00TL-P3.2

Went to toss my bag in the back seat this morning & the driver's side rear door will not open. On top of that, I believe the child lock is on, so I can't open it from the inside either.

Is there a way to remove the door card to release the door?

BTW: The door worked fine yesterday.

01acls

Check to see if the linkage is connected or not to the outside door handle. The outside door handle will spring back to the down position if linkage is still connected. If that is the case try the following.

I'm guessing the lock is jam or hanging up severely.

Unlock all doors using the drivers power lock.

Pull up on the outside left rear door outside handle and hold it in the up/opening position.

Have another person inside the car pushing out on the stuck door. See if it will open.

If that doesn't work you will need to remove the inner trim panel and manually reach inside the door to unlock and open the door by working the linkages. Or flip the child safety lock from inside the door and open it using the inner door handle.

00TL-P3.2

Will try a few of those mentioned. Can't disable the child lock because the door won't open.
Will have to try to see if the door card can be removed with the door closed....

fsttyms1

You will have to remove the rear seat, and pull but you can get the door panel off with the door closed. I had to once. The rear door handle actually broke where the arm is that rolls on the lever to open the door and the child lock was on. Once the door panel was off i was able to open the door and undo the child lock (and eventually replace door handle)

00TL-P3.2

^ Thanks. I knew our resident 2G-guru would have had some sage advice to lend.

fsttyms1

Get it open??

00TL-P3.2

Haven't had a chance to look at it. My wife is out of town & it's just me the 4 yr old. Too hot to have her hanging out outside while I work at it.

Seabright

Well, with a 4 year old, once you answer the questions of the universe, you will be well prepared for tackling the immediate question of the door.

00TL-P3.2

That's no lie. It's been just me & her since Wednesday last week. Fun times, working 50 hours a week, if feels like we only get afternoons & weekends.

fsttyms1

Man, that would be a cake walk. Try having a 19yr old, a 18yr old a 5yr old and a 3yr old (and dont for one min think the 18 and 19 are self sufficient, they need just as much attention as the 3 and 5 most of the time)

01acls

LOL. You are short sighted. That's like the best retirement plan ever.

fsttyms1

No, its people like me that "Just for Men" are in business

00TL-P3.2

True, it wasn't tough, lot of fun actually.

ErickUa5

Is the Lock knob at the same length as the rest of the doors ? (at the Unlock position)
If not, try pulling up on it without damaging it and at the same time pulling the handle, I had to use pliers in order to get good grip and stand outside of the car with the window down.
I got to open a stuck door on a 99 tl then on to the repair with success (lubed up the links with ATF) $0.

00TL-P3.2

I'll double check that, but I think the lock is working properly.

00TL-P3.2

Pulled the rear seat bottom & back out on Friday night. Not a clue how you're supposed to pull the door panel off with the door closed. The sill overlaps on the front & rear, and I can't get enough leverage on it from the bottom

Advice, please?

thoiboi

I would try rolling down the window all the way and using a sort of slim Jim or wire hanger to try to pull on the door release.

01acls

LOL I see the kids let you out to play.

1. Remove the iner door handle per the link below...

https://acurazine.com/forums/second-...-broke-933775/

2. Then remove the fastener (screw?) just below the trim panel grab handle.

3. Around the perimeter of the inner trim panel there's some push in clips about every 5", except for the upper 10%. So get under the panel and pull inward to release the trim panel.

The upper (10%) is not fastened... its hooked to the upper part of the door frame. To release just pull up and its off but be careful bc the window switch wire is still attached. Once panel is free then disconnect the wire plug.

Install is reverse.

00TL-P3.2

^ Right, I've had them off before to replace the power locks. Just having a tough time getting it started on the bottom.
Seems like the panel is overlapped by the door sill on the front & rear, and I can't get enough leverage on it from the bottom.

00TL-P3.2

Finally got it done.
Huge pain pulling the door panel with the door closed.
Had to remove the seats, lower B-pillar trim, front & rear door sill, and lower C-pillar trim & just yank on it.

Issues was the plastic on the exterior door handle that connects to the arm to strike the door latch had broken.
Luckily it was a clean break, drilled a hole & put a screw through it & it seems to be holding.
Need baby hands to get the rear bolt out of the exterior door handle. & even worse putting it back in.

Been driving around with no rear interior, haven't had time to get it back together because race car bro.
Crazy the amount of road noise the seats, door panels & trim soak up.