Open this!! "door"

[mastermike]

(1996 Camry) My rear passenger door doesn't open from the inside or outside. I can't take the door pannel off to fix the problem with the door closed. How do I get this door open?

[bigbird]

You have to pop the inner door handle bezel off and open the door manualy. At least that is how I have had to do it in the past.

[Chris Crash]

Yup. Get the handle off, then grab the thick bar that goes to the lock, pull it to the front of the car to make sure it's unlocked. Then grab the lower bar and pull it to the front of the car to activate the door opening mechanism. Hopefully that's going to work.

[Safari Wagon]

I had a similar problem but mine did not open with the handle bezel off.... I had to take it to a body shop where the pros had the panel off and the door open in less than 30 minutes. Cost me 20 bucks.

[mastermike]

Thanks for the information. I will try this and report back later. I hope you are right Chris Crash. Mike

[mastermike]

I took the door handle bezzel off and the 2 rods to the door lock and door handle are still attatched as they should be. I got my needlenose pliers out and pulled the rods toward the front of the car to open but it didn't open. Whats my next move? Mike

[Chris Crash]

No idea Mike. If the problem ain't up at the handle, there's not much you can do about it with the door shut. The problem is likely at the locking mechanism itself.

[mastermike]

Thanks for the help BigBird & Chris Crash. The problem i see right now is arms on the outter door handle they are broken,(cheap plastic) so lifting the outter door handle wouldn't open the door. What I don't understand is why wouldn't the door handle on the inside open the door? As I stated before pulling the rods from the inside to open the door didn't get the job done either. I had to cut a hole in my door panel & reach my arm all the way to the lock mechanism itself to get the door open. I then took door panel off (garbage can) and unhooked the rods,unbolted lock actuator,unbolted outter door handle and took them both out. I found the broken pieces in the bottom of my door. I hope its just the outter door handle that needs to be replaced and nothing more. Im off to the junkyard tomorrow for an outter door handle and a new door panel. I will post the final results when Im done. Mike

[mastermike]

When it was all said and done the culprit was the outter door handle. The plastic piece that connects to a rod and works the lock actuator was broken. So I replaced the outter door handle and got a new "junkyard" door pannel. However if you have this problem "It is a common one with our cars". Try a "slim-jim" yourself or have a locksmith get the door open. This may save you time and money by not having to rip the door pannel apart and go to the junkyard for a door pannel. You can find the door handles on E-BAY all day long. Hope this helps the next guy. MIKE