Drivers side front door will not open from inside or outside

TYRRHENA

MEMBER
2008 PONTIAC G6
105,000 MILES

Here's the scoop: daughter A backed her vehicle into daughter B's G6 (the car in question), caving-in the driver side front door. Easy enough, I'll just get a door and swap it out.

I did that. With the panel off, I tested the lock, and tested the handles (inside and outside), and everything functioned as expected. I was quite pleased. I closed and opened the door numerous times and it worked just fine. Buttoned up the door panel and was good to go.

The first time she drove it, she couldn't get out of it. It just wont open from in or out. Removed the torx on the inner handle to get at the cable to test it, it has resistance so it's connected. Outside handle 'feels' the way I would expect it to.

Suggestions at this point? At wits end. Thank you in advance.

7 Replies

JACOBANDNICKOLAS

MECHANIC
108,328 POSTS

Welcome to 2CarPros.

If everything is attached, the first thing that comes to mind is the linkage has slipped. There is a clip that the threaded end of the linkage rod attaches into. Maybe it has slipped and won't move the latch far enough to open.

Take a look at the attached picture. I circled the part I am referring to. Let me know if you have checked that.

Take care,

Joe

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Monday, June 10th, 2019 AT 9:30 PM

TYRRHENA

MEMBER
3 POSTS

That's the likely issue, indeed at the moment though, the door is completely put back together and is in the closed position with the panel on it. I guess I have to destroy the panel to get access to the assembly? Is there a way to avoid destroying the panel at this point?

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Monday, June 10th, 2019 AT 11:59 PM

JACOBANDNICKOLAS

MECHANIC
108,328 POSTS

Welcome back:

You should be able to get it apart even though the door is closed. However, it most certainly isn't as easy. I attached a picture, which indicates all of the attachments for the panel. Realizing you already did this, you may not need it, but I thought it may help.

Let me know if you get it apart.

Joe

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Tuesday, June 11th, 2019 AT 8:37 PM

TYRRHENA

MEMBER
3 POSTS

Hi Joe,

Thanks for your time and effort here, man. So yeah, I knew the connection points on the door and it was not as bad as I thought it would be. Once I got the bear you have listed as #1 out, the rest was pretty straightforward even though some of them snapped. That effin' clip wasn't moving up/down for whatever reason I am not sure because I couldn't quite see it but I could feel it. I popped that rod out of the way, and could move the clip by hand and the door opened. I buttoned the rod back in there, manually moved it up/down, and by golly it started working again as expected. Lubricated the heck out of everything, and tempted fate. The door closed and open numerous times without issue and four hours later continues to do so. Thanks a bundle for your help, dude. I appreciate everything.

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Wednesday, June 12th, 2019 AT 4:35 PM

JACOBANDNICKOLAS