P38A Drivers door latch

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stemac33

stemac33

Well-Known Member
Posts
550
Location
Accrington, Lancs
Hi all in need of assistance once again, so the story so far, car the behatch has been stood for about 2 week and went to start it the other day she fired up after 2 lots of heat but was a bit lethargic, so decided to take the battery off and put it on charge. Battery been on charge nearly 48 hrs and all good there, my problem now is I can't get in the thing. The drivers door is unlocking with the key in lock but when I pull the handle it releases the latch but not all the way, like to the position when the door doesn't shut properly its closed but not all the way. I can't get in any other doors as I locked them when I took the battery off. Could this be the cable from the inside door handle. And how can I get in the bloody thing.
Ps 96 2.5dt
Cheers all
Steve
 
Does the fob work and open all the doors normally?
If so, connect the battery with jump leads positive to the starter terminal and use the fob to open the doors.
make sure the door is shut otherwise the alarm may go off.

J
 
Managed to lever the lock side up and away so I can see the lock. Pushed and pulled everything I could see to no avail, something must have broke inside., time to get the hacksaw blade to the striker plate me thinks unless anyone got any other ideas.
 
With the door ajar and the rear door open can you see/get to the screws that hold the lock, maybe if you got them out there would be enough movement in the latch to release it?

Maybe @Rubberknees has 1 on his kitchen table ( I think cos post history don’t work either atm:() it’s broke too but he may have some ideas of which combination of levers to push/pull

Sorry out of ideas:)

J
 
Possibly the internal cable has jammed up.
If you can see where the cable joins the latch lever, maybe you can pull the cable inner to release the lock.
At least it will show you which lever to work.
That lever is also actuated by a rod from the door handle that connects using a green plastic clip.
 
P38 Monkey said:
Possibly the internal cable has jammed up.
If you can see where the cable joins the latch lever, maybe you can pull the cable inner to release the lock.
At least it will show you which lever to work.
That lever is also actuated by a rod from the door handle that connects using a green plastic clip.
Click to expand...
Photo shows where the cable inner attaches. Rotate that white C-shaped part anticlockwise to release the lock.
Let me know if you need more photos...

IMG_1954.jpg
 
Tried rotating that bit but it travels through its movement and doesn't release the latch. Think something may be broken inside. It was -9 when I tried to open the door.
 
Can you push down on the green clip at the other side of the lock?
The C-piece, and the arm that the green clip is on, cause a two-arm lever to rotate and that should release the latch.
Or not, in your case.
Is that two-arm lever rotating?
Does it feel as though it is moving some internal components?
If none of the above works, I guess you need to get the latch unit removed and no doubt there are others on here who have suggestions as to how to do that.
 
When trying to get in the levers all move freely the lock releases but it won't release past the second catch if you get what I mean so the door is open but not shut properly
 
stemac33 said:
When trying to get in the levers all move freely the lock releases but it won't release past the second catch if you get what I mean so the door is open but not shut properly
Click to expand...
Ah, I see what you mean. Not sure how to approach that but hopefully someone else will have suggestions.
If nothing is forthcoming I'll take my spare latch apart and see if there is anything obvious.
 
Firstly, double check the lock lever is in the Up position (highlighted in blue below). Might be worth operating that a few times to make sure the latch is actually unlocked. Then bit that actually releases the latch is labelled "two arm" in the picture, so make sure that is rotating properly.

Unfortunately you cannot partially dismantle the latch in situ by removing the small screws, due to the three large screws that hold it to the door. If nothing else works you might be able to drill out a few mm of the three large torx bolts from inside the door (small blue circles below). Then remove the small screw so the metal plate comes off. Next remove the remaining small screws and the cover should fall off. Finally you have access to the latch internals, so should be able to release it.

To do all this, you will need the drivers seat removed & door card full off !!

upload_2022-12-17_12-57-34.png
 

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The lock lever moves through out its total range as does the latch lever. Access wise I can't get the door card off fully due to the screw up near the tweeter. I'm thinking something has snapped inside due to the cold weather and 20 odd year old plastic becoming brittle.
 
stemac33 said:
The lock lever moves through out its total range as does the latch lever. Access wise I can't get the door card off fully due to the screw up near the tweeter. I'm thinking something has snapped inside due to the cold weather and 20 odd year old plastic becoming brittle.
Click to expand...

The tweeter cover should pop off, may need a bit of pressure to get it out against the door seal with the door ajar. (i think).

But at the end of the day, if you need it, cutting the shackle gets you the free access. There comes a point when money has to be spent;). Your choice on which part;).

J
 
There is a possibility that the latch internals are in the superlock position. Not 100% sure, but this probably prevents the lever from releasing the latch bar from the shackle. Try unlocking twice with the fob, or failing that apply volts to the superlock motor to release it ?
 
pwood999 said:
There is a possibility that the latch internals are in the superlock position. Not 100% sure, but this probably prevents the lever from releasing the latch bar from the shackle. Try unlocking twice with the fob, or failing that apply volts to the superlock motor to release it ?
Click to expand...

I was assuming:rolleyes: that the other doors were opened as covered in the first 4 posts, so not a superlocking issue.

J
 
When this happened to me I pushed the door hard to close it and then it worked, I had to do it a couple of times though, the latch seems to go into a state of limbo if it doesnt release fully. I have had it happen on one of my rear doors too, same procedure worked.
Just a thought
 
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