2006 Lucerne rear door lock

[ayalayvonne]

SOLVED!!!!! Both of my rear doors stuck shut, wouldn't open from outside or inside, the locks seemed to be working properly. After scouring the web I found a post explaining a design flaw was responsible. If the doors were unlocked while someone was pulling on the door handle the mechanism would get stuck. I was able to get the inner door panel removed without breaking anything, only the backseat bottom needs to be removed. It takes some finesse to get the bottom clips undone but IT IS POSSIBLE. Once I had the door panel removed I was disappointed that pulling on the lever from inside wasn't working to disengage the door. Finally I recalled the post that explained why so many people were experiencing this issue with the cars. I reversed the action that caused the issue to begin with, pulling the lever thats connected to the door while holding it I unlocked the door and it finally disengaged. I will post of video when i get around to the other backdoor

 

[paul8539]

Something similar has happened to me - again. Are there instructions to take off the inner door parts (items 9, 13, and some others in the second diagram above) while the door is still closed?
And instructions on how to put it back on?

 

[paul8539]

I went to the shop for something else, and they looked at the door while they were at it.

They traced it to the door actuator. The actuator needs to be replaced; $280 for the part, 1 hour labor.

The problem: The door has to be open to replace the actuator. I can not open the door because the actuator is broken. The mechanic suggested two things:
1. Have a locksmith (or magician, or catburglar, etc.) slip a piece of plastic or something between the door and the frame to jimmy the lock.
2. Take a crowbar and pry the door open. Take it to a body shop to do this, and it would ruin the door, and would have to replace the whole door, and maybe the fender.

Is there any way to replace the actuator without opening the door? Would it be possible to either:
1. Pull the pin on the door hinge and take the door off that way.
2. Cut through the actuator box with a mini-saw (the single hand held rotary kind that you plug into a cigarette lighter), take the box off, and trigger the latch that way.

Any other suggestions appreciated.

 

[2007LucerneCXL]

Look at the diagram, getting the inside door panel off you will have access to the lock mechanism and actuator. Not clear why destroying the door seems to be the option and taking it to a dealer, locksmith or qualified body shop to open and/or repair would be cheaper than trashing the door.

 

[paul8539]

The shop was able to get the inside door panel off, and can get to the actuator mechanism. In order to get the actuator off, they have to remove two screws that are on the part of the door that is next to the frame when the door is closed. They can not get to the screws because the door is closed. They need to have the door open in order to take the screws off; the door will not open. How do you get these screws off with the door closed?

 

[2007LucerneCXL]

Simple answer is you don't get the screws off with the door closed. Going through the inside and again looking at the actuator for the damaged mechanism and manually move the latch mechanism. Not sure what the shop is looking at or how they were planning to repair it.

 

[paul8539]

Simple answer is you don't get the screws off with the door closed. Going through the inside and again looking at the actuator for the damaged mechanism and manually move the latch mechanism. Not sure what the shop is looking at or how they were planning to repair it.

They said that they can get to the actuator by taking the inside panel (and the back seat, and some other things) out, but they can not manually move the mechanism from the inside.

 

[2007LucerneCXL]

Possibly taking it to a different shop for another opinion. The actuator can be operated manually inside the door, function of the door handles, and would require operating latch at the broken area. These GM actuators get replaced daily and it's doubtful everyone is destroying their doors to remove and replace them.