Door locks - Tilted Forum Project Discussion Community

drawerfixer · 08-03-2003, 06:41 PM

For some reason or another, my friends old (1990 or so) Toyota Corolla's door decided to not open from the outside. I, in an attempt to help, decided it would be best to flip the switch turning Child Safety Locks on. I can't explain the reasoning. Now the door won't open from the outside or inside. Will I have to take off the door panel somehow to fix this?

noblejr · 08-04-2003, 10:26 AM

oh geez. Kinda screwed yourself on that one.

You will most likely have to destroy the door panel to get access to the inside of the door. Just get another one from a junkyard. Depending on where the child-lock is, you may be able to get something in the door jamb to switch it back. Removing the back seat would be an easy way to get better access. Good luck.

drawerfixer · 08-04-2003, 10:44 AM

Sounds about what expected. Yeah, I was a bonehead. :P Thanks for the help.

Ashton · 08-04-2003, 11:31 AM

You could use a slim jim to pop the door open from the outside..... then remove the door panel. What probally happened is the plastic clip that holds the rod that actuates the lock mechanism either broke or came off, so the rod came out and is just hanging there disconnected from the door handle. If you don't have a slim jim, just go to a locksmith shop and have him open the door.

jbrooks544 · 08-04-2003, 12:46 PM

You don't have to destroy anything. Go to any autoparts store and they will have a tool that is used to pop the plastic push-fasteners that hold the door panel on. First you have to figure out how to take off the armrest/handle (screws usually) and then the window and door latch handles, etc. (usually another tool for pushing off little spring clamps, then remove the panel and hope you can figure out how to get at and fix the door handle. I have some experience with this and usually you will end up damaging the panel before a beginner will figure it out. You also might not be able to reach or fix the mechanism. Sometimes you have to unscrew it from the end of the door (after you have opened the door). I would try to fix it myself, but you might want to bring it to an autobody shop, as they are the ones who are best at this stuff usually. Bring it in and if the guy gives a funny look and scratches his head go somewhere else. Use the guy who says "oh these, yeah, I've fixed these before"...

FastShark85 · 08-04-2003, 06:11 PM

Ditto what jbrooks544 said. I've pulled my door panel off about 5 times to fix various items over the years. I seriously doubt you can get the door panel off without having the door open already.

Call the dealership first and save yourself some time before you start driving around.

Other than that, roll the window down and pretend you're one of the Dukes of Hazzard (i.e., jump in and out of the window since it's so cool).

Ashton · 08-05-2003, 03:14 AM

The point is the door will not open at all, the child lock is on so it won't open from the inside and the outside handle won't work either....... he needs to get a slim jim down inside the door from the outside to grab the actuater rod and pop the door open before he can take the panel off to replace the rod..... noblejr was going on the asumtion that the door couldn't be opened at all, and that the door panel had to be pulled off with the door closed. Taking the door panel off is the easy part, as well as fixing the lock.... the hard part is getting the door open.

noblejr · 08-06-2003, 02:06 PM

Yea. I though about a slim jim, but I've never had to use mine to *open* a door, just to unlock them. Now that I think about it, it shouldn't be too much different as long as there is still a rod connected to the latch. I'm about to replace my door speakers on my Escort. I'll see if this is possible on my car while I've got the door apart.

*light bulb over noblejr's head turns on.

Take apart the opposite door on your Corolla and see if/how you can open it with a slim jim!!!

08-03-2003, 06:41 PM	#1 (permalink)
drawerfixer Stonerific Location: Colorado	Door locks For some reason or another, my friends old (1990 or so) Toyota Corolla's door decided to not open from the outside. I, in an attempt to help, decided it would be best to flip the switch turning Child Safety Locks on. I can't explain the reasoning. Now the door won't open from the outside or inside. Will I have to take off the door panel somehow to fix this? __________________ They that can give up essential liberty to purchase a little temporary safety deserve neither liberty nor safety. - Benjamin Franklin

08-04-2003, 10:44 AM	#3 (permalink)
drawerfixer Stonerific Location: Colorado	Sounds about what expected. Yeah, I was a bonehead. :P Thanks for the help. __________________ They that can give up essential liberty to purchase a little temporary safety deserve neither liberty nor safety. - Benjamin Franklin

08-06-2003, 02:06 PM	#8 (permalink)
noblejr Crazy Location: Atlanta	Yea. I though about a slim jim, but I've never had to use mine to open a door, just to unlock them. Now that I think about it, it shouldn't be too much different as long as there is still a rod connected to the latch. I'm about to replace my door speakers on my Escort. I'll see if this is possible on my car while I've got the door apart. light bulb over noblejr's head turns on. Take apart the opposite door on your Corolla and see if/how you can open it with a slim jim!!! Last edited by noblejr; 08-06-2003 at 05:45 PM..*

08-04-2003, 10:26 AM	#2 (permalink)
noblejr Crazy Location: Atlanta	oh geez. Kinda screwed yourself on that one. You will most likely have to destroy the door panel to get access to the inside of the door. Just get another one from a junkyard. Depending on where the child-lock is, you may be able to get something in the door jamb to switch it back. Removing the back seat would be an easy way to get better access. Good luck.

08-04-2003, 11:31 AM	#4 (permalink)
Ashton PORNHOUND Location: California	You could use a slim jim to pop the door open from the outside..... then remove the door panel. What probally happened is the plastic clip that holds the rod that actuates the lock mechanism either broke or came off, so the rod came out and is just hanging there disconnected from the door handle. If you don't have a slim jim, just go to a locksmith shop and have him open the door.

08-04-2003, 12:46 PM	#5 (permalink)
jbrooks544 Addict	You don't have to destroy anything. Go to any autoparts store and they will have a tool that is used to pop the plastic push-fasteners that hold the door panel on. First you have to figure out how to take off the armrest/handle (screws usually) and then the window and door latch handles, etc. (usually another tool for pushing off little spring clamps, then remove the panel and hope you can figure out how to get at and fix the door handle. I have some experience with this and usually you will end up damaging the panel before a beginner will figure it out. You also might not be able to reach or fix the mechanism. Sometimes you have to unscrew it from the end of the door (after you have opened the door). I would try to fix it myself, but you might want to bring it to an autobody shop, as they are the ones who are best at this stuff usually. Bring it in and if the guy gives a funny look and scratches his head go somewhere else. Use the guy who says "oh these, yeah, I've fixed these before"...

08-04-2003, 06:11 PM	#6 (permalink)
FastShark85 Psycho Location: In the garage, under the car.	Ditto what jbrooks544 said. I've pulled my door panel off about 5 times to fix various items over the years. I seriously doubt you can get the door panel off without having the door open already. Call the dealership first and save yourself some time before you start driving around. Other than that, roll the window down and pretend you're one of the Dukes of Hazzard (i.e., jump in and out of the window since it's so cool).

08-05-2003, 03:14 AM	#7 (permalink)
Ashton PORNHOUND Location: California	The point is the door will not open at all, the child lock is on so it won't open from the inside and the outside handle won't work either....... he needs to get a slim jim down inside the door from the outside to grab the actuater rod and pop the door open before he can take the panel off to replace the rod..... noblejr was going on the asumtion that the door couldn't be opened at all, and that the door panel had to be pulled off with the door closed. Taking the door panel off is the easy part, as well as fixing the lock.... the hard part is getting the door open.