406 rear door. It will not open!

Honest John Back Room » Technical matters
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Sun 22 May 2005 20:23
406 rear door. It will not open! - Reggie
When I came to open the rear offside door on the 406 today.....it wouldn't.

I have taken the inner door cover off and both connecting rods that pull the mechanism to release the door are still connected and operating (from outside and from inside the car), as is the rod that actuates the central locking. The central locking on the electrical system still operates the on the lock moving the said lever.

I cannot remove the door opening/locking mechanism as it is secured from behind the door (in the recess in front of the inner wing) as I cannot open the door to get to the three screws.

The mechanism is covered with a plastic cover which has one screw securing it, but it cannot be removed without destroying it as there is a lever riveted and this has been done after the cover was fitted.

I have tried gently kicking the door from the inside with both the inner and outer handles being in the "open the door" position and with the lock definately unlocked on the mechanism with no joy.

If the problem was associated wth the child lock, then surely the outside handle would open the door.

Does anybody know how to open the mechanism from inside the door, or is it a matter of destroying the plastic cover and hoping there is something that I can pull or push to release the door an then be able to remove the locking closing mechanism?

Reggie
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Mon 23 May 2005 20:25
406 rear door. It will not open! - Reggie
I have sorted it. I tried various attack plans which I will not go into, but the only method in the end was to destroy the lock through the hole on the inside of the door with the interior panel off, with a screw driver, a drill and a soldering iron to melt the plastic which surrounds it. Not easy due to the very limited access.

It took me over two hours but I have released the door, and by putting the swiveling "locking piece" which is still on the backplate back in position manually can secure the door for now.

What caused it will remain a mystery, but I suspect that either the lock was not releasing where it mattered ( the rods etc were all moving arms into the lock), or possibly a spring that releases the locking plate may have broken. Who knows?

A second hand locking mechanism is now being sought.

Reggie
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