Back passenger door won't open inside or out

I have a 2010 Tacoma 4 dr. I took the back passenger door panel off and removed the door lock actuator to remove/replace the motor inside. I've done one before with no issue. I reassembled the actuator and put it back in the truck and tested the lock/unlock from the key remote which worked. I screwed the t-30's back in the actuator and shut the door. The child safety lock is in the unlocked position but the door won't open from the inside or out. I don't have the inside panel on (as I was testing before doing this) and I can verify that the metal bar on the actuator is where it should be. Since everything is bolted in, I have no clue what to do to open my door. Can someone please help?

 

I've just tried reaching in and pulling the metal bar on the actuator all the way down while pulling from outside and pushing from inside....nothing. I also tried pushing into the door from the outside while opening and nothing. Just trying different things I've seen online. Really desperate and panicking.

 

When I pull the handle (inside or out) I can confirm that the metal bar in the actuator is moving down. Some mechanism is just stuck preventing the door from opening from either direction

 

I'll assume you had the door open when you removed the panel.

When you had it open, did you latch the mechanism in the closed/hold position then try it from the outside/inside to see if it released?

 

I did have the door open when I removed the actuator. I tested the lock to see if it would move (lock/unlock) with the button and it would. But didn't test with the latch mechanism...hindsight.

Any idea to open the door?

 

I'm not clear here.... Is the handle(s) soft/dead as though it is locked??... or do they grab the mechanism, but not go further because of a 'jam'?

I'd look closely into the latch from the interior, I'm guessing something is not connected there.


BTW, what caused you to look into all this???? It is super difficult to remove the panel when the door is closed. Was it functioning normally when you took the panel off with the door open?

**EDIT**... you removed the motor, is that the window motor or lock actuator?

 

I removed the panel when the door was open. I removed the small motor in the actuator since the power lock would no longer work. I put the actuator back in and tested and the power lock would move into locked and unlocked position...so the new motor worked as expected. I can feel the metal bar on the actuator move down when I pull the handle from inside and outside, the door just won't open.

 

Is the door unlocked?

 

I'm not there to see the fault, but I'd open the other door panel up and see what linkage etc is not matching the door you're working on.

 

Is there some sort of child proof lock or something on the rear doors?

 

The door is unlocked. Child lock is not engaged. The panel is not on the door. There are no broken linkages. The lock will unlock and lock per the linkage and the bar will move down when you pull either handle, so the linkages are not broken.

 

Yes, totally agree. Before it got dark I pulled the rubber/foam-like seal around the door and can see the gap where the lock latch is. Not a lot of clearance but going to try to use a coat hanger and mess with it tomorrow. Not sure else what to do.

 

No luck with the coat hanger. I can't find a way to clear the latch with the door closed with the small clearance described in the other post. Running out of ideas on how to get this thing open.

 

I hate to say it, but you MIGHT have to take it to a reputable body shop, and ask them if THEY can get it open.

 

I have just experienced the exact same situation. The door panel is removed so I can get to the inside but its currently looking like this. Door will not open from the inside or outside. suggestions?

 

Are all the rods moving freely? When you pull the handles is there anything impeding smooth movement of the rods? Are any of the rods crossed with another rod? Is there anything that is in the way of the rods making a complete movement?

 

When I operate the handle this rod moves up and down.

Currently at this stage lol

 

That lever that you have circled should move freely. It engages the latch. You should be able to easily move it with your finger/thumb. If not it may be that the rod is in the wrong place and needs to be maneuvered to its proper location. Hope this helps

 

I suspect that the fault lies with a misalignment with the lock rod. All the rods need to be exactly in the proper place. Not alot of room in there for them to move freely if they are rubbing against each other

 

I can move it with my finger. But maybe a little tougher than the drivers side rear door.