How to open a buggered door ?

[VladTepes]

The front passenger side door on the Defender (1995) won’t open.

There is obviously a problem with the internal handle/lock mechanism – hopefully just a bent metal rod or something easily fixed.

The problem is, of course, that to get to the mechanism I need to open the door.

Any suggestions as to how I might go about it?

Thanks.

[rainman]

I recently managed to pull off a rear door card with the door closed, but the bottom rear corner on the front is going to be the main problem. Are you able to lever the top rear corner off enough to get your hand down in there to pop the mechanism? You'll of course need to remove the lock button surround (Escutcheon Sill). I find using a large flat blade screwdriver to pry the card off helps preserve the crumby clips a little. Work your way along to get as close as possible to the clip that you're trying to pop. Have you seen inside your doors before Vlad? Do you still have the plastic dust sheet?

James.

[VladTepes]

Hmm can't recall if there was any plastic dust sheet in that one. I know the ones that are there are in bad nick.
Why?


There must be anotehr way if you can;t get the door card off.
I suppose there is the option of removing the hinges but that probably causes all sorts of other dramas.

[rainman]

Having the plastic there will just make it a little harder if you're trying to get your hand in there with only one corner of the card off. No big deal though. It pulls away from the original glue much easier than it does from the Sikaflex 227 that I used .

Give it a go! get Chrissy to stick her no doubt smaller hand in there while you hold the card .

James.

[goingbush]

how about removing the door card from the other one that you can open,
then you will see how it works and be able to find a solution.

if all else fails ....

[VladTepes]

That's obviously an American solution... they love their "woodies" over there.

[isuzurover]

how about removing the door card from the other one that you can open,
then you will see how it works and be able to find a solution.

Good idea!

[Judo]

I've had this happen on my Disco a few times now. Every time I sit there elbowing and repeatedly trying the handle with all kinds of different forces on the door to try and get it to catch. Every time I have given up and decided to try again the next day. Every time the next day the door opens first time.

So my suggestion is smack it around a bit today, then try again tomorrow. Fool proof plan.

[wilga]

its not hard ten minutes screws out of door handle, pop up plastic clip from behind lock button , remove screw from behind inner handle lever , slid circlip from window winder and youll probably find the retainer ring that should be on the internal wire has slipped of and rolling around in the door

[VladTepes]

Oops just notice an error in my OP.

It's the REAR passenger side door that won't open.

(In case that makes a difference)

Judo - been trying that for months ! No go.

wilga yeah mate I know the things that need to be removed just wasn't sure whether that would be enough to get down in there to open the damn thing.