Good afternoon all,

H3 2007. Went out to use the vehicle, and the door wouldn't open, from either the inside or the outside. There seems to be something mechanically wrong, as the outside and inside handle seem to be "loose", as in they are not engaging the mechanism to open the door. The lock lever on the inside seem to be binding as well - it tries to move with the power locks but cannot. I also cannot move it manually. This kinda sucks, as the door is closed, and I cannot figure out how to even get at everything to open the door.

I did get it washed yesterday, and it is cold today (way below freezing), but it operated fine when I got out yesterday.

Any tips to get the door open?

 

Well, I'm not sure what I did (if anything), but I got it open and it's working normally (for good I hope).

I was attempting to get the panel off from the inside, and had all the screws out along with the window and door controls. I had tugged the panel away from the door (was NOT able to do anything other than flex it away from the door), and while I was trying that I noticed I had a different feel on the door handle. I was able to unlock and it opened. So relieved.

Either, my prying and tugging did something, or the fact that I started the truck and was warming it up melted some ice and freed up the mechanism.

Sorry I don't have something definitive for future reference.

 

This potentially could be an electrical issue with the door lock solenoid not releasing. It sounds like when you disconnected the switch panel in the door to remove the panel, you also removed power from the door lock solenoid and it would have released. I had this happen this year - in my case it became very difficult to unlock the door using the door key or the interior **** as the solenoid was stuck in an always energized state and resisted the mechanical unlock input. I was lucky that it would still lock/unlock the door electrically. If the solenoid sticks in the locked position and also won't lock/unlock electrically then you won't be able to unlock the door to open it. There is a guy on ebay who sells just the lock actuator for $50. I've bought several from him over the years and they have all worked flawlessly. About a 1 hr job assuming you've never had the door apart and need to figure all that out too.

If its not the door lock actuator it could also be a failure where the door handle and lock cables clip into the interior door panel inside the door or attach to the interior handle mechanism. If those fittings crack and allow cable play, you can also get stuck not being able to open the door. I learned this the hard way by not clipping the cables back in then closing the door. Needless to say, as you discovered, its impossible to completely remove the interior door panel when the door is closed, so you have to pull it back to get access and try not to break anything in the process.

 

Copy dat. Been there also.

 

Well, the same day (Sunday), after posting it was fixed, it happened again. When I first got it fixed, I opened and closed the door *many* times.
It was a few hours later that it wouldn't open *again*. I am now convinced that it was water that somehow made it on the cable and froze. I started the car up, warmed it up inside again, and it started working again. Recall that I had gotten the car washed the day prior in anticipation of the cold weather.
I'll be opening up the door panel and lubricating the cables, after it warms up.

 

Next time it happens, pop out the driver door switch panel, disconnect the electrical connections, and see if you can manually lock/unlock the door with the interior ****. If disconnecting the connectors frees things up you need a new lock actuator.

 

Ha, NMH3, you say "next time it happens". You're probably right that it will happen again. I did not address your comments in my reply, but I was considering them. I cannot remember the order in which things happened the first time, but I have realized it absolutely could have happened the way you described it. I know for a fact that the second time it happened I was convinced it was just ice so I just warmed it up again - I never took anything apart again. Doesn't mean anything though.

Unhooking the switches is a very easy thing to try "next time", and I will. I appreciate your input.

 

You likely need a replacement latch actuator. FleaBay or Junglezos $45 bucks shipped.