I could take the door panel off and try to work on it a bit but cannot take the door panel off without the door being open and it is stuck locked. Go figure...... I've tried a slim gym, coat hanger, nothing works. Any ideas on how to get the crazy thing opened?

 

I think you need to clarify a little more on what is wrong with the door. My first thought is you could just manually unlock it but I guess you would have done that if you could. Perhaps the linkage to the locks is broken? Give more details.

 

Sorry about that, you're correct. I cannot unlock the door by any means. Electrically or pulling on the actual piece of plastic by the window, manually. Nothing works, electronically or physically. I thought I could 'jimmy' it with a slim jim to get it open. The guy at the shop told me he could roll the window down and somewho pry it open enough to get it open but that it would cost. Since I just spent the $500 that day I told him I'd have to wait. Still, looks kinda silly with my wife in the passenger rear seat like a limo.

 

Your in a pretty tight pickle on this one. I'm not quite sure what getting the window rolled down will actually accomplish since you already tried a slim jim. You need access inside the door as probably the linkage is busted somehow. Getting the window rolled down will only block the area you are trying to work on.

Here is my suggestion, maybe someone else will have a better one. Go to the junkyard and find a car with the same type of panel that you have (the interior panel clothe and vinal that contains the armrest.) Once you have located a suitable panel take a razor blade and cut the old one away. It might even take a sawsall or something because the door panel is pretty tough.

Now that you have the door panel off you should have access to the critical components that you need to unlock the door. Again, this assumes that the problem is with a broken linkage. Fix the problem and then put your new panel from the junkyard back on. If the probelm is something like a jammed door this isn't going to help much.

At least the advantage to this is your only out the cost of a door panel which shouldn't be more then 50 bucks or so. Just don't go hacking away until you find a replacement and of course I'm not guranteeing this is your solution. Just a shot.

 

I've had same problem. Door latch mechanism sticks shut. Dealer claims fix is to replace latch after breaking old latch by inserting rod down window opening and wacking it. dealer estimated $250. I was able to get rear of door panel open enough to reach latch (can't get front screw out to remove entire panel) but didn't have good access to latch to attempt repair myself. By the way dealer wanted a release from me before repair would take place releasing him from damage to door panel or broken glass. If you fix let me know as my son took car and still uses with broken door latch.