[pharriso]

Hi guys, been away from here & 968.net forever as I bought a new car 30 months ago & just use the 968 occasionally.

So I tried to use the passenger door & the dreaded lever snaps (the black part that your finger squeeze - part #46 in the parts diagram.)

So I want to dissassemble everything so I can see what's gummed up & what parts I need to order, only problem is the door will not open! Thankfully the driver's side door will open.

1. If I pull up on the door button it just uncovers the LED
2. If I turn the key in the passenger side door the door button only raises/lowers about 2 mm, door cannot be opened with the interior handle.
3. If I try to use the door lock switch in the centre console both door buttons raise/lower about 2 mm, door cannot be opened with the interior handle.

If it's relevant the electric window will still go up & down...

Any ideas on how to get the door open?

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[flash]

crap that sucks - the only thing i can think of is a slim jim

but, before doing that, you might try removing the cover that surrounds the interior handle, and then disconnecting the handle from the car (pretty sure you can do that) and then give the rod a good yank

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[DiREW0LF]

Sounds like the release mechanism is stuck between the open and latched position which is why you cannot unlock it. Try pushing the door closed (carefully so you don't damage anything) while someone pulls the inside handle, this should allow the lock to fully close at which point you might be able to unlock and open using the inside handle. If that doesn't work try pushing the door closed again and have the other person use the lock\unlock button in the center console to try to get it to unlock.

If neither of those work I think there is enough room to get the lower panel off the inside of the door (the piece that covers the speaker) which will give you access to the latch without damaging the door panel.

I don't think taking out the interior handle will help because I believe its connected to the latch via a cable.

Where are you located? Maybe you are near someone that could give you a hand.

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[flash]

my thought on removing the interior handle is that you might be able to get a longer "throw" than the cable or whatever provides - the theory being that it is one of the bushings or clips inside that has worn to the point of being too sloppy to engage fully

one screw to remove - worth a shot

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[biotechee]

+ a gazillion on the suck part.... [img]style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/sad.gif[/img]

I'd definitely try removing the interior handle and pulling on the cable with some vise grips or something. I would also try and push on the exterior (near the keyed handle part) while someone on the inside actuates the handle or pulls on the cable.

You won't be able to remove the bottom map pocket speaker thingy as there are screws on the bottom of it which will not (most likely) be accessible with the seat in the way. If you can remove the map pocket speaker thingy, it is practically solid fiberboard behind it- no real access to the door internals unless you cut the fiberboard. Really the only things you can remove from the inside of the door when the door is closed are the handle bezel and window switch bezel. Everything else, as far as I can remember, needs the door to be open for total access/removal.

If those fail, call Jeff Clark at Sunset Porsche in Oregon. Tell him your situation and ask if he can speak with a tech about it and if there are any tricks. I did this with a different issue and sure enough there was a "trick" that got me "unstuck". Then you can buy whatever repair parts you need from Jeff. Win-win!

Not shilling for Jeff/Sunset, but he has helped me out of a significant jam before and has always been wonderful to deal with....

I feel some of your pain as my driver's door wouldn't open from the outside (inside no problem). The end result is the lever that is actuated by the black plastic handle on the outside of the door was actually broken to pieces. So now, I consider myself an expert door panel remover (probably done it close to 30 times total between my first 944, my 944S2, my first 968, and now the 968 cab) and I also know how to remove the door handle completely if I ever need to change the handle gaskets. Not sure if I should be happy about that or miserable for having to learn how! Unfortunately, I have yet to put the door handle back into/on the door, so we'll see just how good I am at reinstallation!!!!!! Let's just say there ain't a lot of room up in that corner! [img]style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/blink.gif[/img]

Good luck and keep us posted!

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[pharriso]

Thanks Guys, I'm going to give it another go at the weekend...

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[DiREW0LF]

I don't know if maybe mine was modified or what but the fiber board in mine has a cut out for the 5 1/4" speaker magnet, that was the access hole I used to reconnect the plastic linkage for the electric lock actuator.

In any case, good luck!

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[DaveN]

Good luck on the door. I had my psngr door jam up but at least I had the door panels already off when it failed and wouldn't open. Bad new though. I had to break into my car once because my son locked the keys in and we hadn't a chance to get duplicates made yet. So, the locksmith, a former 944 owner, tried in vain to open the door as he said that Porsce has a metal plate installed to prevent slim jims from working - he was right. He failed to open the door. Luckily he had experience with this car and after a lot of fiddleing using his "special" 007, CSI tools on the tumbler he got in but man it took him a while.

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[xrad]

sounds like the lock itself has jammed which is kind of unusual......control rod coming off the back of the key-lock is more common. As above stated, I think you will need a slim jim type tool to get at the inner mechanism.

There is one plastic rod to the solenoid, cable to lock and a metal rod between the trigger handle and the lock

or you can sacrifice the door panel.......

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[pharriso]

I managed to open the door...

Pulling the rod connected to the door handle didn't do anything.

I pulled the LED cover/knob off, moved the LEDs out of the way & then with a pair of needle nose pliers pulled the plastic piece on the end of the rod. Thankfully the door then sprang open.

Repair parts look cheap.

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[Anchorman]

"Repair parts look cheap."

IMHO, that pretty much sums up the door locking mechanism - and why there's so many problems with the mechanism.

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