Thread: Help! Back door won't open...

Hi, you'll probably find the the tiny coil springs with the fish hook hand sides has snapped and wedge in between the sliding plates.
They are very hard to see ( almost invisible)
give the lock frame a good lube with wd40 of like.
Try and unbolt the look from the door and see if that takes some of the stress off the lock and try activating it or have some one push on the out side of the door whilst you manipulate the mechansim.
You can remove the outer Land Rover badge on the out side handle and there is a whole under, people have said you can get to the lock that way, but I couldn't see how as the bolts that hold it on are in the inside.

Good luck I did one on a D1 with a cargo barrier, getting to the door trim was the obstacle.

Just see if the out side handle is dropping down to its normal position. If not, pull it down than lock and unlock and than try to open. ( my wife figured this method and it works)

This is a common problem on the D2's.

Try and push the door in and up as you work the handle. What worked for me was to use a rubber mallet and give a firm hit on the corner of the plastic handle cover while working the handle.

After getting it open spray the whole lock with degreaser and give a good flush with water. I fine it works best with no lube but others have used Lanox or similar. WD40 is not a lube but can get things moving then flush out.

Originally Posted by Zute

Just see if the out side handle is dropping down to its normal position. If not, pull it down than lock and unlock and than try to open. ( my wife figured this method and it works)

Yep. That's what worked for me in the end.

Bit late I know, but when the external handle gets dusty it will sometimes cease to function. Being in the NT this seems a likely scenario.

Pop the Land Rover badge off and give it a good soak in there with WD. Walk away and try opening in the morning. Has worked for me twice on dusty trips.

BTW, I've not bothered to figure out what's going on mechanically. It feels like the handle is not grabbing whatever it should, on both occasions I was resigned to having to pull the bastard to bits after making it home, but alas, WD sorted it twice.

Can you unlock the door from the inside?

Had this happen a few times, though not recently, touch wood.
Solutions are as others have suggested...
Last time it happened to me, I fed coat hanger wire through the cargo barrier, snared the internal door opener and yanked it twice - like you have to when the locking solenoid fails on the passenger doors.
It may get it open for you, then you can work on the cause.
Cheers
Mike