Driver door is locked closed

TIM TINDALL

MEMBER
1997 FORD FIESTA
1.2L
4 CYL
2WD
MANUAL
130,000 MILES

Will not open from inside or outside. Managed to get door panel off from the inside but all the mechanism is covered with plastic or steel. Can feel rods from outside handle and lock and can move them up and down a bit. Inside handle is the same.
Tim.

3 Replies

DANNY L

MECHANIC
5,648 POSTS

Hello, I am Danny.

Yes, it is always a dilemma when door linkage/lock rod linkage is broken when door is closed. If you can somehow manipulate the linkage with a slimjim or by hand to open the door. That is about all you can do. Since you were able to get the the door panel off you are already ahead of the game. Feel free to ask any other questions and hope this helps. Thanks for using 2CarPros.
Danny-

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Wednesday, December 12th, 2018 AT 10:09 PM

TIM TINDALL

MEMBER
4 POSTS

Hi Danny.

Can get my fingers onto both lock and outside handle linkage and they seem free to move up and down? Someone said that there is a spring inside the mechanism that breaks and or comes out, locking the whole lot. Seems that has happened to mine? I've trolled the internet to see if I can get a schematic drawing of the mechanism to see what I need to push or 'poke' in situ'. But cannot find any. Any ideas?
Regards,
Tim.

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Thursday, December 13th, 2018 AT 2:35 AM

KEN L

MASTER CERTIFIED MECHANIC
47,643 POSTS

There is no easy way to do this job, Try to remove all that you can to see the latch, then remove the control rods so you can work them by hand. Try locking and unlocking the latch while activating the open rod. You have to just mess with it until it opens.

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Saturday, December 15th, 2018 AT 11:01 AM