polarbreez

Oh no, how do I get out of this one?! SC400, 1995. My driver's side door will not unlock. Here are the symptoms:

The interior lock button (the piece with the big red blob on it) will not pull outwards ( ie towards me as I'm sitting in the seat). If I try to pull it manually, it moves a quarter-inch or so but then won't move any further. Something is stopping it. If I try to unlock it with the remote, it tries to move a bit but, again, won't go any further. If I try to unlock it with the button on the door armrest, it does the same thing as with the remote. If I try to unlock from the outside using the key, same thing again - something seems to be stopping the key turning far enough to unlock it.

Therefore, because it remains stubbornly locked, neither the interior handle nor the exterior handle has any effect and will not open the door - they don't show any resistance, as you indeed would expect when the door is locked.

My tech told me it was probably just jammed and if I squirt WD40 at it, through the handle holes, or down from the open window, I might be able to free it. But I tried that and nothing happens. It doesn't feel like it's jammed, it feels more like something is blocking it. But I can hear something clicking near the door mechanism when I try to unlock (in any fashion) - it's just that it only moves a little way (whether manually or electrically), then stops .

I'm sure if I could get inside the door I could figure out what's going on but, of course, I can't get inside the door because while it's closed I can't get the interior trim off! Help, can anyone give me a tip how to make some progress on this one?!!

Thanks,
Howard

PS - it occurred to me that there may be some kind of anti-theft interlock that blocks the unlock lever and perhaps that's what's malfunctioning - does that make any sense and if so how could I disable that?

bippu250

Having the same problem? Has anyone found a solution?

Dx3

iTrader: (13)

Try disconnecting the battery and then manually trying to open it. This should rule out whether its an electrical issue not allowing it to open, or whether something physical is stopping it.

Kalogerus

iTrader: (3)

^ Yup try that first, if electrical test checked out take off your door panel, take out the inner handle by removing the 4 8mm nuts and see whats going on. Spraying wd-40 without taking it out will be quite messy and you'd be gambling with your interior cleanliness.

Dx3

iTrader: (13)

I think the issue is that they can't take off the door panel because they can't open the door...