Ok so i was on a cross country trip and yesterday morning it started to snow in Albuquerque( read cold). so i unlocked the driver door and it unlocked, but did not open. it wont lock and wont unlock completely. i would like to remove the door panel to fix it, but door wont open. i have to dukes of hazard it or crawl in through the passenger side (most likely option).

is there anyway to open the door? or remove the panel? (sans taking fender off)

 

Don't do what I did and rip off panel. You can get to the screws with out ripping everything out. Move the seat all the way down. You will pretty much have to lay down on the seat backwards. Run your fingers between the panel and door. Locate the screws I want to say there is 3 or 4 of them. With a Phillip screwdriver unscrew all off them, pull on the door panel and it will give you enough room to get to the actuator. The panel wont come off completely but it gives you access to the actuator. It was tricky but I was able to pop the door open with a flat head screw driver from there. Good luck.

 

thanks TL. it was a pain, but i got it done. took 2 hrs (my clutch took me 3!). most of that time was spent uncomfortably tying to get in the position to get things done. i put the tools on the roof and opened the sunroof, saving time there. i cant tell you how it came open because it was a number of things, such as "jiggling" and "bending". but i did use pliers on the cables to open and close the lock and pull handle, and that is how it came open. i was never happier to hear the door ajar noise. and to make this debacle even worse, the chic broke the passenger side actuator rods about 2 weeks ago. (im sure it wasn't her fault but the "open it when you hear it open" no dont pull the handle till it's unlocked... stop pulling the handle... ok on 3. 1... 2.... 3... no go after 3. look just count till 10, then, open the door. you cant open it if i haven't unlocked it" scenario doesn't help, you know how that goes.)

 

no prob. Yeah it's a pain but it's much better then looking and paying for a new door panel. Hahaha