Help! Can't open door on Camry.

Dave Nordhoff · 10-24-2005, 04:05 PM

My wife has a 93 Camry and this morning the drivers door decided it does not want to open. The key won't turn to the open position and the lock/unlock thingy on the inside of the door will not go to unlock position. H'mmm, I tried to slim jim it from the inside with no luck and I can't remove the door panel with the door closed. Any ideas would be greatly appreciated. BTW, selling or burning it is not an option.

Dave

84porsche · 84porsche's Garage

Can you get into the car through another door? You may be able to open the door from the inside once your in the car. Could the lock button on the top of the door be jammed below causing the lock button not to raise up?

competentone · 10-24-2005, 09:18 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Dave Nordhoff
The key won't turn to the open position and the lock/unlock thingy on the inside of the door will not go to unlock position.

Try soaking with WD-40; spray into the lock (the key passage-way) heavily and let it soak for a while; work the key in-and-out between shots of the spray. If there is anyway to get the lubricant around the "lock/unlock thingy" inside, spray there too. Same with the latch of the door. Use the door that works to see if you can get the spray lubricant to the latch. The little tube that came with the WD-40 -- if you can find it (I can never find mine when I need it) -- will help you get the lubricant where it's needed.

If soaking with lubricant doesn't work, I'd remove the panel on the passenger door, find the critical points of the lock/latch mechanism, then do some "arthroscopic surgery" through the panel of the stuck door.

competentone · 10-27-2005, 07:54 AM

Have you gotten the door to open yet? Give us an update when you find what the problem was.

Dave Nordhoff · 10-27-2005, 05:14 PM

I just came in from the garage. Success! I rolled the window down and wedged the slot open. I could see the latch wasn't moving so with a hooked wire I pulled on it while turning the key and it unlocked. Now I have all the fasteners out of the door panel and it wont come off. Its loose and moves up and down about a 1/4 inch or so. I'll try again tomorrow.
Dave