Tristan Bull

My driver side door got stuck shut yesterday while i was at a gas station. I can't figure out what is holding it up. It seemed to me that the lock was unlocking itself, because whenever I came out to the car it was unlocked, but I could have swore that I locked it when I got out. Anyway I locked the door from the inside when the door was shut, just to see if the lock actually worked. Well it worked alright, and now I can't get the thing open! I took the little plastic piece off that surrounds the handle/lock, and when I move the lock the bar moves, and when i move the handle the bar that is attached to that moves. But the car still seems to be unlocked. I can't figure out what the deal is, and I can't take the door panel off with the door shut. Any ideas on how to fix this? Or at least get the door open so I can see what the problem is? Thanks in advance.

I should also mention that I now believe that the door actually was unlocking itself when I closed it. My buddy used to have an old beater '84 626 which made you hold the handle up when you closed the door from the outside to lock it. I just got this car running about a week or two ago, and was unaware as to whether or not the RX-7 had this feature. This is my first RX-7.

eoph

yes rx7 has this future, i got mine i was wondering the same thing too

ilike2eatricers

I am not sure which years and models have this feature but I can say that my old 91 coupe and my current 89TII do not do that. Maybe some s4 guys could help you out. It seems that is feature is so you dont get locked out of your car if it closed accidentally.

Tristan Bull

Okay thanks. Any idea on how to open the door without being able to take the panel off? That was really my problem. I just mentioned the other bit at the end in an attempt to look like less of a fool.

ilike2eatricers

So are you locked out of your car or is it that you cant open your driverside door?

Perhaps the metal bar connecting to the door lock latch has broken. The door lock latch connects to this long piece of metal and IIRC pushes/pulls on this other piece of metal changing the direction and unlocking the door. I dont know how you can fix it without taking off the door panel.

I think you still might be able to take off the door panel.It might just be a lot harder because you dont have much room. Take off 4 bolts under the armrest, 4 screws one each on the far corners of the door, unscrew the screw holding the plastic piece of the door handle, remove door handle and then take off the last bolt behind it. You will then have to pop out the edges of the door panel because they are attached to several clips I think 8 or so each about 6-10 inches around the bottom of the door panel and the sides. Lastly pull the door panel up and out. Good luck.

Tristan Bull

Well I can get in through the passenger side. It's just not very comfortable. Okay, well I looked at the manual and it looks like the only screw that I can't get to is the one that is on the front part of the door where it touches the dash. So maybe I can get it enough room to get a hand in there to to open the door. Thanks.

5 point whoa

did you pull up really hard on the handle, and then pull it, thats what I have to do to mine. and mine wont lock right either, I have to push down the lock, hold the handle up, and pull it shut, or it wont lock

5 point whoa

but if thats not it, i dont know whats wrong

eoph

sry for false info, well i know mine does that and its a 87 tii

Cameljoe

Are you guys talking about holding the handle to lock your car??? All the rx7s I've owned did this. Although I've only owned S4s. I've seen other cars with this feature. Although its seems more common on older foreign cars.

poor college student

my car if you lock the door with the door open, the door itself won't stay locked unless you hold the handle up as you close the door.

eoph

child safety feature, dunno y they add that to a sports car..............

Tristan Bull

Actually I think it's to keep you from locking your keys in your car as someone mentioned earlier. The child safety thing allows you disable the lock from inside the car, so that your kid can't open the door and hop out while you're driving down the highway. Usually I've seen that on 4 door sedans, and on the rear doors.

Anyway I think tomorrow I'll try getting the panel off enough to unlock the door before I go to work. I'll mess with fixing it on sunday. I tried pulling pretty hard on the handle. I don't really want to break anything else.