Freelander Faulty Lock - how can I get the door open?

Hi,

My first post here. We have a 2001 Freelander TD4, and the passenger's side rear door can no longer be opened either with the outside or inside handle. Pressing the remote control to lock or unlock, I get a clonk from the lock mechanism. I have all the internal trim off, but I can't work out how I can release the lock to get the door open. The fixing screws for the lock are only accessible once the door's open.

Any ideas?

Thanks in advance, Tony S

drive it through a puddle.

Treworgey 90 said:

drive it through a puddle.

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get reddy for more ansurs like that Tony ..soon u may git a sensible wun!!...........afternoon trew ....

nigel8 said:

get reddy for more ansurs like that Tony ..soon u may git a sensible wun!!...........afternoon trew ....

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He he ... fingers crossed.

By the way, further exploration shows that the lock and the motor are all one integral unit, and pulling on the various wires and links doesn't make it open. May have to destroy the lock in some what (but how, without wrecking the door?)

Tony S

try pressing unlock button twice on fob, then opening the door using the inside handle. pull it once to unlock it, then again to open it. worked for me when I had the same fault. Still like it as I won't spend the £70 for a new lock assembly. Very rarely use passenger door anyway.

one Freelander I looked at had this same problem, i held the interior handle open and just put some shoulder against the door and it opened up. The freelander that I eventually bought has obviously had very little use of the rear doors as they are stiff to open but currently both still working, although one window reg does need replacing

OK their is a way by tricking control but you have to understand wot yer doing and its beyond most Earthlings but the otherway [unless its completely jammed] but worth trying . . . .is release doors using fob [releases dead lock and alarm] put key in door [do not re press fob] get an assistant [Dorris] to hold open on handle faulty door. . . .put key to lock ,then unlock [if assistant is pulling at same time should release[open] note main key door by steering wheel is the master [bit like me really ] un best oh luck

Optimus Prime said:

Still like it as I won't spend the £70 for a new lock assembly. Very rarely use passenger door anyway.

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Only £39.99 on Ebay, but that's not really the point in my case. I'm told its an MOT fail, as its a legal requirement to be able to exit via any of the passenger doors so I need to get it fixed one way or another.

Some things to try among the suggestions, thanks and keep them coming please.

Tony S

ming said:

OK their is a way by tricking control but you have to understand wot yer doing and its beyond most Earthlings but the otherway [unless its completely jammed] but worth trying . . . .is release doors using fob [releases dead lock and alarm] put key in door [do not re press fob] get an assistant [Dorris] to hold open on handle faulty door. . . .put key to lock ,then unlock [if assistant is pulling at same time should release[open] note main key door by steering wheel is the master [bit like me really ] un best oh luck

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Since my lock makes a nice "clunk" when I press the lock or unlock buttons, I suspect its not a failure of the control but rather a mechanical failure in the lock. Worth a try anyway, though since it won't cost anything.

unless vehicle is superlocked (ie by fob) you should always be able to open any of the doors by pulling the inside door handle twice, once to unlock, once to open.

Optimus Prime said:

unless vehicle is superlocked (ie by fob) you should always be able to open any of the doors by pulling the inside door handle twice, once to unlock, once to open.

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The fault first manifested itself as an inability to unlock the door electronically. It would lock with the rest of the doors when locking with the fob, or by turning the drivers door key, or by pressing the console switch. It would not unlock by any of these methods, but could be unlocked and opened by using the inside handle as you said.

Recently it changed, and we now can't open the door even with the internal handle. The problem is that we can't remove the lock mechanism with the door closed, and we can't open the door. As far as I can feel, the cable from the internal handle to the lock is still connected, but pulling on it has no effect (no movement from the mechanism)

aesmith said:

The fault first manifested itself as an inability to unlock the door electronically. It would lock with the rest of the doors when locking with the fob, or by turning the drivers door key, or by pressing the console switch. It would not unlock by any of these methods, but could be unlocked and opened by using the inside handle as you said.

Recently it changed, and we now can't open the door even with the internal handle. The problem is that we can't remove the lock mechanism with the door closed, and we can't open the door. As far as I can feel, the cable from the internal handle to the lock is still connected, but pulling on it has no effect (no movement from the mechanism)

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well, you certainly don't need any smugness from me saying you should have dealt with it earlier. However, if you had a short torx driver, you should be able to undo all the screws and get the door card off. sure it's going to be an absolute fiddle to do, working down the side of the passenger seat, but i reckon it could be done. then just be careful you don't pull the latch actuator rod off the lock when you try to open it,otherwise you will be well and truly knackered.

Good Luck

Do you mean working from inside the car, reaching between the back of the door and the door-pillar with a right-angle screwdriver of some sort. I think the flange on the inside prevents reaching that way - I had a look to see if I could Dremel off the loop on the striker plate and it didn't look as if there's access for that.

Re - smugness. There's no way to avoid thinking "if only". The job would have been so easy, and the lock's not even that expensive (by Freelander standards I mean).

what I meant was, if you could get the interior trim off the door, could you then reach through and pull the unlock rod to release the door. but by the sounds of it, the lock itself is stuck in "SUPERLOCK" mode, and won't come out of it to allow you to open the door.

sorry bud, all out of ideas on this one.

Hi folks, my first post....

I'm having the same problem as 'aesmith' (had any luck mate?)

My driver's door is locked and I can't get it open to investigate/repair the problem.

Hadn't noticed any wrong with the lock until one day it just wouldn't unlock/open. Tried the inside and outside handles with fob, key and central console button to no avail. Took off the trim (very fiddly when the door is locked) and had a feel around and a look with an inspection mirror but can't find a way to release the lock.

There's electrical power getting to the mechanism, and using the key from the outside locks the other doors, as it should, so I'm assuming it's a mechanical failure in the lock assembly.

I had a mechanic look at it and called my local Land Rover dealer, but they both said it wasn't a problem they'd encountered before and it could be very expensive for them to fix due to the amount of time required to fiddle about inside the door (they reckon I'd be better off doing it myself as I had more idea about the problem than they did).

I've tried everything mentioned in this thread (various fob pressing/ handle pulling combinations) but I'm thinking the only alternative I have is to, as 'aesmith' suggested, break the lock from the inside of the door somehow.

Any more suggestions folks? They'd be very much appreciated!!

open nearside door from outside
light single stick of gelignite
throw gelignite thru open door
close door quickly
retire to safe distance
wait until "pop"

all doors will miraciously be open.

Pull the multiplug off the lock and then try unlocking it with the key.

i fort my idea was better.

The Mad Hat Man said:

i fort my idea was better.

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I did like your idea but it's gone school kicking out time. Parents sometimes like to complain about flying car parts and explosive devices near kids.

Could wait until past their bedtimes I spose

ratty said:

Pull the multiplug off the lock and then try unlocking it with the key.

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Just tried that (and tried with the battery disconnected) but still no movement

Thanks anyway Ratty

And cheers Mad Hat Man. I'm not far off trying the gelignite option

Any more suggestions?