driver's door will not open (unlocked)

[Huw Powell]

Dave,

Since it sounds like there is a good chance that the latch mechanism 
itself is pooched, you might be able to drill out the screws that hold 
it to the door to open things up.

The latch is a cigarette pack sized chrome plated doohickey, attached to 
the door with two stainless steel bolts (from the jamb area where you 
can't get to).  If you can drill them out from the inside, the door 
should swing open free of the latch, after you disconnect the lock and 
latch actuators.  You can determine where to drill by looking at your 
spare door.  I just looked for my spares to see how hard it would be to 
do this, but they mustbe stored somewhere "special," not in my "door 
parts" box.

Just a thought.

PS, I just looked at a sedan front door in the attic, and the bolts go 
all the way through the latch, so you can see them to start drilling.

They may start to undo, and the heads might scratch up your body door 
jamb area when they do this.

> Just thought of something, since you have a spare door.

>> I'm already in there DeWitt.  I have a hole cut in the door panel.
>> I also have an extra door on the garage floor for reference.  It
>> looks like it is going to get ugly...

-- 
Huw Powell

http://www.humanspeakers.com/audi

http://www.humanthoughts.org/