Driver rear door won't open

[NoCoEagle]

Wouldn't be such a big issue if it only happened from the outside, but you can't open it from the inside either. As far as I can tell the lock mechanism (that sticks up through the door panel) is stuck down. However, because the door is closed, I can't pull the door panel off to get to it. Any ideas here? I've considered chopping up my door panel and finding a replacement but it's in real nice shape so I'd hate to ruin it.

[eagle503]

I just went out and looked at my wagon...Man that sucks. There mite be room along the back edge of the door panel to pry it loose, but yours mite fit tighter than mine. Good luck!!

[rohnk]

I think you can take the inner handle off without having to remove the whole panel. Then with some long needlenose pliers, grab the locking bar inside and try moving it up/down/sideways to jimmy the lock.

Worked on an old Cavalier I had! Although that was a front pass door.

[mudkicker715]

Why can't you remove the door panel. i did with no destruction. i had nearly an identical problem. i was able to remove it somehow without destruction. seat stayed in iirc. if taken out it would give more room however.

[NoCoEagle]

The edges of the door panel are pressed against the seals of the door. And the rear seat (easy to remove, I suppose). I'll take another look today and see if I can find a way, all I know is when I first tried to figure it out the panel kept getting hung up on something.

[mudkicker715]

This is a eagon waggleor desan obviously. it worked for me, details escape me but it worked. it i had to do it again i would be in the same boat. however as i said that door panel is in excellent shape.

[NoCoEagle]

Thanks for the tip, I'll try quite a bit harder to get it off with the door closed and see if I can wrestle it free. If you did it, I can do it! 

[Prafeston]

No need to ruin the door if worse comes to worse. These old cars can probably be easily broken into by a lock smith with the proper window jimmy. I had a lock smith open my door in my Focus years ago. Took him like 45 minutes but he finally got it. Charged me like 45 bucks or something.

[carnuck]

I pull and push the lock button a number of times before giving up. Outside handle may be broken. Inside one is rare to break.

[BenM]

Try opening the front door and unbolting the hinges for the back door from the car. The lock bolt will still be attached, but that may give you enough play to get the interior panel off. Do it somewhere where you can tie a rope to the window frame so the font of the door is supported.

I can't recall if there are any differences in the rear door handle, but you ought to be able to unbolt it (you need a torx bit) and get in to the mechanism through the handle with some difficulty too.