How do I get a stuck rear door open??....

[diesel4me]

Here's a question for you guru's..my '85 Burb's rear drivers side door wont open..the lock knob rod evidently fell inside the door,or was yanked out,nothing there--it has power door locks too,but no response to that door's lock if I try the button on that dor,or the main one on the front door...the outside handle's button is jammed,wont push in...the previous owner had no luck trying to get it to open also...

I cant take the door off,because the hinge bolts are impossible to reach with the door shut,and it shuts right up against the seat,so taking off the dor panel isn't possible either...a friend suggested looking for another panel at a junkyard and just ruin the original,by bending it back I might be able to work on the lock mechanisms...I thought maybe I could sawsall the striker bolt off,but I dont think I can sneak a saw blade in there...

Anyone have anysuggestions?--(besides chaining my other truck to the door and driving away !)....I probably wont be using this door much,but I'd like to get it to open ,if for no other reason,to see if the rocker panel has any rust under it!..and sand & paint it if it does,before holes appear!..
Maybe I can use a slim-jim to try unlocking the lock??..

 

[USSkoval]

If the button is jammed, work on getting it pushed in. Even if it means excessive force.

I do know that if the door is locked, and the button happens to come out too far, there is no way to unlock the door without pushing the button in some first. I have no idea why though.

When we first got our burb, my wife always felt the need to lock the doors while driving. Sometimes you could not get the door unlocked, it required rolling the window down, pushing the button, then unlocking... just to get out. I finally broke her of that habit, and there have been no issues.