Inherited a 1991 Accord with power door locks. The drivers door is stuck shut (yes, I did try kicking it open from the inside - and I did use the forum Search before posting). I took the inside panel off to see if everything is working - all the power door locks are functional (at least the rod goes up and down when you hit the door lock button), the door handle lever works. It's like the latch mechanism is stuck. I've no idea how to get the door open. A local garage quoted $480, said the door latch assembly needed to be replaced (quoted $330 for it). I don't mind DIY if I knew exactly what to do. I would greatly appreciate any advice on how to fix the stuck door problem. Many thanks in advance!

 

The shop was correct in that you need to replace the latch assembly which you need to get the door open to remove. The only way to get the door open that I know of is to drill a hole through the latch assy. at a certain point to relase the latch. It is a pain in the *** and has to be drilled in a pretty exact spot to get it to release.

 

Thanks Sean. I wonder if I could disassble the latch with it still inside the door, as I've no guide as to where to drill a hole - or can it be drilled from inside the door? I guess I need to find a diagram of the door and lock assembly to study.

 

Yes the hole is drilled from inside the door when it is stuck shut. I don't currently have the capability of posting a picture or I'd find one that had been drilled out and post a picture of it.

 

Thanks Sean. Perhaps you could give the drill hole location by measuring from some different obvious points? If I could triangulate the location, I should be able to drill it out. Wonder what size drill bit? Thanks again.

 

http://www.cb7tuner.com/vbb/sh...stuck

your solution is about halfway down page 1

 

Accord22, I think you just saved me a lot of pain. I just want to replace the freakin latch, not the whole door! Thanks for posting that link.

 

Well, I've tried all the suggestion here and on CB7Tuner without luck so far. The article on CB7 refers to a "pivot rivet", but as the picture was missing from the article, I'm not sure which "pivot rivet" it refers to. I took the door panel off and can access the inside of the door. The door handle rod and door lock rod appear to be working. Per the article on CB7, I tried drilling a couple of holes into the latch housing, but the drill is not hitting anything inside the latch housing to make it release.

Other than taking a hammer and chisel to the latch housing, anyone have any other ideas?

 

strip everything off

 

Stick your hand in the door panel where the locking mechanism is and try to pull on the rod, or if it fell out, try to push the lock mechanism over.

 

http://members.troublecodes.ne...e.htm
Some pictures that might help you

 

Thanks Hondadude. I see you're in Fayetteville. I lived in Tulsa for many years, loved to stop in F'ville on the way back from the Buffalo.

It's a 1991 Accord 4 dr. LX model. All lock and handle rods are working. According to other post, the failure is internal, inside the plastic latch housing.

Even if I'm able to penetrate the latch with a drill and cause the latch to fail, allowing the door to open, I wonder if there is enough room to install a new latch and get the door lock rod and handle rods attached. I'm almost ready to blow the door off and get another door at a junk yard.

 

I had no problem removing the door panel, and there's room to drill with the seat all the way back, but no matter how you work it, the drill is going to be at an angle in relation to the latch. Using the measurements in the photo, I'll just keep drilling until something gives. It also looks to be possible to drill through the door post into the latch hook, from the back side with the back door opened.

 

My 05 accord did that this week. What I did was unhook battery so actuator doesnt engage and used pliers to pry up the rod. It worked. I sprayed oil down the rod and reattached battery. It works again.