My dad can't get the passenger door to open on his '97 Hyundai Coupe. 
It's impossible to unlock the passenger door, both with the key and the 
switch on the inside of the door - the switch and key move as you'd 
expect and feel 'positive' enough, but neither the interior or exterior 
handle will open the door.  Even the central locking still appears to be 
working (the passenger door lock switch toggles when you activate the 
one on the driver's door) but the door just ignores the position of the 
switch.

I've had a mooch, but it appears that to take off the door trim, you 
have to remove six screws that (you guessed it) you can only get at when 
the door is open.  Short of destroying the interior door trim, is there 
any way to get the door to open?
-- 
David Thornber

In article <1123358181.3bdcf4632f24612dfc64493e030d4aa0@teranews>, 
David Thornber says...

> My dad can't get the passenger door to open on his '97 Hyundai Coupe. 
> It's impossible to unlock the passenger door, both with the key and the 
> switch on the inside of the door - the switch and key move as you'd 
> expect and feel 'positive' enough, but neither the interior or exterior 
> handle will open the door.  Even the central locking still appears to be 
> working (the passenger door lock switch toggles when you activate the 
> one on the driver's door) but the door just ignores the position of the 
> switch.
> 
> I've had a mooch, but it appears that to take off the door trim, you 
> have to remove six screws that (you guessed it) you can only get at when 
> the door is open.  Short of destroying the interior door trim, is there 
> any way to get the door to open?
> 

Looks like the rod has fallen off the door latch mechanism. I think 
you'll find no is a probable answer. Try pulling at the back first 
though. If that comes off enough to get your hand in, have a feel 
around the lock mechanism for a "sticky out bit" with a small hole in 
it. Move it and that'll unlock it.

-- 
Conor

-You wanted an argument? Oh I'm sorry, but this is abuse. You want room 
K5, just along the corridor. Stupid git. (Monty Python)

David Thornber wrote:

> My dad can't get the passenger door to open on his '97 Hyundai Coupe.
> It's impossible to unlock the passenger door, both with the key and
> the switch on the inside of the door - the switch and key move as
> you'd expect and feel 'positive' enough, but neither the interior or
> exterior handle will open the door.  Even the central locking still
> appears to be working (the passenger door lock switch toggles when
> you activate the one on the driver's door) but the door just ignores
> the position of the switch.
>
> I've had a mooch, but it appears that to take off the door trim, you
> have to remove six screws that (you guessed it) you can only get at
> when the door is open.  Short of destroying the interior door trim,
> is there any way to get the door to open?


I've got a similar thing on my Mazda. Turns out a bit of bent metal on the 
lock had snapped off so the lever etc was moving right, but not actually 
connected to the latching mechanism.

In message , Conor 
 writes

>In article <1123358181.3bdcf4632f24612dfc64493e030d4aa0@teranews>,
>David Thornber says...
>> My dad can't get the passenger door to open on his '97 Hyundai Coupe.
>> It's impossible to unlock the passenger door, both with the key and the
>> switch on the inside of the door - the switch and key move as you'd
>> expect and feel 'positive' enough, but neither the interior or exterior
>> handle will open the door.  Even the central locking still appears to be
>> working (the passenger door lock switch toggles when you activate the
>> one on the driver's door) but the door just ignores the position of the
>> switch.
>>
>> I've had a mooch, but it appears that to take off the door trim, you
>> have to remove six screws that (you guessed it) you can only get at when
>> the door is open.  Short of destroying the interior door trim, is there
>> any way to get the door to open?
>>
>Looks like the rod has fallen off the door latch mechanism. I think
>you'll find no is a probable answer. Try pulling at the back first
>though. If that comes off enough to get your hand in, have a feel
>around the lock mechanism for a "sticky out bit" with a small hole in
>it. Move it and that'll unlock it.
>

I've looked at the driver's door, and the screws are on the leading 
edge, underside and trailing edge of the door.  Unless there's a way to 
get the centre section out (it looks like it might be two separate 
mouldings but there are no obvious fixings joining them together) then 
I've already removed the only bit you can without trashing the door 
trim.

With it being a two door car, I thought there might be a possibility of 
removing the rear interior trim and unbolting the body side of the catch 
mechanism.  I wasn't going to go ripping into it on the off-chance 
though.

I think this one's best left for the dealer.  They may have a knack for 
getting in there that doesn't destroy what I'm sure will be a pretty 
expensive part.

Cheers!
-- 
David Thornber