Passenger side door won't open, any ideas?

[trevor73402]

Hey all,

My new '84 K5 seems to be havin a problem. We went to eat last night and I locked the doors when we got out. Came back and the passenger side door won't open.
1. I've managed to get the door panel off, with the door still shut.
2. The power locks are trying to work, but they won't unlock it.
3. I've disconnected the lock rod from the top of the power acctuator thinking it might be the actuator that was keeping it from coming up far enough. No luck.
4. I've pulled pretty hard on both the lock rod and the door rod. Can't get it open regardless.
5. I can see the lock mechanism moving down in there, but I don't know if it's coming up far enough.
6. I don't even know if this is lock related or if its jammed where the door meets the striker?

Any help would be greatly appreciated. I've been working on this door most of the day and I'm pretty much out of ideas. Any help would be nice and if you have pics that would be even better.

Thanks,

 

[josh86k10]

My truck locks tend to gall up every now and again. I wish i had something more inciteful to say, but I just jiggle the latch button, smack the handle,and/or push the door in with my shoulder until it let's me unlock it with the key (when mine does it the key won't turn). I doubt this was any help, but there ya go.

 

[ct85k10]

press the outside door latch button a couple time and then try the lock. Works every time on my truck. I get funny looks when i have to role the window down and press the button to get out of the truck some times but it works

 

[K85 Octane]

question:

is the door unlocking and not opening
or not unlocking and not opening

If it's unlocking, have you tried going from the outside:
pushing the button in
lifting up on the door, or even pushing in
and then pulling??
sorry, good luck

 

[trevor73402]

Update
I got it open. I don't know how to explain the parts I'm talking about, but inside the door where the internal mechanism are, there is a latch that lifts up and down to lock/unlock the door. It's what the lock rod is eventually connected to. The latch is also what moves in and out to open the door when you work the door handle. This little latch is getting hung in the lock position and not coming all the way up. It's actually pretty stuck. I had to get a small crow bar inside the door itself, get around the window track, and put alot of pressure on it to break it free and get it popped up. It was a bitch! I sprayed it real good with WD40 and worked it through the motions a bunch of times. I did it both manually and with the power lock button. I thought I had it all freed up. Well I get the door all put back together and put my tools up and thought I was done, but when I went to open the door to clean the window on the inside it was stuck again!! What a pain in the ass!! I'm not messing with it anymore today. Atleast I know what it is and how to fix it.
Thanks for the help guys.

 

[Fordum]

I am slightly ashamed of K5 tonight.
Three answers, and I have to do the honors.............

C4!!!
​

 

[Jeremy_C]

 

[tRustyK5]

Common problem, easy answer and someone already posted it. Snap the outer door handle button. I depress with my thumb and then let my thumb slide off so it snaps back. The button not coming 100% back causes the whole lock/unlock mechanism to bind up and not work. Until I do this I could literally snap the key off in the lock it is so stuck...

Rene

 

[sooperedd]

press the outside door latch button a couple time and then try the lock. Works every time on my truck. I get funny looks when i have to role the window down and press the button to get out of the truck some times but it works

Sometimes I have to do the same thing on both driver and passenger side doors on my '89 Burb. I tell people it's the original Child Safety Locks.
Funny thing is everybody believes me.

 

[Bohemian]

Adding to this old thread as it's a ongoing issue for C10 & K5 & variant Chevy & GMC truck owners 73-91 that does not appear to get answered very clearly anywhere.
There seems to be a number of different reasons:
Mechanical or Electrical.
Electrical is usually the switches, or the connections/wires to the switches.
Mechanical is usually in one of the pivot points of the latch assembly most often the plastic & or metal clips that hold the rods to the latch assembly itself. In particular the one that clips the outside door handle rod to the latch. The little tang that hold this clip in place on the latch can break causing the clip to move & intermittently prevent the door from locking or unlocking which is why jiggling the outside door handle button or taking it on/off or clicking the lock/unlock button up & down or other actions to get that clip to move will seem to suddenly have fixed the issue for no apparent reason. Other reasons for failure of these clips is the plastic ones dry out & turn to dust & the metal one's can be broken or bent by slim jims or improper installation or removal of door latch and related interior door parts.

In my experience the Actuators fail far less frequently than the aforesaid clips.

The two video's here show some good views of the latch & problematic clips I'm talking about and I know at least LMCTRUCK sells them.

PART 6 CHEVY C10 DOOR REPAIR | 73-87 Squarebody Truck

How to Rebuild Internal Door Components for 1981-1987 GM Trucks - Kevin Tetz with LMC Truck

 

[Bent77]

@Babaganoosh
I know you’re busy but this was probably what you we looking for

 

[sweetk30]

who this 2010 post up ?