Hi All,

 

The lock is not working on the rear passenger door and the MOT is fast approaching. Trouble is I can't get the door open to remove the door card to change the lock. Does anyone have any ideas how to get the door open that doesn't involve an angle grinder?

 

Cheers,

 

Normski 

Just an update to say I've solved the problem. Just kept locking and unlocking the car and pulling the door handle from the inside when finally the door unlocked after about 20 or 30 attempts. 

 

Cheers, Normski

I hope you have changed the lock now, or at least taken the door card off for access as it will stick again. I believe it is possible to get the door card off without butchering it with the door locked but the prescribed method of removing the lock involves a hammer and chisel. I had a Fabia Mk1 estate with the same problem.  

Remove the outer face of the interior grab handle - it does pull off, just very tight.

Remove the 2 large philips head screws from the depths of the exposed grab handle innards - quite a long way in, so have a loooong screwdriver available with a big head.

Remove the tweeter and window switch - screw behind the door latch.

Remove the seat squab 

At the bottom of the door card under the pocket there are 2 (torx15/20?) Screws - remove.

Couple more exposed screws you might get at along the C Pillar edge of the card.

Get comfortable... take a deep breathe.

Grab hold of the door pocket top edge at each end.

Deeper breathe.. close eyes... pull it straight out, hard and fast as you can.

Grab the card  along B and C pillar edges and yank it again to get all the clips off

Then slide  the card up to unhook it from the top edge and unhook the cable for the inner latch handle.

All the clips can then be unscrewed and slotted back onto the door frame before reattaching

 

Then remove the plastic water proofing via stanley blade.

Cut into the lock housing via drill.

Expose the plastic cog.

Wind and wind that cog (cant remember the direction)until the shooting bolt for the deadlock comes back, its sprung so need to hold and wind it...

And then press the unlock button on fob, should open the door if its getting power...

3 hours ago, peter3197 said:

I hope you have changed the lock now, or at least taken the door card off for access as it will stick again. I believe it is possible to get the door card off without butchering it with the door locked but the prescribed method of removing the lock involves a hammer and chisel. I had a Fabia Mk1 estate with the same problem.  

 

See above, no chisel required

Personally with the fear of this happening to me I just removed all the screws that go around the edge of door card so in the event I only have to undo the 2 big screws in the handle. No creaks or movement of the door card without them. The car is 16 and it could happen at any time! 

Edited 16 October, 20178 yr by FUBAR

On 15/10/2017 at 23:12, mac11irl said:

Remove the outer face of the interior grab handle - it does pull off, just very tight.

Remove the 2 large philips head screws from the depths of the exposed grab handle innards - quite a long way in, so have a loooong screwdriver available with a big head.

Remove the tweeter and window switch - screw behind the door latch.

Remove the seat squab 

At the bottom of the door card under the pocket there are 2 (torx15/20?) Screws - remove.

Couple more exposed screws you might get at along the C Pillar edge of the card.

Get comfortable... take a deep breathe.

Grab hold of the door pocket top edge at each end.

Deeper breathe.. close eyes... pull it straight out, hard and fast as you can.

Grab the card  along B and C pillar edges and yank it again to get all the clips off

Then slide  the card up to unhook it from the top edge and unhook the cable for the inner latch handle.

All the clips can then be unscrewed and slotted back onto the door frame before reattaching

 

Then remove the plastic water proofing via stanley blade.

Cut into the lock housing via drill.

Expose the plastic cog.

Wind and wind that cog (cant remember the direction)until the shooting bolt for the deadlock comes back, its sprung so need to hold and wind it...

And then press the unlock button on fob, should open the door if its getting power...

Top advice from mac11. This is where on the casing I drilled to expose the all important cog.

Crikey, major surgery but at least you've done it. Well done.

 

As I managed to get my door open, as I mentioned before, I disconnected the electrical connection at the B post. At first I thought the door would be unlocked all the time but then I found I can lock it by pushing the window button down and then open it with the interior handle. It just means the central locking doesn't work on that door.

 

Anyway, the car passed its MOT. It did require a spring on the front shock absorber as it was broken (although I couldn't tell), still, not bad for a 15 year old car.

 

Thanks for the step by step instruction, just in case I need them in the future.

 

Cheers, Normski

I hope my effort isn't academic on my 14 year old car come MOT next week! Other than silly things like this it's pretty solid!