So, last weekend I put new weatherstripping from LMC and very happy about how that went, except... Afterwards, I could not open driver door from outside. Inside slide door lock wasn't working either, figured I didn't hook it up right when I put panel back on. Bought bushing for door pin (there was none) and no longer had to slam door. Here's where I'm at. Outside handle still does not open door. Broke inside handle trying to get it open. Vice grips in place of inside handle, still won't open. Any clues how to get this door open so I can pull latch and see what's wrong?

 

Well persistence paid off, door is open. Guess I will remove latch next.

 

Door was locked, wasn't it?

 

I guess that's part of the problem. I can't tell. Inside lock does not have normal action, and it looks like rod from outside lock is bent.

But I think normal action is for door to unlock with inside handle. That action is not opening latch. In fact I broke inside door

Right now door is open. I manually latched it with screw
driver on latch. Cannot get it to unlatch. I will open passenger door and compare the rods and see if I can discern what part of this mechanism is messed up.

I'm assuming something happened when I replaced window weatherstripping.

 

1980-1981 with slide locks?

You could have bent and jammed the actuating rod for the slide lock in the locked position; why the inner handle didn't move. The inner door handle if the door is locked is supposed to unlock the door for you and move the slide lock into the unlocked position when opening the door.

There is a small slot on the lowest bottom of the slide lock that you insert a small screwdriver to pry the lock control out of the door. You cannot see it unless looking up at the bottom edge. This is essential not to bend the rod or damage the lock control during panel installation and removal. You have to be careful when you remove it as well and pry on the metal tab and not the plastic or it will break apart and be worthless. Once the lock is disengaged you remove the control from the rod. Installation you install the rod, then the upper portion first and press the lock control into the panel untill it snaps into place.

Just a reminder next time, the slide lock is supposed to be removed prior to door panel removal, same as door handles.

 

Yes 1980 with slide lock. You are right I may have bent it when removing panel. Now to find the part that is jammed.

 

Well, it was not what I thought. Posting here so if someone else has the problem.... What fixed it was removing and reattaching the window run closest to latch. I think the outside lock mechanism was binding on it. Weird, because I did not remove that run when replacing weatherstripping. Once I took it out and put it back in, everything started working right. (Except the inside handle mechanism I broke yesterday trying to get it open). Nothing was bent.

 

Thanks for checking back.

You are right, I wouldn't have expected that either.

As for the mechanisim... should be able to find one for a 1980-1986 pretty easily in the wreckers.

Driver Door latch remote control mechanism: E0TZ-1021819-B
And the door handle for the latch: E0TZ-1022601-B