My friend has a 1995 Hyundai Sonata. The two front doors won't open, but you can lock and unlock the doors. I'm guessing the locking mechanism is broken, and stuck in the lock position even though the "lock indicator" moves. The shop quoted her $150 a door to fix. Any ideas?

 

child locks?

If so....flip the switch on the side of the doors.

 

It's the front doors not the rear ones, thats originally what I thought when I got the call.

 

BOTH? is it powered? there's a central locking thing.. or would it click open for a split second?

 

Child locks are only in the rear.

I would say maybe it's time to spend the $150.

 

Actually it's $300 ($150x2).

I think they should just total the car.

Even at 100k miles the car's only worth about $1200. At 200k it's $900.

I'm just saying

 

I just tried to call her and see if they are power, but no answer. Even if she does take it to the shop how are they going to get the door open to fix it?

 

They have their ways......









Slim jim, bend the windows and stick a coat hangar through to open the locks, etc.

 

its true... sounds a bit steep tho

my guy would open our lexus door for free and fix for wayyyy cheaper - provided that he doesnt need to order any parts...

likely a slipped rod he said

 

Sounds like a giant pain in the ass to fix, and may be worth the $300 not to mess with.

Those mechanisms are a pain to work with. If the mechanism that physically opens the door is busted you would have to buy the part, get the panel off and replace it. Replacing the whole unit would be easier than troubleshooting it.

 

ummm no recent work done to the car?

its most likely the lock assembly or the actuator, but not enough information to determine.

and yes its fixable, can you open it from the inside? it will cost a lot sadly =\

 

And are you kidding me the door panels on 95% of all cars are easy as hell to take off especially on older cars. Usually its a few hidden screws, then pull up and out. If its as simple as removing it and replacing the part I'd do it myself, but I'd find out what the labor involved is first.

 

I told them I didn't want to screw with it, since it won't even open from the inside I have no way of getting the door panel off.

 

have they tried pulling the door handle?

 

You ever try and remove a door panel on a door that doesn't open? It sucks. And depending on how car is made and what the door panel goes behind, you may need to break the panel to get at the door catch.

 

I forgot that the doors won't open. Much easier to take the door panel off when the door swings wide and gives you all that room to work on it.

Now that.... will be a little more difficult. Ok, make that a lot.