Can't open the door

[T40ORA]

Is this a common fault? Haven't stripped the door yet but am I looking at a new lock, or is it likely to be something more simple.

It is a 17 year old Mk1.

Ta!

[hornetrider]

Defrost it.

[T40ORA]

hornetrider said:

Defrost it.

Did that. GT85'd it. Passenger opened fine.

[hornetrider]

My answer was facetious, but thinking about it I think I remember this happened with my old Mk1 on very cold days. Is it cold near you? I think when the ambient temperature gets up it might be ok, if the car was frosty this morning.

[T40ORA]

hornetrider said:

My answer was facetious, but thinking about it I think I remember this happened with my old Mk1 on very cold days. Is it cold near you? I think when the ambient temperature gets up it might be ok, if the car was frosty this morning.

Temperature got down to about -4, which is why I did have go at the defrosting and the lube. The wife has taken it for work, I will get her to check again when the ambient temp is above freezing. Might just need stripping, drying and lubricating when it is warm.

[anonymous-user]

Can't open the door or can't unlock the door?

If the former (and its unlocked), commong problem is a little spring that snaps, cheap to buy, fairly easy to replace. Remove the inner door skin & check for a broken spring rattling about in the bottom of the door, or if its still attached you should be able to see it if you shine a torch up to the inside of the mechanism.

[T40ORA]

yellowbentines said:

Can't open the door or can't unlock the door?

If the former (and its unlocked), commong problem is a little spring that snaps, cheap to buy, fairly easy to replace. Remove the inner door skin & check for a broken spring rattling about in the bottom of the door, or if its still attached you should be able to see it if you shine a torch up to the inside of the mechanism.

Sorry, I should have been more clear. I can't turn the key to unlock the door. Once unlocked from the inside the door opens fine. Hopefully it is a similar, simple problem resolution.

Knowing my luck though, I somehow doubt it....

[MX-5 Lazza]

Sounds like the lock is frozen. It's a metal lock on Mk1 so it's a common thing. You just need to keep it lubricated. Silicone lubricant spray helps a lot.

[Riknos]

Just to add - it is possible to completely remove the door card from the door whilst the car is shut and locked. I had to do this 20 odd times with my dodgy locking mechanism on mine...

[PATTERNPART]

Happened to me two days running. First day I was able to access the passenger door and unlock the drivers door from the inside. This morning both locks were solid so I heated the key up with a lighter and leave it in the door for a few seconds. Worked.

[T40ORA]

PATTERNPART said:

Happened to me two days running. First day I was able to access the passenger door and unlock the drivers door from the inside. This morning both locks were solid so I heated the key up with a lighter and leave it in the door for a few seconds. Worked.

Looks like either the wife or I will have to take up smoking

[Eighteeteewhy]

PATTERNPART said:

Happened to me two days running. First day I was able to access the passenger door and unlock the drivers door from the inside. This morning both locks were solid so I heated the key up with a lighter and leave it in the door for a few seconds. Worked.

PH is great!

[MX-5 Lazza]

I wouldn't try that with a later UK car with the immobiliser chip in the key fob though

[T40ORA]

MX-5 Lazza said:

I wouldn't try that with a later UK car with the immobiliser chip in the key fob though

It's a bit like the old help desk chestnut where the person calling was told to run her keyboard under a tap to wash out the spilled coffee. Sadly, they hadn't mentioned to the guy on the helpdesk that the keyboard in question was part of a laptop... Whoops!