See previous note below:

So, yesterday I installed a new door latch assembly in my drivers door. Pulling the door panel open with the door closed was not fun. After several hours and a few Band-Aids, the repair was completed. I purchased the part from my local Honda dealer for wholsale price, $162.50 plus tax (List = $217.00). BTW, my local Honda dealer told me that the repair could cost up to $800.00!! If any of you guys need advise with this repair, let me know.
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9-8-02
Just today, my driver door will not open from the inside or the outside. From what I understand there is a Honda bulletin on how to drill the latch to get the door open and replace the latch with a new one. Does anyone have it and if so let me know? I've only seen this repair done once and can't remember where to drill. I know that this is not an easy repair either. If any of you have any short cuts or know how to do it easily, and advise would be helpful. Thanks in advance.

 

so did you have to drill? How'd you get it done

 

well if your intrested... check this document i have on my webserver..dont know how much longer it will be up though, so better get it soon.

http://www2.fwi.com/~djmccoy/door.pdf

 

damn i remember doing this on an 91 accord dx sedan.. destroyed one of my unibits
We purchased the latch assembly from the junk yard for $20 or so.. works great till this day.

But as far as removing the door panel.. luckilly it came right off.

 

Thanks, it will.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Oh Crap &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">damn i remember doing this on an 91 accord dx sedan.. destroyed one of my unibits
We purchased the latch assembly from the junk yard for $20 or so.. works great till this day.

But as far as removing the door panel.. luckilly it came right off.</TD></TR></TABLE>

whats unibits and latch mean?

 

That's a unibit.. They go for about $25+ unless you buy them on ebay..which are about $15

Latch assembly is what keeps your door closed. Or, I guess you can say Locking mechanism.... It's what you have to drillout when youc an't open your door from inside or out.

 

You can get the door open without drilling if you can open the passenger door.
If you have to remove the driver's seat. It only has 4 bolts and it comes out easily.
Then u can get the door skin off from the inside to access the lock.
Who told you to drill? Don't go back to this person for advice or service. He is not working for your benefit.

 

Well, you don't really have a choice when the locking mechanism is internally jambed, and with the door skin off.. moving the lock hinge isn't going to do squat.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by skiier &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">
Who told you to drill? Don't go back to this person for advice or service. He is not working for your benefit.</TD></TR></TABLE>
You've obviously never seen one like this. There's no way to get them open without drilling.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Chiovnidca &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">You've obviously never seen one like this. There's no way to get them open without drilling.</TD></TR></TABLE>Yeah...no kidding. There's no way around it. Well...maybe the Jaws Of Life could get the job done but that might scratch the paint....

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by skiier &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">You can get the door open without drilling if you can open the passenger door.
If you have to remove the driver's seat. It only has 4 bolts and it comes out easily.
Then u can get the door skin off from the inside to access the lock.
Who told you to drill? Don't go back to this person for advice or service. He is not working for your benefit.</TD></TR></TABLE>

have you personally done this repair? Im guessing not, since I have, I HAD to drill, there was no way around it, and if there was I would have found it, i researched it for quite some time, and tried multiple ways to try to get my door open, I hated having to crawl across my seat every day to get in and out of my accord.. also In the tech2tech article i have on my server, says that you have to drill.... so yeah, I believe you are mistaken, and uninformed.