Can't open passenger door

[Chrisstdt 1]

Newly acquired 205 after sitting for years 

 

I can't open the passenger door ,key goes in and lock turns but not all the way and rid I side doesn't have full travel

 

I've soaked inside if lock with wd40 

 

Any suggestions?

[Leslie green 110]

The operating rods to the latch need worked from inside the door with doorcard off and wd40 in the latch .by moving them with a screwdriver you wiññ soon see which one opens it

Edited November 10 by Leslie green

[Chrisstdt 1]

Thanks il give that a go

[Ozymandis 97]

It will be the actual exterior door handle not the internal operating rods, catch or lock.

 

Rust in the handle mechanism makes the operating arm too tight to be returned to its resting posistion by the spring.

 

Imagine holding the handle open and trying to work the lock and catch, this is effectively what is happening when they start to sieze.

 

Try making sure the exterior handle is down and repeatedly whack the area with the heel of Your hand, this sometimes shocks the siezed parts and the door can be opened.( Using the inside handle or it will just stick again as soon as you operate the exterior handle.)

 

The cures, remove the exterior handle, then (use real oil not wd40) lubricate the siezed pivot of the operating arm on the back of the handle whilst working the handle, then do it again in 5 years or so. Or get a better handle.

 

The window glass makes it difficult to lubricate the siezed pivot.

 

This is a very common fault I have done maybe 40 or 50 of them over the decades.

 

Taking the handle off is a  pain in the neck.

Edited November 10 by Ozymandis

[Tom Fenton 1,542]

The above are right as the handles do go tight but I don't think its your issue

 

If I'm reading it right the key won't turn enough to unlock the mechanism

 

I've seen it before when its the central locking motor seized is the issue

 

Get the door card off and undo the 2x screws that secure the c/l motor and then try again

[Chrisstdt 1]

Don't think the car has central locking (phase 1.5 .1.6 GTi)

Il get the door card off and check 

Thanks 

[Ozymandis 97]

The metal operating lever`s pivot point is sticking, it`s the circular metal rivetted over part to the left of the yellow paint, that needs oiling and working to free off the operating arm.

Edited November 11 by Ozymandis

[Chrisstdt 1]

Thanks il get a look when I get the door card off

[Chrisstdt 1]

 

Finally got round to this it was indeed the steel piece on the door handle 

 

Lots of wd40 and spray grease while working it up and down now the door opens

 

Thanks

Edited Thursday at 05:27 PM by Chrisstdt

[AlexRS2782 136 1 Cars]

Recently been through the same thing.  As the car was at Miles for a service / MOT anyway he sorted it for me - as described above he got the door open and gave the mechanism a fair bit of lubrication and it is now working perfectly fine again.  I have, as a safeguard in case it happens again or fails completely, now purchased a very good condition spare handle incase it ever needs to be replaced alongside a spare set of latches as the passenger one of those was also sticking slightly - so spares to futureproof the car.