P38 - Door of doom

Hi Guys,

I wonder if someone can offer some fairly urgent advice please. "Urgent" because my beloved beast is scheduled for its MOT by 15th May and suddenly, a week before I was going to put it in, its decided to lock the front passenger door, and not open it again. When I activate the central locking the door makes a "clunking" sound as though it is locking and unlocking and the little button is going up and down, but it just won't open and I assume thats an instant fail.

I'm fuming because I'd managed to get various things sorted ready and now this...of course.

Budget is exceptionally tight so if its something I can do myself to limp it through it would be a huge bonus. If it fails the MOT its a gonner and that would break my heart. Please keep in mind any DIY advice needs to take into account my exceptionally limited mechanical knowledge

Cheers guys. Really hope its something either cheap or easy or I'm doomed.

Pappy

Oh Jeez! I've just found a few older threads on this. I may well be stuffed.

Probably just the operating link dropped off or the plastic bit broken, get one of you local joyriders round, he'll have it open in a jiffy with a length of welding rod! I don't think a closed door should fail the MOT.

not 100% sure but I think doors need to be able to be opened to pass an mot
Think it has something to do with vehicle access in the event of an accident

p38 prius lol said:

not 100% sure but I think doors need to be able to be opened to pass an mot
Think it has something to do with vehicle access in the event of an accident

Click to expand...

Probably, but just tell the tester it opened OK when the missus got out last night, I'll get it fixed ASAP, if he's at all sympathetic he should let it go with an advisory.

No, door has to be able to be opened as P38 says above. Straight fail item I'm afraid. But even so, it still gives you time to have a go at it after the test if that's all it fails on.

Hello all,

Yup. I'm afraid that is correct. I checked it out today and the door has to open. However I shopped around today and they think it's the actuator in the door although they don't know for sure yet. I was told that they think they can possibly get the door trim off sufficently to then get at the door lock from the inside to allow them to open the door at least. Then hopefully it's something reasonably straight forward.

I'm squinting down the barrel of around £150 but if it then passes the MOT it will be worth it. It's only used for occasional off roading at weekends with me and my lad and for lugging stuff that I don't want to put in my Disco to the tip etc so I'm not lookin g for it to win best in show.

Many thanks for the advice. I will let you know next Weds if they manage to do it and what it was. have a good one

Paps