Doors Stuck Closed

[ma_mopar]

On our recently acquired '68 T&C the only door that will open is the driver passenger.

The driver door button will press in but the door does not move. The passenger door button does not move at all. Same with the passenger rear.

Anybody have any tips to get the other doors open. Limited to no damage to the doors if possible please. It is a parts car so the more parts available to others the better.

Thanks.

 

[The Goose]

Only way is to get inside pull the door panel and undo the door handles. Then you'll understand the fix. When you pull the handle if it's not attached to the rod with this clip grab the rod push down and door pops open. If it's not that it's probably the lock. If the handles are acting funny I bet the rod is disconnected. Check out my pic it's on a 69 but they are all pretty much the same. It's how people open the doors with no handle like during a paint job. Hope that helps.

 

[The Goose]

Here's the pic

 

[Davea Lux]

On our recently acquired '68 T&C the only door that will open is the driver passenger.

The driver door button will press in but the door does not move. The passenger door button does not move at all. Same with the passenger rear.

Anybody have any tips to get the other doors open. Limited to no damage to the doors if possible please. It is a parts car so the more parts available to others the better.

Thanks.

Another possibility is that if the car sat out for a long period of time, the latch mechanism is rusted and stuck. Remove the inner door panel as suggested above and spray the latch with lubricant from the inside. Then let it sit overnight and try to re-open the doors. Sometimes a good shoulder bump from inside while holding door handle open with free it up.

Dave

 

[azblackhemi]

This might be too obvious but have you tried the inside handle? Pull it and give the door a good push with a shoulder. As mentioned above it could be stuck. Doesn't seem likely that 3 out of 4 doors have a linkage problem. They could all just be stuck.

 

[The Goose]

Sorry I'm in socal and not sure what this rust thing is you're all speaking of...

 

[MrMoparCHP]

Hose the door seals from the outside, if the car sat long enough they be stuck with grime (primarily dirt). My car sat in a field for 30 years (in California) and the rear doors were stuck. I needed to jimmy the mechanism at the latch with a screwdriver and kick the doors open.

My backup plan was to make a couple horizontal cuts in the door on each side of the latch, pry that flange up and cut the striker with a Sawzall.


Alan

 

[goldfish65]

To get the driver's door on my Monaco unstuck, I got in the car and gave a hard kick while pulling the handle. Then I was able to get the panel off and lubricate everything inside the door.

 

[Davea Lux]

Sorry I'm in socal and not sure what this rust thing is you're all speaking of...

In hot arid climates your problem will be that the lubricant that was applied at the factory has long since evaporated, or "cooked off" if you prefer. That leaves you the same place as a rusty latch assembly, the mechanism is seized up. Solution is the same, spray it with lubricant.

Dave

 

[FURYGT]

Get someone to hold the outside door handle button in while you lay down on the seat and kick the inside of the door. Wear sneakers and try to hit the door with your foot flat. Sometimes the star wheel will freeze up.

 

[Mopar Madness]

A couple of swift kicks with the button pushed or handled pulled usually will do it.Kick it right at the door lock area.Spur wheels have locked up.

 

[MrMoparCHP]

My rods (both) were just flexing and the mechanism wasn't moving.


Alan

 

[chaparral2f]

Only way is to get inside pull the door panel and undo the door handles. Then you'll understand the fix. When you pull the handle if it's not attached to the rod with this clip grab the rod push down and door pops open. If it's not that it's probably the lock. If the handles are acting funny I bet the rod is disconnected. Check out my pic it's on a 69 but they are all pretty much the same. It's how people open the doors with no handle like during a paint job. Hope that helps.

How do you remove the door panel if the door is shut close? I have a '68 TC and the passenger door is stuck also. I decided not worry about it right now as it has other problems that need to be dealt with first

 

[ma_mopar]

Thanks for the tips.

Haven't tried kicking from the inside. Interior is dirty and I didn't feel like getting dirty at the time.

I'll give the doors a kick in the spring/summer.

 

[67Monaco]

Have you unlocked the doors?

 

[The Goose]

The panels can be removed if the door is stuck shut. I had to do it that way to open my 69. The clip broke so no outside handle and the grease turned to some kinda beeswax looking stuff and glued the door shut. No inside handle so short of sawzalling the door I removed the door panel ( it can be done with the door closed its tight work but do able ) got to the inner works and popped it open. Mine was worst case cause both handles failed. I just did this so I know it can be done with no damage. I agree with everyone who says try to bump it open first. I tried that and then pulled the panel. Not sure what kind of grease they used but zap it relube it and it's all like new after that ( unless it's rusted ). Good luck, bet it'll be an easy fix.

 

[ma_mopar]

Have you unlocked the doors?

Nope. Thought they would open locked.

Yes. All doors are unlocked.

 

[67Monaco]

Nope. Thought they would open locked.

Yes. All doors are unlocked.

They should but what the hay, you know....

 

[chaparral2f]

I have been reading this thread today as I had my '68 wagon out on Saturday and locked all the door while I was at a model show. Came back out and could not open the passenger front door, I can pull up on the little thing on top of the door however it still will not open, I also used the key and nothing happened. will I hurt the door if I have someone push in the door handle at the same time that I kick it? Thanks Rene'

 

[Davea Lux]

As long as you do not get too carried away with the kicking it should not hurt anything so long as you wear soft soled shoes, might want to drape the door with an old towel so you so not scuff the door card. Might be hard on the person who is holding the handle open if the door opens quickly.

Dave