Rear door wont open on my Suburban...

[diesel4me]

Looking for some ideas here...

My 85 Suburban's drivers side rear door wont open--the outside handle has the button stuck,feels like something is jammed,and if I force it,it'kll just break off --the lock knob & rod is missing,possibly it has fallen inside the door..trying to use the inside door handle wont release the latch either,bot sure if its still connected to the latch...

I cant get the door panel off even an inch or so with the door close,and up against the seat,so I cant get inside it to fool with the latch..all of the hinge bolts are hidden too,or are screwed in from the inside,so I cant simply unbolt the door from the hinges either!..the former owner said it was this way when he got the truck and never bothered trying to fix it..
I'd like to get the door to open and shut again!...

Any ideas,short of using an axe to chop the door panel off,or tying the door to my pickup and driving away???....not sure if I asked here before about this or not...I haven't tried a "slim jim" yet,I think it wont work because the latch feels jammed up..I've soaked the thing best I could with penetrant ,to no avail...

 

[tRustyK5]

I think if you want to not destroy stuff you'll need to remove the rear seat so you can get the interior door panel off. That'll be the only way to find what's wrong and remedy the problem.

It sounds like it's locked and then the lock linkage fell apart inside the door.

Rene

 

[496truck]

x2 ^

 

[Fordum]

I'd have to see it to give good ideas, not familiar with that model.
But, if it has the regular push down button in the top of the door, get a small light, I use a penlight, and look into the hole.

With any luck, the lock button shaft is just below the hole and has flopped over to one side.
You may be able to see the shaft and ease a small tool or wire in and line it back up with the hole and get it up.

If you can get a piece of wire or something to get the shaft inline with the hole, you can use the lock button off one of the other doors to thread on it and pull it up.

 

[ryoken]

no?


then I got nothing other than get the interior panel off...

 

[y5mgisi]

I dont know if you have tried this so i will mentino it any way. On my burb, I cant open the driver side door unless i push in on the door while pulling up on the latch. That will force it to release, then i can pull it open.

 

[Big Ray]

Just tell everyone you're going retro, back to the 3 door days!...

 

[diesel4me]

I suppose I could be like Bo & Luke and weld the rear doors shut,and tell everyone its not a Suburban,but a "stretch limo Blazer" instead!....

Looks like taking the seats out is the only way to get at the door panel--IF the seats will be able to be unbolted from the passenger side that is...this is probably the least of all the trucks issues,so it wont be a top priority to fix right away..

..been thinking about selling it ,I dont really want too,but I bought it in November of '09 and letting it sit is not the best thing for it...I'd rather sell it than watch it rot away to nothing like my '82 K2500 is ...I had planned to put it on the road and use it,but I cant afford too ,cant even buy a decent tranny for it ,never mind register & insure it...and I dont see me ever having the money to do it now..