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After replacing rear passenger door handle assembly rear passenger door will not open

Tiny
JONES TESS AND JOE
  • MEMBER
  • 2003 CHEVROLET SUBURBAN
  • 4WD
  • 200,000 MILES
The handle broke. So I went and got a whole new unit and put it in. Put the door back together, closed and locked and unlocked and opened the door from the inside and outside. Went into the house, came back out and opened the door from the outside went inside the truck, closed the door and locked it, unlocked it again and tried to open it. Wont open. I go out the front door and try to open it from the outside while unlocked and it wont open. What do I do now? I can't open the back passenger door at all from the inside or out. It is not powered locks. It is the back right passenger door.
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Thursday, September 26th, 2019 AT 6:46 PM

25 Replies

Tiny
ASEMASTER6371
  • MECHANIC
  • 52,797 POSTS
Good evening.

When you pull on the inside or outside handle, can you feel the rods move?

Pull up the lock rod and hold it while you try to open it. It could be the latch that is bad.

Did you put new hardware on the rods when you change the handles?

Roy
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Thursday, September 26th, 2019 AT 7:03 PM
Tiny
JONES TESS AND JOE
  • MEMBER
  • 56 POSTS
I can't open the door. I did feel the rods move when I was assembling it.
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Thursday, September 26th, 2019 AT 7:11 PM
Tiny
JONES TESS AND JOE
  • MEMBER
  • 56 POSTS
It was a unit from a salvage yard. It worked on the other truck and worked on this one for about 3-5 openings and closings. Now I can't open door from inside or out while unlocked.
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Thursday, September 26th, 2019 AT 7:13 PM
Tiny
JONES TESS AND JOE
  • MEMBER
  • 56 POSTS
I only had to change inside handle. It was the only one broke.
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Thursday, September 26th, 2019 AT 7:15 PM
Tiny
ASEMASTER6371
  • MECHANIC
  • 52,797 POSTS
Did you try pulling up on the lock rod while trying to open the door from the inside or outside?

Roy
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Thursday, September 26th, 2019 AT 7:16 PM
Tiny
JONES TESS AND JOE
  • MEMBER
  • 56 POSTS
Yes.
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Thursday, September 26th, 2019 AT 7:17 PM
Tiny
JONES TESS AND JOE
  • MEMBER
  • 56 POSTS
I cannot get to the inside of the door again to the rods while the door is closed and wont open.
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Thursday, September 26th, 2019 AT 7:19 PM
Tiny
ASEMASTER6371
  • MECHANIC
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Okay, since you had the door panel off anyway, it will have to be removed.

It will be difficult with the door closed. You will need to remove the back seat and try removing the panel to look inside and see if the rods are moving enough to open the door.

The seat will come up by pushing back on the front of the seat and lifting up at the same time.

Roy
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Thursday, September 26th, 2019 AT 7:20 PM
Tiny
JONES TESS AND JOE
  • MEMBER
  • 56 POSTS
The bottom bench part folds forward and the back part folds down to make it flat. That is it.
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Thursday, September 26th, 2019 AT 7:25 PM
Tiny
JONES TESS AND JOE
  • MEMBER
  • 56 POSTS
How can I get the door open?
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Thursday, September 26th, 2019 AT 7:28 PM
Tiny
ASEMASTER6371
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Got it. As I stated, the seat has to be removed, not folded down. That is the only way to access the door panel without damaging it.

Roy
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Thursday, September 26th, 2019 AT 7:28 PM
Tiny
JONES TESS AND JOE
  • MEMBER
  • 56 POSTS
Okay. I see now. Gotcha on the seat.
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Thursday, September 26th, 2019 AT 7:29 PM
Tiny
ASEMASTER6371
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Good. Keep me updated.

Roy
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Thursday, September 26th, 2019 AT 7:31 PM
Tiny
JONES TESS AND JOE
  • MEMBER
  • 56 POSTS
The inside panel will now pop off? Cause I have never done it this way with the door closed.
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Thursday, September 26th, 2019 AT 7:32 PM
Tiny
JONES TESS AND JOE
  • MEMBER
  • 56 POSTS
How about using my car unlocking tools? Like the tow trucks or roadside assistance use when you lock your keys in your car. Do you think using those tools to unlock it from the outside will work?
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Thursday, September 26th, 2019 AT 7:35 PM
Tiny
ASEMASTER6371
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You can try that but you said the rods were moving. Give it a try and see if it will work.

I know what you mean by the panel. It is difficult to release the panel with the door closed without damaging it.

Roy
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Thursday, September 26th, 2019 AT 7:46 PM
Tiny
JONES TESS AND JOE
  • MEMBER
  • 56 POSTS
When you say put new hardware on the rods, what do you mean? The one clip for the door handle? Because the door unlock one was a tab that I snapped in.
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Thursday, September 26th, 2019 AT 7:47 PM
Tiny
ASEMASTER6371
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Yes, those tabs are what I am talking about. They can break especially since are using junkyard parts. If the rods fall off, it will cause this issue.

Roy
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Thursday, September 26th, 2019 AT 7:52 PM
Tiny
JONES TESS AND JOE
  • MEMBER
  • 56 POSTS
Where can I get a new tab? So the rod wont fall out.
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Thursday, September 26th, 2019 AT 8:12 PM
Tiny
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Parts stores have these clips. They have an assortment of them for all the different styles.

Roy
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Thursday, September 26th, 2019 AT 8:19 PM

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