Driver's side door won't open - cable hook still ok

EVS · 20th November 2020, 07:48

Good morning everyone
I've run into an inconvenience last night: I can't open my driver's side door anymore from the inside.
When pulling the handle, I don't feel any resistance whatsoever. Pulled out the handle to check the hook but that looks fine to me.

Does anyone know any next steps I could take to determine what the problem is?

Lee T · 20th November 2020, 11:37

Remove the door card and check connection at the actuator end. Unless the cable has snapped in the middle, Assuming the cable shown in the picture wasn't out of the plastic tube like that when you removed it, the problem will be at the other end.

trikey · 20th November 2020, 12:52

Looking at that picture you haven’t got the outer cable seared correctly in the plastic tube on the door handle, you are in effect pulling the whole cable rather than just the inner.

EVS · 22nd November 2020, 12:24

I'm not sure the cable was in the correct position before, but after making sure it was, the door still wouldn't open. I can pull the cable without it coming out so I assume it's still intact and need to check further on the actuator side.

I can't seem to figure out how to take the actuator out though, and it seems most how tos on this issue no longer have pictures (or I just didn't find a recent enough one yet).
Any advice on what I should disconnect -and how exactly to disconnect the rod for the outside door handle?

EVS · 29th November 2020, 11:15

Little bump: what are the steps to take to check the cable at the actuator end? I assume I need to take the actuator out for a proper look but I can't seem to get it out?

Lee T · 29th November 2020, 11:30

https://www.the75andztclub.co.uk/for...ad.php?t=91292
This will help, the pictures are missing but the write up is good. It is a simple job, just a bit fiddly. A decent torch helps a lot.

EVS · 29th November 2020, 13:32

Thanks, Lee, I'd already stumbled across that one but it's still giving me issues: I got stuck at the clip that connects the lock to the outer door pull.
It is the one right in the middle in the picture, isn't it?

How exactly do I disconnect this clip? I can't seem to figure out how to knock it back, as the link you posted says.
I don't want to put too much force on it as I don't want to break it, since that would render my door entirely inoperable.

20th November 2020, 07:48	#1
EVS Regular poster Rover 75 1.8 Connoisseur SE Join Date: Jul 2020 Location: Flanders Posts: 68 Thanks: 13 Thanked 7 Times in 3 Posts	Driver's side door won't open - cable hook still ok Good morning everyone I've run into an inconvenience last night: I can't open my driver's side door anymore from the inside. When pulling the handle, I don't feel any resistance whatsoever. Pulled out the handle to check the hook but that looks fine to me. Does anyone know any next steps I could take to determine what the problem is?

20th November 2020, 11:37	#2
Lee T Gets stuck in MG ZT Join Date: Jul 2014 Location: Liverpool Posts: 857 Thanks: 180 Thanked 248 Times in 189 Posts	Remove the door card and check connection at the actuator end. Unless the cable has snapped in the middle, Assuming the cable shown in the picture wasn't out of the plastic tube like that when you removed it, the problem will be at the other end. __________________ [SIGPIC][/SIGPIC]

20th November 2020, 12:52	#3
trikey Premium Trader Rover 75 Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: Devon Posts: 33,777 Thanks: 8,837 Thanked 14,831 Times in 8,030 Posts	Looking at that picture you haven’t got the outer cable seared correctly in the plastic tube on the door handle, you are in effect pulling the whole cable rather than just the inner. __________________ Lest we forget..

29th November 2020, 11:30	#6
Lee T Gets stuck in MG ZT Join Date: Jul 2014 Location: Liverpool Posts: 857 Thanks: 180 Thanked 248 Times in 189 Posts	https://www.the75andztclub.co.uk/for...ad.php?t=91292 This will help, the pictures are missing but the write up is good. It is a simple job, just a bit fiddly. A decent torch helps a lot. __________________ [SIGPIC][/SIGPIC]

22nd November 2020, 12:24	#4
EVS Regular poster Rover 75 1.8 Connoisseur SE Join Date: Jul 2020 Location: Flanders Posts: 68 Thanks: 13 Thanked 7 Times in 3 Posts	I'm not sure the cable was in the correct position before, but after making sure it was, the door still wouldn't open. I can pull the cable without it coming out so I assume it's still intact and need to check further on the actuator side. I can't seem to figure out how to take the actuator out though, and it seems most how tos on this issue no longer have pictures (or I just didn't find a recent enough one yet). Any advice on what I should disconnect -and how exactly to disconnect the rod for the outside door handle?

29th November 2020, 11:15	#5
EVS Regular poster Rover 75 1.8 Connoisseur SE Join Date: Jul 2020 Location: Flanders Posts: 68 Thanks: 13 Thanked 7 Times in 3 Posts	Little bump: what are the steps to take to check the cable at the actuator end? I assume I need to take the actuator out for a proper look but I can't seem to get it out?

29th November 2020, 13:32	#7
EVS Regular poster Rover 75 1.8 Connoisseur SE Join Date: Jul 2020 Location: Flanders Posts: 68 Thanks: 13 Thanked 7 Times in 3 Posts	Thanks, Lee, I'd already stumbled across that one but it's still giving me issues: I got stuck at the clip that connects the lock to the outer door pull. It is the one right in the middle in the picture, isn't it? How exactly do I disconnect this clip? I can't seem to figure out how to knock it back, as the link you posted says. I don't want to put too much force on it as I don't want to break it, since that would render my door entirely inoperable.