I have a 2004 GC that has a "stuck" rear passenger side door.

The door is NOT locked, as the inside lock slider moves easily and it "feels" like the lock is locking and unlocking.

The door CANNOT be opened from the inside because the "child safety lock" is in the locked position.

Pulling the outside handle will not open the door, and there is no resistance, leading me to believe that the handle is no longer operating the latch.

Removing the door panel appears to be an impossibility because the door cannot be opened.

Clearly, the door will need to be opened in order to remove the door panel and investigate further.

Any suggestions are appreciated.

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Additional Thoughts

I'm wondering:

1. Can the door panel be removed from the inside without opening the door? If so, what would be the best way to do this to avoid destroying the door panel? It doesn't seem possible, but maybe I'm missing something.

2. Is there any other way ("slim jim", etc.) to get the latch to release without removing the door panel? If so, I need suggestions as to how to do this without tearing anything up inside the door.

3. Even if the door panel CAN be removed without opening the door, will it be possible to release the latch from the inside, considering that the "child safety" lock is set to "locked"?

Someone MUST have encountered this problem before.

 

i have the same problem with my font pass door. the lock assembly is PLASTIC! thank you Chrysler:-( i have mine all apart and cut the inside door away and ripped the inner panel off and nothing will open it. my door handle is working and the black plastic tab the rod connects to is working. its the actual latch that seems to be broken and not opening.

all i can see to do is to use a cut off tool and grind the latch down inside the door until it breaks enough to open. i have another door .

 

Wow! That seems pretty extreme.

I was hoping for something less destructive.

In my case, I think the outside handle may not be connected to the latch mechanism because I don't feel ANY resistance when pulling the handle from the outside.

The big problem for me, I think, is getting the door panel off without being able to open the door.

 

You can pull the door panel off from the inside, it's just a little more difficult to do. Once you have the panel off you'll have to poke your head in there with a flash light and find the lever that releases the child safety lock. Flip it to the unlock position and you should be able to open the door. Don't go hacking anything up as the other poster has done. Be carefully, there are a lot of sharp and greasy things around the latch. You don't want greasy and bloody paw prints all over the seats.

 

Thanks, bustedback!

It sounds like you may have pulled a door panel off without opening the door.

After removing the two screws, are there any tricks to popping off the panel (9 of them, I think) fasteners? There doesn't seem to be enough room to get a putty knife or panel tool in there. I definitely don't want to tear anything up.

Thanks!

 

I'm not sure if your door panel is held on with clips or has tabs that slide into slots on the door. Try pulling up on the panel and see if it comes off.

 

All of the information I have managed to collect would indicate that the panel is held on by plastic posts (christmas trees?) that fit into holes in the door. The recommended way to "pop" them is with a putty knife or a panel tool.

If they are like this, there doesn't seem to be a way to get the tool behind the panel to leverage the "post" out of the hole.

If the panels would just slide up (clips in slots) I think it would be easier. However, I'm doubtful that the panel is attached in that way.

Also I seem to remember being told that the "child lock" is part of the latch mechanism itself, so it may not be accessible from inside the door.

 

You should still be able to access the lever for the outer door handle from inside the door. If you can manage to get under the door panel enough to get your fingers in and gently pull out a little bit while working your way around the outer edges of the panel, it should pop off without too much drama. Just take your time and make sure you removed all of the screws, there may be some that are hidden behind trim and carpet.

 

Possibly removing the seat bottom will give you more room?

 

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a few picks of this mess. on mine the door handle is working and pushing on the plastic lever but the door latch wont work.
another poster said there is a plastic cover that gets stuck in the latch and wont let it open.since i have another door i dont care what i damage . i dont see any other way but to damage the door.

 

Maybe if I try with gloves and fingers I can get the panel loose. It is worth a try, I guess.

The main problem area is the door sill (bottom) and the fact that the panel is fairly wide (thick), effectively recessing the area where a panel tool or putty knife would be slid in between the panel and the metal part of the door.

I might go ahead and remove the rear seat bottom to get more maneuvering room.

More suggestions are appreciated.

Thanks for the ones already posted.

 

well depending on what is wrong . idk if your problem is the same as mine. on mine pulling the panel off didnt help. the latch itself is broken and wont open. i may have another door at work if you want a new panel. im in nj.
if you want picks of anything let me know

 

oh one more thing .please be careful cause if you stick a hand in there you will be bleeding!