How to take a locked door off
bhatkins2000
05-10-2004, 04:49 PM
I have a 1991 Accord 4 door that needs some serious help. The drivers door is locked shut and the mechanism no longer works either manually or electronically. I have to crawl over the seats to get in. Better than last week when I had to get in and out thru the sun roof. [College student]
Does anyone know how to get the door open, this side of TNT? Or any ideas.
Thanks.
Does anyone know how to get the door open, this side of TNT? Or any ideas.
Thanks.
wheel1856
05-10-2004, 05:39 PM
Do I know...not really. Can I suggest, I'll try. Without knowing the intimacies of the accord door for that year I would try this:
-clear the driver side of all things non door, seat, floor/door trim, speaker cover (if you can), door handles, etc. This will give you room to work.
-before you take out anything major (ie: seat) take of the internal door panels that you can remove with the door closed: door handle, arm rest handle and controls, anything else (speaker cover) : Then look through those spaces to see if you can get to the lock's regulator arm to move it with long pliers, your hand, or anything else you can get in there to move the thing. You may be able to move the mechanism from these spots without taking your driver side apart.
-assuming you get the door to open at this point, open the door, remove the interior door panel, and get in there to see what the problem is, likely the little vynal/plastic piece that connects the regulator arm from the key tumbler to the lock snapped. Go to a junkyard and get a new one : If a lock assembly from a 92 Civic will fit, I'll give you one if you pay the shipping. (long story, but I have one lying around)
-If you don't get the door open, remove all that you can from the driver side to try and get the door panel off while the door is closed. Here's where Im talkin out my a$$. Such a feat may be impossible. Screw may been covered by the dash, door trim, and god knows what else preventing you from getting the door open. If you find some miricle of luck that allows the panel to come off with the door closed, see the above step.
-Given that you have power windows/locks the likelyhood that a cop or tow truck would slim jim the door open is slim, but that too may work, as the slim jim's purpose is to hook the regulator arm and unlock it by by-passing the lock tumblers.
Good luck. (might wanna check the lock fuses also and make sure it's not a 25 cent, 2 minute repair job for a blown fuse.)
if you can use the civic's lock (its just the mechanism, you can keep the same key and electronic work): [email protected]
-clear the driver side of all things non door, seat, floor/door trim, speaker cover (if you can), door handles, etc. This will give you room to work.
-before you take out anything major (ie: seat) take of the internal door panels that you can remove with the door closed: door handle, arm rest handle and controls, anything else (speaker cover) : Then look through those spaces to see if you can get to the lock's regulator arm to move it with long pliers, your hand, or anything else you can get in there to move the thing. You may be able to move the mechanism from these spots without taking your driver side apart.
-assuming you get the door to open at this point, open the door, remove the interior door panel, and get in there to see what the problem is, likely the little vynal/plastic piece that connects the regulator arm from the key tumbler to the lock snapped. Go to a junkyard and get a new one : If a lock assembly from a 92 Civic will fit, I'll give you one if you pay the shipping. (long story, but I have one lying around)
-If you don't get the door open, remove all that you can from the driver side to try and get the door panel off while the door is closed. Here's where Im talkin out my a$$. Such a feat may be impossible. Screw may been covered by the dash, door trim, and god knows what else preventing you from getting the door open. If you find some miricle of luck that allows the panel to come off with the door closed, see the above step.
-Given that you have power windows/locks the likelyhood that a cop or tow truck would slim jim the door open is slim, but that too may work, as the slim jim's purpose is to hook the regulator arm and unlock it by by-passing the lock tumblers.
Good luck. (might wanna check the lock fuses also and make sure it's not a 25 cent, 2 minute repair job for a blown fuse.)
if you can use the civic's lock (its just the mechanism, you can keep the same key and electronic work): [email protected]
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