driver door is stuck closed, won't open

The door handle isn't broken as far as I can tell, I just went to get in the car one day, put the key in the door lock, turned it to the right like I always do and the door wouldn't open. After trying a few times I went to the passenger side and got in, hit the unlock button to unlock all the doors and the driver door still wouldn't open. I took the trim piece off (the little piece that covers the door lock) the inside of the door and attempted to manually unlock the door by pulling the rod but to no avail.

Any idea what I should do next? It seems like I would have to have the door open to get whole inside door panel off so I'm not really sure what to do

1st gen lumina

The door handle isn't broken as far as I can tell, I just went to get in the car one day, put the key in the door lock, turned it to the right like I always do and the door wouldn't open. After trying a few times I went to the passenger side and got in, hit the unlock button to unlock all the doors and the driver door still wouldn't open. I took the trim piece off (the little piece that covers the door lock) the inside of the door and attempted to manually unlock the door by pulling the rod but to no avail.

Any idea what I should do next? It seems like I would have to have the door open to get whole inside door panel off so I'm not really sure what to do

1st gen lumina

If you cannot open the door from the inside or outside handle, the you'll have to get the door panel off with the door closed. Easier said than done and usually results in damage to the door panel. The lock rod may have come off of the door lock assy. Possibly get it released with a "slim jim" type of tool? But my experience is that the panel will need to come off.

thanks, I'll see if my mechanic can try the slim jim first before I go tearing into the door trim. It really sucks having to use the passenger door to enter/exit!

Thought I'd post an update. My mechanic was able to get the door open eventually with a slim jim. Door opened and closed just fine after that....for about a week, then it became stuck again. If I can get him to open the door again, and get the door panel off from the inside, what should I look for as far as the rods/mechanisms go?

If the rods, linkages and retainers are all ok, the latch assembly may be getting worn out and need replacing.