I have a 99 TL.

The driver side rear door outside door latch has stopped working. So I was able to open the door from the inside. But in messing around with it I accidentally turned on the child lock and closed the door. Now I cannot open the door from the inside or the outside.

Any suggestions on how to open this door?

 

uh oh

 

I know. Can't see a way to even get the door panel off to work on it. Guess the kids will all have to get in on the other side.

 

"uh....oh" !!! The inner door panel is still removable. It's going to have to come off to access the door latching mechanisms for that door.

 

You will have to remove the lower seat cushion but you can still remove the door panel. It will be tough to get the bottom out but it will come with some muscle and determination. It happened to me (minus the child lock) the lock/latch mechanism rusted and neither door handle would open it. Once removed from the car soaking it in PB Blaster and moving it by hand freed it and a good lubricating its still working.

 

Hehehehe that's funny.

I would take off the inner handle (not the whole panel), and try to fish around for the child lock rod.

 

Hey Karanx7, never thought of that....but what the hey, it's worth a shot if ya can reel that sucker in !!! Hah, ha....

 

If i remember correctly there isnt one. Its part of the latch.

 

Hey UNcatTech.....when and if ya figure this out, please post back with how ya actually fixed the problem. Thanks !!!

 

See post 5

 

I will. The wife is out of town this weekend, so I have to run the kids to all of their activities, so it will be in the future.

I'm thinking I'm going to have to take the door panel off, somehow.

I still can't figure out what I was thinking when I moved the child lock switch.

 

This is the Best you can do, look at the rear door on the other side, study what you can when it is closed, then do it to the locked-out door.

 

There has to be something left of the original handle. Can you sand it to roughen it up, then expoxy/JB weld something on to it to open the door?

Then replace the handle with an appropriate one. Just have the part on hand, you don't want to shut the door before you replace it.