Door won't open.

[NickTheTrick]

So my driver's rear door handle broke off at one of the hinges and was just dangling there. No sweat, I felt it coming and started looking for a new handle, so, I was opening the door from the inside. But the other day, when I went to open it to wipe out the door jam after a bath, the door wouldn't budge. So now the outside handle in broken, and the inside handle just isn't doing anything. It pulls just fine. no looseness. It feels the same as it did before it stopped opening the door.I've banged on it and wiggled and jiggled this and that, but nothing is helping. The door panel has to come off or something, but how can I get it of with the door closed???? Any advice would help. I know I will need a new outside handle and new door latch.
It's and '89.

 

[sperold]

Do the power locks still activate the mechanism?

There is an ancient thread on here that states you can open the door (if you are locked out) by using a very small screw driver in the door opening where the rear hinge pokes through the door skin (rear slot or hole of the 2).
Yours is broke anyways, so the view should be better, so give that a try.

Any chance that child safety lock is engaged (that prevents kids from opeing the door).

On the off-chance it is just corroded put some spray oil down into that locking / opening mechanism. If you got a door handle from the wrecker, you already know how the opening / locking mechanism works and where to put the oil. If not, go back to that car and see all the workings.

If nothing else, you can remove the door panel from the opposite side door. and see how everything works

 

[TimboSHO]

The child lock is engaged. This happened to me as well. It is possible to remove the door panel while the door is closed, I think it helps to take the rear seat out IIRC. You only need a handle (if you can find the correct one) not the latch.

 

[NickTheTrick]

The door does unlock fine, so I guess I'll just take the panel off and go from there.
Thanks