Stuck Door!!

[jpd]

Hey guys,

Over the winter I bought a 2002 LS sport. This is my first car and I can say I'm happy with it. I've only owned trucks for the past 19 years so I bought something that I thought was cool and not too expensive. Just in case I didn't like the car scene. Anyway I've been hanging around here for a few weeks reading your post. Very cool and I had no idea the LS was such a toy.

Now for the stuck door. My rear passenger door wont open. If you operate the power lock you can hear the lock move. The cable that connects the manual lock lever the locking mechanism is limp (no tension on it at all). So have any of you Lincoln heads ever run into this problem and do you have a clue as to how to get the door open?

Thanks in advance for your help.


John

 

[decibels5]

Have you tried from the inside and out? Next do you have warranty? And finally do you have some money? I have had this problem before. If your answers are yes, no, and no, sorry to hear that. First let me explain what is going on. Your latch assembly is broke, the latch is the actual part you can see from the side of the door when it is open. It is spring operated. What happens is this spring breaks and the latch wont pop open, causing the door not to open at all. Whats worse is that it is enclosed in a single black box. Whats worse than that you cant get the door panel off if the door is shut, and finally whats even worse than that, is you cant get the handle off unless you get the panel off. So let me tell you what to do, first take it to the dealer if you have warranty, if not call around to a thousand locksmiths who are going to tell you they are not responsible for the damage they are going to cause. Now I will tell you what I did. Keep in mind, I am 5'4" and have a very small build. I removed as many screws as possible from the door, 1 behind the cover behind the chrome handle, and two in the cup in the armrest. There are 3 on the bottom and one in the door jam, you will not be able to get to. next pop the panel off as much as possible, idea is to get your arm far enough in to loosen the two nuts that hold the handle on. Now you get to break and scratch your arm until you can reach two nuts that hold the door handle on. Good luck and be patient. If and when you get it off, now you must take a chizel or screwdriver, and hammer and break the box apart. Once again, be patient or you are going to damage your door, once you break it all apart, you will be able to pop the door open, just keep breaking it apart until the linkage in the black box is all apart. Once you get the door open, look at the door jam, I think there are four star head bolts that hold it on. take them out, remove the harness and linkage, go buy another one, THEY ARE NOT CHEAP. Reinstall and wait for it to happen to the next door.

 

[jpd]

decibels5.

Well the answer is Yes No Yes. I though for sure that I was going to have to trash the door panel it get it open. I took the door panel of the other side and very quickly learned you cant slim jim it open. So I priced up the door panel $350.00 and the lock box was $150.00. It will be nice if I can fix it for the cost of a new lock box.

I'm 6'1" and 225 lbs so I may not fit too well but I have friend that's 5'4" and 120 lbs so maybe I can shove him in there lol.


Thanks for your help.

 

[LS4me]

Replacing the latch mechanism shouldn't be too hard. At worst you would have to deal with removing and replacing a rivet. Some rivets can be replaced with a nut and bolt. Here is a blow-up and the best place for parts. Bill Jenkins is the best at customer service and price!

 

[jpd]

decibels5.
I went with your instructions and got the door open It took me an hour and a half and I didn't wreck the panel. Sweet! Thanks a bunch.


LS4me
Thanks but before I started I ordered the lock from the local dealer they'll have it tomorrow for $145. It's more then your place but I'll have it tomorrow to install. I'll keep your place in mind for the next job.


Thanks again for your help.

John