Hey I just took my car out of the garage today to get it some air, and put a couple things back together. Well my drivers side door is shut, and Im getting no pull from the solenoid. What I think happened was the linkage that acuates the door to open has fallen loose...unfortunatly my door panel is on and I cannot remove the panel with the door closed. Does any one have any ideas on how to get the door open before Im forced to slice my door panel and be forced to buy new ones?.....Im out of ideas to be honest

 

I assume that you removed the "arms" that originally when to the door handle? If so then your SOL from what I can tell. If not then MAYBE you can get in there witha coat hanger and pursuade it to open the door. My only advice is that you add some kind of mechanical way of opening the doors in case something like this happens again or if your battery goes dead.

 

nope, they're still on, I have the solenoid attatched to it (in pic), so this way I could still operate the inner door handle....but there is no pull when I use the door handle, so Im thinking that either the linkage came off the door handle, or came off in the back where the linkage actuates the pull....here's a pic

 

Maybe you can just cut up the plastic window sill instead cuz its cheap and once you get that out you should have no probs gettin the panel out .And for the armrest just get a stubby tool in there if your drivers seat is in the way.Im saying all this assuming you can get in the car via passenger door or trunk.And if your completely locked out good luck

 

I can get in the car....passenger side works fine....armrest and 'face plate' for the handle is removed...so Im stuck with the door panel and a closed door. I do have new top plastic sills in my room.......but if I cut that off I still have to figure out a way to get the panel off....the little 'christmas tree clips/screws' that hold the panel to the door are buried behind the frame of the car so Im starting to think Im at a loss......anyone wanna sell some black door panels

 

maybe once you have the sill off ,if you could find a 3 foot long really stiff but not thick at all rod that you could slide behind the door panel and pry each plastic anchor out carefully.Assuming you could at least roll down your window

 

Would of been a good reason to keep handles .

 

K DAD!!!.......Im gonna have to sit and think this one out for a bit

 

if you can get in the car, roll the window down, and use a long screw driver and push on the latch, the part that the rod was connected to, since the rod prolly fell of and that why you cannot open it with teh inner door handle, so just poke around since the latch needs to move downwards to open the door, you should be able to feel it and once you press on it, the door should open, i done this before with my popers...

 

hmmm, that may work...longest screw driver I have though is about 12in....maybe a lil longer......if anyone has their door panel off currently could you give any cheap schematic on where I should be pressing, so I dont fish around and scratch my tint/glass

 

If u go about it that way i would spend 10 bucks and get a slim jim i would also recommend having the window rolled up so u dont mess it up.

 

yea, Ill remember that....Ill also just take off my passenger door panel so I can get an idea of where to poke around

 

**NOTE TO SELF** NEVER shave door handles

Seriously, it sucks you still havent gotten it fixed.

 

Ive been taking notes on people mistakes with door poppers. My car will be getting some custom stuff done to it very soon

 

that's odd that it failed already... what brand is it? if the linkage fell loose you should still hear it move.

 

I should clear that up right now....it wasnt the popper that failed. The kit is fine and when I press the button you hear the solenoid go into action. What I meant by the popper failing is that my door just wouldnt open. Im certain now that something has fallen loose and even if I had door handles on the outside....and this linkage fell loose, I'd be in the same situation

 

these things dont just "fall loose" typically. Chances are that whoever installed the door popper, also weakend or hacked up the plastic clips that hold the ends of the metal "sticks" (whatever they're called lol).

When you get it open, you will want to replace these clips, and anything else that looks weak... unless you feel like doing this again... or opening your door with a slim jim from now on?

 

not the case Im afraid....I was there when it was installed, and they worked fine for over 6 months....even worked this winter when I had to get in and out of the car to work on the interior......but when I hopped in and shut the door over the weekend.....nada .


and Jeff, for reference the kit is from VPA