seize up, they really seize up preventing the other rods within the door from moving. If trying to use the interior handle to open the door, more than likely, in the process, the rods are being bent due to the actuator being jammed.

Using the power lock function or key cylinder won't have any effect.

The lock actuator rod is actually cork screw-like - so once it's jammed, it's very hard to depress the door lock rod (or unlock the rod) since the actuator rod is pretty much seized internally. The user can try with force, but will most likely end up breaking other things as well.

Try this:

1) Pull off the plastic lock rod tip protruding through the door panel. Get a pair of channel lock pliers and grasp the rod and see if you can pull it upward - IF it's locked in the down position. It may or may not release the actuator rod.

2) The only other thing to try - and it's drastic measures (as also touched on by Pooblah):

Unbolt the passenger seat and remove it through hatchback. Fold down the tops of the rear seats, unbolt passenger seat, "fold it" and tilt it backwards while turning it almost sideways (so its like an "L". You should be able to maneuver it past the driver seat onto the now flattened rear seat area and pull seat into or through hatch. This will give you better access to do the below.

Remove the door pull (arm rest), the door release cup and the upper corner piece for the door mirror. With those items removed, now grasping the bottom of the door panel, try pulling the door panel inward and towards the center console - this should pop or release some of the plastic push pins that secure the door panel to the door.

If the door retains the plastic or paper insulation barrier under the door panel, cut a hole or peel the paper toward the passenger seat. Then pull the door panel back towards the passenger seat as far as you can, so you can see the insides of the door. Look to the RIGHT (towards B-pillar) for the rods attached to the lock actuator and see if you can move or pull on them to release tension. If you have the panel opened enough, there's a good possibility you'll be able to get the door to open by accessing those rods and working them to pop the latch release assembly.

Be warned, you may distort the door card by doing the above, but it may work.

^^^^ i think cobra jet, is superceeding Aaron Stiles... Nice write up.