Door won't open?

shifty_uk · 13 Jan 2010 at 20:09

I'm thinking the locking mechanics within my rear offside door are broken as it won't open from inside or out. The locking switch doesn't go up when I unlock the car, either.

I had a quick look on Google and it doesn't sound like an easy fault to distinguish or repair? Any ideas on what it could be or how much labour could be involved?

Car is heading in for a service at the end of the week.

BigglesPiP · 13 Jan 2010 at 21:17

full of ice.

shifty_uk · 13 Jan 2010 at 22:19

It's not unfortunately. The weather hasn't been that bad here in weeks. It only started happening randomly - perhaps I slammed the door too hard?

DB_SamX · 13 Jan 2010 at 23:01

It's not as simple as the child lock being on on the door's edge is it, or does the door not opening from the outside rule it out?

Magic_x_uk · 13 Jan 2010 at 23:22

I had this on my Renault laguna and also on my sisters Magane.

Basically the handles are connected to the locks on the inside of the door skin with metal rods.

In my cases, the metal rods are attached to the inside of the handles with plastic clips, (for want of a better word) these had basically broke/snapped off. So I repaired, retied etc etc to get them to work. Not the best solution but it did and has worked.

You could always see what is wrong and maybe pick up parts from the scrap yard or local 'whatever make of car it is' dealer.

CooK1E · 14 Jan 2010 at 13:57

Could just be the Ice, have you heard a snap recently when using the door? That could indicate that the plastic clips are knackered.

Do you happen to have frame-less windows? I know mine have been sticking in the harsh whether, which looks like the door won't open buts its just because the glass is stuck. Otherwise see if you can find the manual for your car and get the door card of, any problems will become pretty apparent then.

Fr0dders · 14 Jan 2010 at 13:59

DB_SamX said:
It's not as simple as the child lock being on on the door's edge is it, or does the door not opening from the outside rule it out?

yup

child lock shouldnt effect the ability of it to unlock it from the outside.

shifty_uk · 14 Jan 2010 at 14:18

Yeah, it's not the child lock. I've never had reason to use it. Definitely not ice related either, everything had thawed out long before it happened.

Magic_x_uk said:
I had this on my Renault laguna and also on my sisters Magane.

It's a Renault

CooK1E said:
Could just be the Ice, have you heard a snap recently when using the door? That could indicate that the plastic clips are knackered.

Haven't heard any snaps and can't think of a time when I've been more vigourous with the door than usual.

Magic_x_uk · 14 Jan 2010 at 17:15

Shifty, get the door skin off. When you take it off there will be a transparent sheet over the door attached with horrid sticky glue. Take that off with a Very sharp knife (going all round the skin, only cuttng the glue itself when you pull the see through bit away. (so in essence you are not physically cutting anything, just the stringy glue), and lay somewhere safe where it wont get damaged and the glue wont stick to anything. I put mine in my boot.

Then you can play and see what is going on inside the door itself.

CooK1E · 15 Jan 2010 at 22:16

Magic_x_uk said:
Shifty, get the door skin off. When you take it off there will be a transparent sheet over the door attached with horrid sticky glue. Take that off with a Very sharp knife (going all round the skin, only cuttng the glue itself when you pull the see through bit away. (so in essence you are not physically cutting anything, just the stringy glue), and lay somewhere safe where it wont get damaged and the glue wont stick to anything. I put mine in my boot.

Then you can play and see what is going on inside the door itself.

This is what I'd suggest - you will soon realise whats wrong!

shifty_uk said:
Haven't heard any snaps and can't think of a time when I've been more vigourous with the door than usual.

Fair enough, although as an example both of my door cables have snapped their plastic retainers. I haven't been overly rough with them, its just the age of the car.