Help! Door actuator repair gone wrong. Can't open door at all.

[hellabove]

So I thought I'd change the rear driver's side door actuator bc it was out. Got a new actuator. Changed it out. Went to test it, but the door wouldn't open right. It would lock and unlock with the remote, etc, but was still acting locked from the outside when I tried the external handle.

I assumed I had the child lock activated somehow. I switched the child lock lever from outside with the door open and shut the door. AND...now I can't open the door at all! I hit the remote unlock and the lock switches open and closed now (yay) but the door can't be opened still from inside or outside now.

I'm stuck here and need some advice. I'm afraid I'll have to take the door off or something but not sure I can do that since the door is in a locked position. Anyone made this terrible mistake and have advice? The new actuator seems to work well in that it switches lock and unlock, but I must have had something turned internally and so it's not actually locking or unlocking inside. Before I screwed up and switched the child lock, I could still open the door from inside the backseat, just not from outside the car, but now that's not an option. Help?!

 

[hellabove]

Been doing some more head scratching, and since I was able to open the door from inside before switching the child lock, I think a locksmith should be able to get me back in. Of course that just means I'll be back to the drawing board trying to figure out why I can't open the door from outside after the new actuator install, but that seems like a potential fix once I get it all apart again...ugh

 

[li_runner]

Its likely you didn't instal it correctly. If you hear the actuator working, it must be the outside handle is not attached properly. Oh, and a locksmith likely cannot help they are geared toward keys, not motors and wiring. I would suggest taking a look at it again and find what you missed.

 

[hellabove]

Trouble is I can't get the door open to take another look...unless the locksmith can get in. I called the dealership and they have a locksmith there so looks like I might be paying dearly for this little project...bummer

 

[cpark_12]

You can't pop the door panel off and jimmy it from the inside?

 

[cpark_12]

I know it'll be close with the seats and all, but I think I'd remove the seats and try to get that panel off before I'd pay a locksmith to come and try it.

 

[nevada]

So I thought I'd change the rear driver's side door actuator bc it was out. Got a new actuator. Changed it out. Went to test it, but the door wouldn't open right. It would lock and unlock with the remote, etc, but was still acting locked from the outside when I tried the external handle.

I assumed I had the child lock activated somehow. I switched the child lock lever from outside with the door open and shut the door. AND...now I can't open the door at all! I hit the remote unlock and the lock switches open and closed now (yay) but the door can't be opened still from inside or outside now.

I'm stuck here and need some advice. I'm afraid I'll have to take the door off or something but not sure I can do that since the door is in a locked position. Anyone made this terrible mistake and have advice? The new actuator seems to work well in that it switches lock and unlock, but I must have had something turned internally and so it's not actually locking or unlocking inside. Before I screwed up and switched the child lock, I could still open the door from inside the backseat, just not from outside the car, but now that's not an option. Help?!

You can't pop the door panel off and jimmy it from the inside?

I know it'll be close with the seats and all, but I think I'd remove the seats and try to get that panel off before I'd pay a locksmith to come and try it.

yep, the door panel will have to come off. maybe even cut off and replaced.

but, it sounds like the exterior door handle linkage didn't get hooked up. the interior WAS working, until you disabled it by activating the child safety lock.

its slightly possible a good LS could snag the door handle mechanism and get it popped open....

perhaps put the window down and remove all the trim so you can see down inside. maybe you can get at it with a long screw driver...

if not, remove that inner panel however you can.

 

[hellabove]

Man I'm hoping to not have to cut the inner panel out, because there is no way to get the panel off with the door closed (no way that would also leave the panel re-usable). It's not really a seating issue. The seat is out of the way and there's still not enough room to pop the panel off from inside.

Honestly even if I took a sawzall to the panel and was able to look at where the lock assembly is, it would be a struggle to 'figure out' how to unlock it. Gonna take it to the dealer and lubricate myself...

I guess if their locksmith can't get in, I'll try to find a different one, and if that doesn't work...the sawzall...

 

[Slowgoat]

Ay, Bummer. Good luck. Hope it isn't too bad!

 

[cpark_12]

I just looked in mine. With the seat out, I'm pretty sure the panel could be removed. It looks like the edges tuck in behind the door seal, but it should come out with a little persuasion.

 

[nevada]

Man I'm hoping to not have to cut the inner panel out, because there is no way to get the panel off with the door closed (no way that would also leave the panel re-usable). It's not really a seating issue. The seat is out of the way and there's still not enough room to pop the panel off from inside.

Honestly even if I took a sawzall to the panel and was able to look at where the lock assembly is, it would be a struggle to 'figure out' how to unlock it. Gonna take it to the dealer and lubricate myself...

I guess if their locksmith can't get in, I'll try to find a different one, and if that doesn't work...the sawzall...

I don't think its a matter of unlocking it. its getting the latch open. once the panel is off you would be able to see the rod that goes between the handle, and the latch. pulling that would open the door.

 

[hellabove]

I don't think its a matter of unlocking it. its getting the latch open. once the panel is off you would be able to see the rod that goes between the handle, and the latch. pulling that would open the door.

Ah. Yeah that makes perfect sense. I may end up trying that. The panel sure was easier to take off when I could get the door open lol

 

[hellabove]

I just looked in mine. With the seat out, I'm pretty sure the panel could be removed. It looks like the edges tuck in behind the door seal, but it should come out with a little persuasion.

I couldn't get it last night but was getting frustrated and didn't want to break anything. Sounds worth another shot.

 

[Asmara]

I had my front passenger lock completely fail with the door closed. You can get the panel off, it just takes time and frustration. The plastic will bend (and hopefully not break). I started at the top where the panel is hooked over the lip. Put down the window.

This is related to the front door but here is a thread you can look at as well.

 

[hellabove]

I had my front passenger lock completely fail with the door closed. You can get the panel off, it just takes time and frustration. The plastic will bend (and hopefully not break). I started at the top where the panel is hooked over the lip. Put down the window.

This is related to the front door but here is a thread you can look at as well.

That is super helpful. I know my actuator let me unlock the door from inside before I flipped the child lock, so I guess the next question will be...once I'm inside the panel, what will I need to do exactly to get the door open? Is there a way to flip the child lock on the actuator with the door still closed IF I can snake my hand in and grab the actuator? This will be a very blind grab but I'm hopeful.

Probably going to have to take the panel off the other side of the car that actually opens and mess with trying to flip that actuator out of child lock when I can see it a little better. Then go back and feel around in the dark for a switch.

It was suggested to me by a locksmith that just prying a coat hanger into the space and trying to snag the child lock might work too. Anyone ever tried that?

Also thanks so much for your link. I did a fair amount of digging around before posting and never came across yours. Super helpful.

 

[hellabove]

I don't think its a matter of unlocking it. its getting the latch open. once the panel is off you would be able to see the rod that goes between the handle, and the latch. pulling that would open the door.

Also, will pulling that rod open the door when the child lock is on? That's the $1M question.

 

[nevada]

Also, will pulling that rod open the door when the child lock is on? That's the $1M question.

you want the rod that goes to the exterior door handle. so yes, it will.

 

[hellabove]

you want the rod that goes to the exterior door handle. so yes, it will.

Ah, the yellow vertical 'lock rod' is I think what you are talking abt. I def didn't hook that up correctly. I think that will be relatively easy to get to with an arm. If pushing it up opens the door from outside, then it may be doable! Thanks for the advice. I'll try to take a pic or video since I haven't come across a clear one of the lock rod functioning.

 

[hellabove]

Thanks for everyone's help.

So I took it to the dealer and they recommended 3 hrs of labor....to start...which entailed taking out the seats and trying to remove the panel from inside. So I left.

Then I called a locksmith and he said he couldn't slim-jim it, but recommended I send him some pics of the good door, and after that he felt I should try sliding a coat hanger into the door space and try to flip the child lock. With a little prying of the door panel, that actually worked. This guy was amazing (Pop-A-Lock in Washington DC!!).

So now I can open the door and I get the actuator all in correctly, and find out the re-built actuator I bought on eBay doesn't seat into the lock rod correctly. It's loose and makes it where I really have to heave on the outside door handle to get it to open (though electronically it works great). When I replaced my old non-functioning actuator just to check the fit, the door opens great from the outside. So now I'm sending back the actuator and will get to try this all again soon. But I think I'll do it right this time...thanks largely to all the advice.

Shot a pic of the vertical lock rod and how it needs to seat properly to the metal post on the actuator so will post that too.

 

[lurch]

Yes, you can get that panel off with door in locked position, as I know. I did it about 6 mos. ago and found my issue with the lock, and just bent it back into working order, but now have a locked door again, and need to do it right this time, and replace the lock mechanism.