Door Won't Open: How it happened might be funny if it wasn't so frustrating...

[byuauhunter]

Moving onto the the next fix. The board was such a help on the blower motor it got me motivated to run another issue that's perplexed me past you all.

So about 2 years ago a buddy of mine borrowed the car for the weekend. He is very trustworthy with my stuff over the years but it came back and he said the handle for the rear passenger door would no longer open the door.

Before I could look at it my wife (trying to help) flipped a switch between the "B" post of the car and inside jamb and close the door. This apparently turned out to be a child safety switch that prevents the door from opening from the inside.

Now it won't open from the inside or outside. I just assumed I was screwed and haven't bothered with it. Besides, its just the two of us here in Boise so we rarely use the backseats. But it'd be nice to fix.

Any way to remove a door that won't open?

1991 Camry Base Model

[byuauhunter]

Forgot to mention. If it had been a front door I'd assume there was NO chance. However, if the front door is open it looks like there are two bolts that bolt into the B post that may help hold the rear door on.

However, I'm hesitant to remove it without knowing in case it screws this up even more.

[white90dx]

Any chance you can reach between the door and jamb with a thin piece of metal to toggle the child-lock switch back? You can compare on the other side of the car to see what you need to do and if it would be possible.

When something similar happened on my beater Camry (actually, bought that way), it was a disconnected rod in the door. I was able to get enough stuff hooked back up by just removing the inner door handle to get things open and snapped back in place. It doesn't sounds like you'll be able to do the same in your situation though...

-Charlie

[byuauhunter]

I'll take a look on the other side of the door so see about that child safety lock. Don't know if it will work but that's a great idea. Hadn't thought of that, will definitely give it a try. I didn't realize you could access some of the inner working of the door through the handle.

I'm definitely playing catch-up on learning mechanics..

Thanks for the input.

[Dave's]

Pulling the rear seat may give you more room. You might even be able to pull the inner panel off. Also, I wonder if a 'slim jim' slid down the outside of the window might work.

[white90dx]

Originally Posted by Dave's

Pulling the rear seat may give you more room. You might even be able to pull the inner panel off. Also, I wonder if a 'slim jim' slid down the outside of the window might work.

Sadly, the panel won't come off without destroying it if the door is closed... I was worried about that with my Camry until I found the problem.

-Charlie

[Grego 92]

Well, maybe you can remove the screw for the inside door handle, remove the handle component from the panel, and disconnect the wire rod (if it isn't already) from the handle. That will give you about a 2" x 4" opening that you can use to open the door by pulling or pushing on the right rod for the outside handle or using a stick to flip the baby switch back the other way if it's even possible from inside the door.

[celica-fiend]

I was diagnosing a 'door not opening from inside' on the rear of my camry and it wasnt the child switch..

a little orange rod holder (shaped like a hook, rod popped into and and then clipped into the sheet metal mid-door) had broken.. so instead of pulling straight, being held by the clip and opening the door.. the rod would move down and over when you pulled the interior handle, and so didnt have enough travel to move the latch

The only reason I mention it here.. is that if you remove the handle cup and can get at the rod, you may find that if you can move the rod further than the handle itself does, it.

Second thought..

You'd be surprised how much a door will move, even when latched, when you remove the hinges..

I think heres what Id do..

Remove whatever you can on the interior, handle cup, window winder (if manual), the side-cushion on the rear seat so you can see as much of the panel as possible.. Roll down the window so you or your assistant can use the frame to hold it up later.. remove 2 screws in armrest..

Have a putty knife and a long (couple-few feet) thin piece of metal or wood (1/8" thick or so, couple inches wide?).. handy..

open the front door to see the rear door hinges, make a few witness marks or trace the hinges outline on the b pillar with a pencil (wipes off) or marker (will stay around) to save you having to align things later..

Remove the body side bolts on the hinges, and see how far you can move door out.. with a bit of luck, you can get the putty knife in to start popping door panel fasteners on the near side.. then use the long piece of wood/metal to slide down the door to the far fasteners and give it a twist to pop them..

Brett

[celica-fiend]

Oh, I havent tried the above, so dont know if you'll get enough movement.. but Im gonna give it a go on the parts car when Im up at the shop in a few days, so if all else fails, wait and I'll letcha know if its semi-possible.

Brett

[66conv6]

This happened to me twice recently. Pull the bottom of the door panel out gently but forcefully to pop the clips out. Pull the panel out just far enough to get your arm in there and start tugging on the internal door rods. The one you want runs vertically. I did this with the back seat in place. I also moved the front seat as far forward as possible for easier access to slip my arm in the door.

A plastic 'rod keeper' had broken and I ordered a box of left and a box of right door keepers on e-bay. Also bought a box of 50 door panel clips.

[Doctor J]

On the wagon I was able to remove a rear door panel with the door closed without damaging anything; you will need a small nail puller to pry the panel out at the buttom.