door won't open!

[hotfored]

OK! So the passenger door on my 88 is closed can't get it to open. Even reached inside and pushed down on the release lever inside the door behind the seat belt. That worked on driver but no effect on the passenger door! Any ideas how to access the clam shell latch?

[Travelor]

Can you hear anything rattling around inside the door when you try to open it?

Not sure how to remove the panel if you can't open the door...

[hotfored]

No can't hear a rattle. Door panel is pretty thrashed so I can actually get my hand in there part way. None of the handles or the handle rods do anything when you move them.

[Money pit Beretta]

Almost sounds like the lock is stuck on the passenger side.

[hotfored]

Yes I think that as well! But how do I get it open to fix the latch?

[3X00-Modified]

You have to reach through the door panel to where the rods connect and operate it manually... other than that I'm not sure what to suggest... Even removing the hinges will not get the door open since the latch part on the pillar has a hat to it so you can't like slide it off.

[themixer]

you can remove the passanger seat allowing access to removing the door panel

[3X00-Modified]

There are two screws at the base of the door panel though, where the belt hole split comes together, and the front of it is wedged between the dash and the door... I guess if you get the back portion pulled away you can at least get your hands in near the latch assy.

[Money pit Beretta]

Can you find a slim jim?

[Beretta1234567]

Just a thought, but what if you removed the rear interior passenger pannel and then accessed the bolt from behind inside the car?
I'm thinking that if you can get at it from behind, you might be able to drill it out or cut it so the door can get open.
Then after that, just replace the broken bolt and whatever won't let the door open, even the part of the car that the bolt attaches to if it gets damaged in the process.

[hotfored]

Yes that is my next move!!!

[3X00-Modified]

You should be able to reach the latch mechanism going through the door panel, I don't see the point in destroying the door pin on the rear quarter... also that is a closed up section of metal, its not open like the door panel.

[Beretta1234567]

You should be able to reach the latch mechanism going through the door panel, I don't see the point in destroying the door pin on the rear quarter... also that is a closed up section of metal, its not open like the door panel.

listen to him, not me. lol
i only had a random thought that might be helpful as a last resort.
I wouldn't want anyone to destroy their car because of my post. O_O

[Money pit Beretta]

Can you find a slim jim?

This is the best way without ripping something up. The problem is that you may have to call a lock smith(they have them).

[hotfored]

Ok so I have access to the inside door handle rod and it moves but nothing is happening when I move it. Can I reach in and trigger the latch from inside the door manually? There is like a lever that you can push down and it unlocks the latch just behind the seat belt. I did that on the driver side to see what happened it unlatched. But when I do it on the passenger side it just pushes down and does nothing.