Help! Driver's door cannot be opened!

[C2951]

A friend with a '99 C2 cannot get his driver's side door to unlatch using either the external or internal release handles.  This isn't a question of a battery discharge.  He gets no resistance from the exterior release, some resistance from the interior release but neither of those result in the door unlatching.

 

My thinking is that the lock motor has jammed in the locked position and isn't releasing the cam that holds the latch in the locked position.

 

He has the interior door panel most of the way off - is there something he can trip on the latch mechanism to release the latch so that he can remove the thing???

[C2951]

Anyone???

[Loren]

You are going to have to get the door panel off to get access to the broken latch/lock.

[C2951]

Well yes - he's Done that but the linkage between the handle and the latch is intact, it just doesn't release the latch. It's like the lock Inside the latch won't disengage.

[Ahsai]

Does the central lock switch lock and unlock the passenger side door but not the driver's side door?

[C2951]

Does the central lock switch lock and unlock the passenger side door but not the driver's side door?

Correct. The problem was ultimately fixed by removing the exterior door handle and assaulting the latch with a large screwdriver until the latch released and allowed the door to be opened.

And then a new latch was installed.

[Ahsai]

Glad it's been resolved and thanks for closing this thread.