Driver's door stuck in locked position!

[exitRooster]

I looked up this post which was similar, but different so I thought I'd post my situation: http://www.automotiveforums.com/vbul...ht=door+locked

I too have had a van that locks either the driver's door or all doors magically on it's own. Sometimes less frequently than other times. In recent past it became more or a everytime kind of thing. In my case however, the "locking" situation is different. It doen't matter whether I use the keypad or key. In fact, you can hit the button from within (powerlocks) to unlock the door, and the drivers door would unlock, then seconds later, lock itself again!

Of course, I blew it off at the time.. I looked around once, nothing seemed out of place.

NOW - The driver's door does not unlock AT ALL!! I cannot get in the door. Keypad works fine, unlocks all the other doors (door, slider, back), but not driver. Key does nothing. Inside, using the door lever does nothing. Power lock does not unlock it. Manually moving the lock to unlock simply has it move back to lock. And no, when you hold it in unlock, you STILL cannot open the door.

I've no clue what I can do at this point (other than continue sliding in from the passenger seat!) I located two screws to pull the panel off, but have no clue if I can even remove the door panel with the door closed!

Help? Anyone who might know anything please speak up!

Rooster

[QuestOverload]

Sounds like either the power lock actuator is broken or the lock rods are either stuck or have fallen apart. All are cheap and relatively easy to fix, but as you said, it requires pulling the door panel, which can't be done with the door shut.

If you can't get the door open once, you're Grade A screwed IMO unless you get creative. I'd try pulling the battery off and operating the door manually both with the key and the inside lock button, so at least you won't have the power locks fighting you (can't win that one LOL).

If you get the door open, remove the plug right in the lower-middle of the panel & the 10mm bolt, the 2 color-matched capped screws near the front of the door, and pop the plastic pins loose by prying the bottom LH corner and working up, then roll the window down and pull up on the panel and the panel should pop right out, then you can go from there.
HTH
--QuestOverload
PS: I'd be interested to know how the he!! you get it apart!

[exitRooster]

Did as you suggested. Cut the power to the beast, and.....


..."I'm Grade A screwed" it seems. Even with no power (battery disconnected) using the key / manual lock inside both fail to allow the door to open.

I'm (regrettibly) considering destroying the drivers panel (and praying I can find a replacement at the junkyard someday) so I can get to some innards here. Have no other ideas in my mind. Last call for anyone? (lol, can ya tell I don't want to cut up my panel??)

Rooster

[exitRooster]

Well, either not that common of a problem, or those who've experienced it just aren't on..

Anyone know any online places that might have the door panel? I've called about 10 places here in the Mesa, Az area and none have any doors. Even tried the Quest (though I've no idea if it'd even match), just hoping to find SOMETHING.. Got a few left to call, the far away ones, but I'm guessing if none of the local places have many/any Villagers around, those won't either

[IH8SPM]

This is what I would do.
Remove the inner door handle, its held in place by one screw and then it is clipped in. Once off you will have access to the lock and unlock rods that go down to the actual lock assy. If this still fails because they are also damged then using a coat hanger make a bent tip about an inch in size. run it dwn towards the lock and you should bre able to pull the lock mechanisn to unlock. Once thats done the rest is easy. Let me know how it goes. Dont despair and dont get deperate.

[exitRooster]

Originally Posted by IH8SPM

This is what I would do.
Remove the inner door handle, its held in place by one screw and then it is clipped in. Once off you will have access to the lock and unlock rods that go down to the actual lock assy. If this still fails because they are also damged then using a coat hanger make a bent tip about an inch in size. run it dwn towards the lock and you should bre able to pull the lock mechanisn to unlock. Once thats done the rest is easy. Let me know how it goes. Dont despair and dont get deperate.

Got the plastic cover over the handle removed, got the screw out and got the lock/handle mechanism removed. Unsure about the next part. The rods useless. Lock rod does the same thing (going to try with batt. disconnected for good measure, but sensing result will be the same). Door rod also useless. I've been trying after hitting the unlock button on the door panel to open the door via the handle outside (window down, hehe). Hasn't worked. You mentioned next to try a coathanger down to the lock assy. This lock assy is located left of my handle, not below it correct? Gonna try that now (with power killed).

Additionally: How far would ya say/guess I'd need to go? My guess is liek the whole length from the whole where the doorhandle is to 'edge' of the door, roughly where the keyhole is on the outside? Is there any chance what I'm trying to grab hold of is also busted? What does it do to? Reason I ask is moving the lock rod I do feel 'tension' for lack of a better word. I can hear something inside clicking. I'm just wondering if from the years of 'fighting' with the door self-locking what else could be bad. Wondering if the door handle opening mechanism also could be messed up. Seems if moving the rod manually in and out doesn't let the door open, maybe that's busted, too Just wondering/sounding off.. Ya by any chance have any pics/illustrations of what's behind the doorpanel? Stopped at my local libraries several times and either there is no book there for my ride, or someone has it checked out. Thanks again!

UPDATE: Ok - fished around still couldn't make anything happen with the hanger. I did, however, manage to get part of the panel pried away without breaking it (very happy!). Here's a pic(below) of what I can see. There is clearly a bar going to something, not sure what, or what way it needs to move. Going to get flashlight next and see if I can see what/if the door handle itself is doing anything. Suggestions? PS: SRY IN ADVANCE for the oversized pic - I shrunk it from a 3mb file to 250k, but have no idea how to resize pics in this editor ;( If a mod sees this and can do resizing, please feel free!

[exitRooster]

Ok, here's my guesses as of now:

The very bottom has a black plastic encased device - I've determined this to be the power lock motor. Seems to have a lever that goes up and down, about 20min on the clock, so to speak (no idea what that would be in degrees). Do not know if the rod attached to it goes to the door, or whether the motor directly locks or unlocks the door. But I KNOW this thing moves with the power locks from trying it.. Seems unlocked position is up. So I killed power again pulled it up and still, door handle (exterior) does nothing. There is another rod from the internal handle that goes above this lower one, must be the actual door lever.? It appears to go left/right, moves pretty freely in fact and will sit at either position. Making me wonder if this is broken making my door-opening matters worse. If it is busted, how to get the door open?

[IH8SPM]

NIce work so far. The stuff in there is made of two materials metal and plastic. The metal will not break easy. The plastic may break but it only connects the metal to the next piece. If you are brave(CALM) try removing the door panel on the passenger door and find the little lever that actually moves the latch on the door. It does not need to be connected to battery or any rod. The latch is independent and moves up or side to side to lock/unlock. Once you have this your problem will have a better out come. The plastic pieces are sold at a good ford dealership or a automotive supply store more like autobody paint store. From your description of your steps it seems the inner handle and the outer handle have disconnected from that lever so go get and open your door.

[exitRooster]

Originally Posted by IH8SPM

NIce work so far. The stuff in there is made of two materials metal and plastic. The metal will not break easy. The plastic may break but it only connects the metal to the next piece. If you are brave(CALM) try removing the door panel on the passenger door and find the little lever that actually moves the latch on the door. It does not need to be connected to battery or any rod. The latch is independent and moves up or side to side to lock/unlock. Once you have this your problem will have a better out come. The plastic pieces are sold at a good ford dealership or a automotive supply store more like autobody paint store. From your description of your steps it seems the inner handle and the outer handle have disconnected from that lever so go get and open your door.

So just to verify, this actual lever that physically opens the door IS metal, correct? (hence, not as likely to be broken as a plastic piece). The spot by the end of the door where I followed the inner doorhandle to looks like it is the mechanizm, but just another 'meeting' point for the rods. It looks like the top of a cylinder, but with only a tiny space to see down (where the window is open as you can see from the pics) I can't make everything out perfectly, and because the only way to see it is through this spot basically, I can't see where the outter door handle goes (it's behind the glass). Like the idea of taking the passenger door side off though, good for comparsion since I can't seem to churn up any pics/illustrations off hand.

[IH8SPM]

So what happen with problem?

[exitRooster]

I've no idea what to do/try at this point. From my best guess, whatever mechanism is sitting on top of the actuator that physically opens the door is broken and not functioning. I can move everything inside with my coathanger pretty well, lock mechanism and door opener/actuator.. Literally no idea what to do about it at this point. Don't even know how a shop would open this thing, short of literally ripping/cutting the door off. And since I can't locate ANY parts for my door, much less the ENTIRE door, I guess I'm pretty much just out of luck

[IH8SPM]

Why are you giving up. I know its fustrating but you can and will open it. It locked and it will open. You have the bulk work done and you are only a few clicks from presto open. Keep trying just take breaks even if its days off.

[Futura727]

Don't give up on me now! I have the same problem, the van has been to three shops and a locksmith and they won't touch it. I'm going to pull the passenger side panel this afternoon to see how it should work and then go from there. Working together we may be able to get this fixed!

[Futura727]

OK, remove both of the screws on the interior trim panel that you can get at with the door closed.
You already have the top of the interior panel off of the lip, pop the top plastic retainer clip that is at the back of the door on top near the glass, a small tug will clear this from the door jamb and will let you release the next clip down. This is enought to pull back the plastic vapor liner that is inside the door. Look down into the inside of the door all of the way at the rear of the door and you will see a gold metal part that is shaped like a birds mouth.
In the mouth there may or may not be a pin. I think that the pin should be in the birds mouth on mine it was not but it was on the passenger side,
Slide your arm in between the trim panel and the door w/needle nose pliers and pull the birds mouth up and this will unlock the door.
The metal arm from the exterior lock and the interior lock were not connected on mine. The locks still don't work but now it's stuck in the unlocked position, this is huge!

[exitRooster]

I'll take a look at mine tomorrow - It's still torn apart - just sitting there, lol.. I hadcome to the conclusion that the actual door actuator (the mechanism that physically opens whatever to allow the door to open was broken, because I had moved what I thought was the door locker manually and the door still did not open. I will check to see if the mechanism I believe was the door locker is in fact similar to that of a bird mouth and goldish in color. Honestly don't remember off hand at the moment.