Door will not Unlock or open!

[sandracer799]

Ok guys

I am about to lose my mind trying to get my passenger door open on my 87.

The door lock has stuck before and all you had to do was just pull on the lock a few times and it would open.

Well today it did again. I went to do the usual "jiggle" and well it didnt work.

I just so happen to have the door panel off on the truck so I can see everything inside. I have tried pulling on every rod and oiled everything up. But it still will not unlock and allow me to open the door.

Anybody have this problem before?

Please help before I get a sawzall to open the door.

 

[thatK30guy]

Ok, I've had problems with my '85 doors doing the same thing and I've found the best way to unlock them is to give the handle a good hit with the lower pad or palm of your hand and then try unlocking it.

Lots of times when I put the key in, it wouldn't turn all the way to unlock. So I give the handle a good hit which is enough to "push" the door back in and "reset" the latch inside to enough to unlock it.

Another thing to do would be to push the thumb button in and then try unlocking it. I've done this before, too, and also give the handle a good hit.

I think most times when the door won't unlock is because the latch mechanism is caught up on the lever or hook and therefore is sort of stuck in place.

 

[British Slave]

Mine does that occassionally, here's what I do....roll the window down, stand outside and pull up on the lock as you lean hard into the door. The plastic bushing is worn on the door jamb bolt on mine. Now I know how to get it unlocked, I just can't remember to go get a new bolt assembly.

 

[obijuan]

i always was able to push the botton and then it would work normal immediately afterward. mostly does it in the cold weather.

 

[sandracer799]

Ended up having to jiggle it with the key and it finally came unlocked.

So I then closed the latch to make it seem like the door was shut, when it really wasnt. The door did the same thing again, but this had eliminated the door striker being out of alignment.

I took out the lock cylinder cleaned and oiled it up and put it back in. Now everything is working just fine.

Thanks for the help guys!

 

[sandracer799]

Same thing is happening again. This time the door panel was not off but I managed to get it off.

I remembered from last time that it seemed like it was the door lock cylinder so I just completely took it out to try and get the door open. No luck.

I have jiggled the key, I have pulled on the lock rod, I have picked up on the door, hit it, oiled it. I am lost on what to do.


Anyone have any ideas? Once I get the door open I want to take out the latch mechanism to see if I can tell what is goig on with it.

 

[BLIDVL]

i always was able to push the botton and then it would work normal immediately afterward. mostly does it in the cold weather.

X2 mine does this all the time in cold weather,smack the button on the door until it resets itself you'll know when it's right.

 

[TDS-MN]

I was able to solve this same issue on my '85 over the summer, by applying a LOT of WD40 to the mechanism that the lock rod ties into, on the interior 'jamb' of the door. Pretty much only able to get to it if the door panel is off, unfortunately. I tried a slim-jim, and several other tools to pop the lock open, and none of them could budge the mechanism.

It's a really tough spot to even try and get a picture to show exactly where this mechanism is, but if you've dealt with the problem before, you probably know the part. I sprayed it down one day, and then the next went in with a long screwdriver and hammer, thinking I was gonna pound it until it rotated down like it needs to, and I barely tapped it, then it opened right up.

I too, had the door panel on when the door jammed closed of course. I did try a hole-saw and made myself an acces, thinking I could reach in there and force it. But it really didn't offer enough access, I found that the entire panel really needs to be off.

Since getting it lubed up like that, and opened, the door is working better than it ever had since I've owned the truck. Spent a little time on the other door and lubed it, just to keep up, and it's operation has improved as well.

Good Luck!

 

[496truck]

If you can and have the time to do so.
1. Remove the latch and clean it, put it in a bucket of oil and let it soak overnight. A quart of 5w30 or ATF will work.
2. The next day, move around all of it's moving parts. Make sure it latches/unlatches, locks/unlocks, use everything that moves.
3. Clean it off with solvent or brake cleaner. Make sure again to move all of it's parts. Don't put it back in the door all oil soaked. Dust and dirt will stick to it and eventually gum it up again.
4. Apply some grease, brush on or spray on white lithium grease, to all the moving parts.
5. Reinstall. Should be good as new for a while. Try and lubricate at every oil change.

 

[toomany]

Graphite is the best lubricant for a lock mechinism. It's a "dry" lube. Wd40, oil, grease, etc, will attract dirt/mositure.

 

[tRustyK5]

Both my pick-up and my 90 blazer occassionally do this. The solution I've found on both trucks is to push the thumb button on the outside handle and let it snap back outward. On both truck the handle mechanism has some drag, or stickiness at the thumb button. If the button doesn't pop back 100% the door will not unlock with the key, or the PDL, or even by pulling on the lock knob physically.

Rene

 

[496truck]

Graphite is the best lubricant for a lock mechinism. It's a "dry" lube. Wd40, oil, grease, etc, will attract dirt/mositure.

Graphite is good for lock cylinders yes.

But on a latch mechanism where you have metal on metal rubbing together you need a type of grease. White grease is what was installed at the factory. White grease is what I used when I serviced these trucks at the dealership during regular maintenance. Great, now I feel old.

 

[sandracer799]

Well I don't know what did it. I got home from work today and went to fiddle with it again. I tried the Power door lock just for giggles and it worked. I took apart everything and lubed it all up. Hopefully that will cure the problem from now on.

 

[Teck]

This happen to me after rebuilding the passanger door. It's all in the latch, if you unhook the dout side door handle you will be able to get it open. I would have to look at it but there is a stop with a piece of rubber on it, when the door handle is hooked it will not let the latch go all the way down, so it will jam then will not let it unlock. I'm trying to remember all this from about 8 months ago I had to bend the stop to fix it.

Wish I had pics. of a latch so I could show you.

It will driver you crazy, I spent about 3 day fitting this. It would work just fine when it was out or unhooked