Door wont unlock

by ant7377 Sun Jul 21, 2013 10:33 pm

Anyone ever had a door that wont unlock? I locked the driver door on my 73 Monte (manual lock) and now it wont unlock,I cant open the door. Anyone have any ideas? I cant be the first one this happened to. Im not trapped int he car by the way,I climbed out the passenger side.

by Mcarlo77 Sun Jul 21, 2013 11:23 pm

So...you pushed the lock button down and now you can't pull it back up? Have you tried rolling the window all the way down so you can see down inside the door and squirting some lubricant on the door latch pivot points? May have to use a long bladed screwdriver or some such device to manually move the horizontal bar that acts to lock and unlock the latch. If you need me to clarify, I'll send a pic.

by ant7377 Sun Jul 21, 2013 11:55 pm

I kind of understand what you are saying and yes that is exactly what happened. I lubed up everything pretty good when I had the door panel off. I think the rod you mentioned must have gotten jammed up some how. Can you post that picture? It would help.

by Limey SE Sun Jul 21, 2013 11:57 pm

sounds like your lock rod got bent somehow try what he said and also when get door open replace it

by 77mali Mon Jul 22, 2013 5:34 am

Maybe your retainer clips came loose? Compare the pass side to the drivers by removing the top door panels if you can, they look like this:

http://www.sandsclassics.com/cgi/display.cgi?item_num=CP-71-3520P

by ant7377 Mon Jul 22, 2013 7:24 am

Im going to work on it today. Because I need more stuff to fix around here!

by Joe73 Mon Jul 22, 2013 9:46 am

Ant, let me know if you need an extra hand.

by Mcarlo77 Mon Jul 22, 2013 12:46 pm

Maybe these pics will help. It's not a very complicated system. If your latch is lubed (including the pivot pins on the locking pivot bar I'm pointing to in the one photo), chances are one or both of those white plastic retaining clips that hold the horizontal lock linkage tight to the inner door frame have broken or come loose from the door and you aren't getting the necessary leverage to trip the latch locking bar. Or, the angled linkage bar end that goes into the latch has come out. It's a pretty sloppy fit and only those white plastic retaining clips hold everything in place so it doesn't come out.

By the way, to trip the latch locking bar, just use something to reach down in there (window rolled down) and push that down to unlock the door.

Door wont unlock Abodyd10

by 77mali Mon Jul 22, 2013 7:32 pm

Here U go Anthony. Hopefully Chevelle & Monte R the same.

Door wont unlock Dsc01410

by ant7377 Mon Jul 22, 2013 7:48 pm

Thanks guys, I managed to get the door panel off and everything looks intact. Thanks so much for the pictures,Joe I might have to call you ,I know you have experience with this. I tried pushing down on the latch locking bar and it wont move. Im going to keep fooling with it,I will report back. I dont get it never had a problem before.

by ant7377 Mon Jul 22, 2013 9:09 pm

Tried pushing down on the bar and nothing ,it wont let go. I can move the T shaped bracket in there side to side but the bar wont go down.

by ant7377 Mon Jul 22, 2013 9:31 pm

Ok I think I fixed it. Pushed on the lock bar with a longer wider screw driver and it let go and the lock popped up! Still not sure what caused it. I lubed it with a pretty heavy spray lube ,maybe it got some junk in there and jammed it up. I used different stuff this time.

by Mcarlo77 Mon Jul 22, 2013 9:55 pm

Glad to hear you got it unlocked. Is your latch kind of rusty or crusty from old grease caked on it? I'm guessing those two pivot pins or rivets on the locking bar are in need of some serious lubrication.

by ant7377 Mon Jul 22, 2013 10:03 pm

You know its not,it looks really good, I dont understand what happened.I lubed it really good now with some marvel mystery oil.I really had to whack it to free it up and it seems to be ok now. Im going to make sure before I put it back together.

by Mcarlo77 Mon Jul 22, 2013 10:08 pm

Only other thing I can think of that might have bound that up would be the little tension spring that's located on the inward side of the latch...directly ahead of where the lock button linkage attaches to the latch. Can only see the hook end without removing the latch. It may have become jammed in there...not allowing the locking bar to move.

by 77mali Mon Jul 22, 2013 10:30 pm

GM Gremlins...LOL

by Limey SE Tue Jul 23, 2013 1:53 am

77mali wrote:GM Gremlins...LOL

Same DAm little gremlins that steal torque converter bolts LMAO

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