Door will not open after installing a new lock

2006 PONTIAC GRAND PRIX
200,000 MILES • 3.8L • 6 CYL • 2WD • AUTOMATIC
Avatar
FEEDUP
  • MEMBER
  • 3 POSTS
installed a new door lock.worked fine, locked the door now it will not open. i have the door panel open. i can get to the lock every thing is moving but it will not unlock to open.
Nov 22, 2017 at 9:28 AM
Advertisement
Avatar
STEVE W.
  • CERTIFIED EXPERT
  • 15,113 POSTS
If it will not lock/unlock either manual or electric there is a problem inside the latch itself. The electric parts move the actual lock pawl inside while the manual controls move a couple levers to move the same pawl. If neither works then it has to be the latch itself. Was it a new latch or a new/used latch? OEM or dorman, cardone?
Nov 22, 2017 at 10:56 AM
Avatar
FEEDUP
  • MEMBER
  • 3 POSTS
New, Dorman.
Nov 24, 2017 at 11:11 AM
Advertisement
Avatar
STEVE W.
  • CERTIFIED EXPERT
  • 15,113 POSTS
Well lets just say I am not surprised at that.

I would probably pull it out and verify if it operates outside the door. It likely will not. If it does I still would not trust it.
What was the issue with the original unit?
Got any salvage yards or you pull it places nearby?
Maybe use parts from the "new" unit to repair the old one?
I have rebuilt a lot of latches over the years, the common issue is that they get full of dirt/rust and start binding up. Once in a while you find a broken or rusted spring. They do not show that level of repair in the books though.

Nov 24, 2017 at 4:53 PM
Avatar
FEEDUP
  • MEMBER
  • 3 POSTS
that would be nice to pull it out and see if it works. tell me how do you get it out if you can get it open?
Nov 24, 2017 at 9:53 PM
Avatar
STEVE W.
  • CERTIFIED EXPERT
  • 15,113 POSTS
That is the hard part. Do you feel any resistance in either handle? I have leaned on a door and hit the lock/unlock a few times then tried the handle. Sometimes the removal of the weight on the latch lets it move. The other option is to cut your way in. There should be a bunch of screws that you can see on the latch. Removing them and cutting the heads off the rivets would let you get it open. But it destroys the latch.
Nov 25, 2017 at 12:45 AM