I just bought an 1988 Trans Am GTA today (1st 3rd gen in quite some time).
The driver door is stuck. I can turn the key and it seems to be moving the rods inside but to no avail even with somebody on the outside pulling on the door and me pushing on the inside it still won't open. I have not given it a good kick yet due to the door panels are mint and I don't want to damage it.


1) How hard is it to get the door panel off w/o damaging it with the door being stuck closed? Any other suggestions on how to get the door open?


I did spray wd40 and pb blaster around the latch so maybe that will do the trick.


2) Next the door key is not working the lock cylinder for the rear hatch. Isn't it the same key? How hard is it to punch out the lock cylinder. Any suggestions to getting it open? It has a power hatch motor but it doesn't seem to work. Pressing the button doesn't work so it won't release the hatch. How can I test the hatch motor to see if it works?


3) The car has a power antenna that is partially up and the stock radio was removed. How can I get the antenna to go down (maybe jumping wires?)?


Or how can I test it to see if it works.


The factory radio harness seems to still be intact.


Thanks in advance for any suggestions.

 

I'll throw this out for number 1:
If you can get the window down, you can release the plastic top valence from the door. You can then pull it back just enough to look down in the door and possibly finagle the rods to release the door latch.

 

If the antenna is half-way up, chances are the nylon cable that is used to bring it up and down has snapped. About the only thing you can do is replace the entire power antenna assembly, although I think they sold rebuild kits at one point. More info in this thread https://www.thirdgen.org/forums/hist...ld-thread.html

 

FIRST:
Move the inside locking **** FIRMLY back and forth!
It may be binding in its enclosure so its not moving the unlocking rod far enough.
If that don't work:

THEN:
Roll the window down all the way down.
Get outside to the rear of the door.
Look down inside the rear of the door near the handle area.
Note the door latch and the rods connected to it.

Note the release and lock rods.
Using a stiff wire/rod catch the unlock rod connected to the
door latch and release it.

Trying to get the panel off with the door closed is PIA and
it will be damaged badly.





Thanks to member James C for the pic

 

Thanks sonjaab I will try that!!

 

I got hatch and door open. Thanks for the help.


I don't think yje antenna or hatch motor works

 

I disagree about damaging the door panel with the door closed. I pulled a set of mint condition door panels off a camaro at a junkyard about 3 months ago, but the passenger side door was pinned **** because it was hit on the passenger side front and the fender smushed back to cover the door partially.

But I was going to say my rear hatch lock came out very easily. But with it closed, it's probbaly not fun. You can release the rear hatch by simply pulling on the cable though from the inside.

 

Glad u got it open!

Thanks for posting the outcome................