Unable to Open Rear Passenger Door

Does anyone have any useful hints to open a door that refuses to open, Removed inner door card and check both internal and external handles all seem to be OK, the child lock can be moved to either position and still no joy, have tried the heavy boot method of me pushing against the inside while someone try the hand and it does not budge at all, any ideas????

Sounds like the connecting rod from the external handle has popped off - happened to my D2 - but if you have had the card off and checked I'm stumped.

Both handles seem to work from what I could see, just cannot see the locking mech. from the small hole left of the internal handle, I was hoping there is a way to release the catch somehow?

I had a similar problem, albeit it intermitent.

There is a tiny horizontal roller (pointing side to side) inside the door where the jaws are. Mine had a little lever which should have sat on top but kept slipping off! Quick bend and hey presto.

Any idea if there is a photo of this part anywhere ?

Haven't a clue on 1991 Defenders door issues or any thing else

srtgray said:

Sounds like the connecting rod from the external handle has popped off - happened to my D2 - but if you have had the card off and checked I'm stumped.

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Mine is doing exactly that as well stripped the door card off and popped it back in place tested it and it was all working fine again put the door card back on shut the door, pulled the handle, pop and the ruddy things come straight off again

When you say you popped something back into place, what was this?

Here's a rod from the rear handle that fits into a plastic bush (at least on a facelift D2)

MD0MDI said:

When you say you popped something back into place, what was this?

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With the door card off you can see the latch mechanism there should be a rod running vertically down from the outside handle. Its not all that easy to see but look closely and shine a torch in you should be able to see it, right at the rear end of the door not near the inner handle. This had come loose on mine so although the handle moved it wasn't actually connected to the latch mechanism. If your childlock is stuck on and this rod has dislocated like mine had you wouldn't be able to open the door at all.

That sounds like it should be what I have, but the mechanism does seem to move with both the outer and inner handles, and the. Hold lock level can be moved to either position. The only thing that I can think has happened is that something has broken or come off under the plate that is to the far rear of the door, I.e. The actual catch mechanism as as stated the doors handles and attached metalwork does seem to operate as expected.

Thanks dragon walker but is not the rear door that's the problem, is the passenger side rear door, and the catch itself that seems to be stuck or broken.

Managed to fix, though not as I hoped, took a chainsaw to the door, cut it in half, then pulled it apart using sheet metal cutters and a few large hammers, fitted new door! Now OK..

Interesting technique!!

Does work though, and only took a couple of hours, though the door came off in just 10 minutes, the rest was fitting the replacement door!

You got any photos?

No sorry, did not think about it till it was done, got two doors for £50 so I may just do the other side for the fun of it, will take photos if I do

I had a similar problem, but different solution. My door would open only if I had the key in and turned to the open position. otherwise it would not open even all the other doors were open.
I replaced the actuator, but that didint fix it. it turned out to be little round spring in the lock mechanism it self. I needed to replace all lock mechanism:
- I save the outer door lock, so I can still use the same key
- save money on chain saw rental

Hi Mogindo,

My idea might have been a little over the top, but i could not find another solution for opening a door that would not open, by key or by accessing the innards of the door through the holes in the inner door shell.

I was hoping to get an idea or help from the forum, but it looks like its not possible! I was in two minds as to take it to our local Land Rover agent, but they are a total rip-off with regards to the final cost of work, i.e. I just had a new Key and Keyfob supplied, and they charged me £160 in goal for the work, and then I had to get the key cut myself from the blank that they supplied, so working on those costings, opening a non-opening door might have cost me well over £1000 to get sorted!

Where as I already own the chainsaw (as I live in the middle of a plantation) and it only cuts me a a few hours to resharpen the blade and about 50p worth of petrol!

I have to replace the springs all round now as the central locking is playing up and i am pretty sure that they have never been replaced since the car left the factory. and a full set only cost £12 off eBay so hopefully this will be an easy fix, now just waiting for good weather...