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sliding door won't unlock

Posted: Wed Dec 14, 2011 12:17 pm
by djelica
Hi everyone, hope things are well.

I was just getting some supplies and had things in the middle area accessed by the sliding door. Put stuff in less than an hour ago and the door was working fine. Not too cold in Cowtown (-3), but when I went to get things out the door would not open.

Electronic locks seem to be working and I unlocked the door with the key also. Tried all kinds of combinations and stilled locked.

I know there is a clild lock, but I can't see it as it is on the door portion that is hidden when closed (at least I think it is). If was clild lock I assume you should be able to open the door somehow and then disengage the lock.

Anyway, any help appreciated. I did a quick search but gave up.

Cheers, Darren

Re: sliding door won't unlock

Posted: Wed Dec 14, 2011 1:08 pm
by Manitoba deli
Hey Darren, with the front passenger door open, you should be able to see the child lock switch on the leading edge of the sliding door, and reach it with a finger. This would only prevent you from opening it from the inside though. The outer portion of the door latches have been known to break internally, giving it the same feel as a locked door. If this happened and the child saftey switch is on, the door is unopenable from either side. This exact scenario happened to one of my l400's. Reached in to disengage the child saftey switch, and then the door opened fine from the inside. Got a new outer handle part from RSI (which he had in stock) and life was good again. Hope this helps you.

Jason

Re: sliding door won't unlock

Posted: Wed Dec 14, 2011 1:14 pm
by djelica
Hi Jason, thanks for the help.

I was do some more searches and went outside to try again (start up engine and try again is what I saw in one search) and yes I was able to see the child lock switch. And it was up or in the "free" position. Not sure what's going on.

Cheers, dj

edit to add: it's still stuck

Re: sliding door won't unlock

Posted: Wed Dec 14, 2011 2:29 pm
by jessef
possible the door is frozen shut if the mechanical lock is engaging/disengaging.

Re: sliding door won't unlock

Posted: Wed Dec 14, 2011 2:49 pm
by djelica
Hard to believe it froze shut in the half hour between working just fine and not being able to open it, but thanks Jesse for your thoughts.

Not so cold here either (-3 C) and worked it pretty good from inside and out (2 of us). If it was frozen I think we would have gotten somewhere or at least heard something like ice cracking (you know the sound when it's starting to let go).

It seems like the rear portion is not letting go. I took the panel off and had some help from an old locksmith I know to check the locks and such. As it is the locking mechanisms are working (key in door, electronic and child safety). You can watch the mechanism move to allow the handle to then move the links and everything seems to be linked and pulling on something (hard to see what is going on at the rear portion).

I am wondering if the little electric motor that pulls the rear portion of the door closed when you don't slam it hard enough has decided to not work. And if it wasn't working would it still hold the door locked. Looking at the l400 fuse translation link and didn't see anything labeled "power locks" or such.

Again any help appreciated.

dj

Re: sliding door won't unlock

Posted: Thu Dec 15, 2011 8:45 am
by Rising Sun Auto Import
djelica wrote:Hard to believe it froze shut in the half hour between working just fine and not being able to open it, but thanks Jesse for your thoughts.

Not so cold here either (-3 C) and worked it pretty good from inside and out (2 of us). If it was frozen I think we would have gotten somewhere or at least heard something like ice cracking (you know the sound when it's starting to let go).

It seems like the rear portion is not letting go. I took the panel off and had some help from an old locksmith I know to check the locks and such. As it is the locking mechanisms are working (key in door, electronic and child safety). You can watch the mechanism move to allow the handle to then move the links and everything seems to be linked and pulling on something (hard to see what is going on at the rear portion).

I am wondering if the little electric motor that pulls the rear portion of the door closed when you don't slam it hard enough has decided to not work. And if it wasn't working would it still hold the door locked. Looking at the l400 fuse translation link and didn't see anything labeled "power locks" or such.

Again any help appreciated.

dj
It seems one of these is not working properly due to fatigue.
1. 68116 in the diagram ( sliding door outside handle )
2. 68101 ( sliding door lock actuator )
3. 68125 ( door lock link assy )

Try again with patience to see which one is getting faulty.
We have them in stock as they are proven too weak.

Steven :M

Re: sliding door won't unlock

Posted: Thu Dec 15, 2011 11:53 am
by djelica
Hi Steven,

Thanks for your reply and help on the phone.

I am starting to think that it must be the rear door actuator motor that won't release.

Still looking for any input, however.

cheers, dj

Re: sliding door won't unlock

Posted: Mon Jan 02, 2012 8:14 pm
by doodah
had a similar problem a while back, got inside with the wife on the outside and both worked the handles while I pushed on the door also.

Wonders of wonders the door finally opened... to show a small piece of dog toy that had jammed itself in the bottom of the door. The resulting pressure forced the door into a position that froze the latch.