Member Since: 19 Apr 2017
Location: Cairn o’ Mount
Posts: 51
Rear Door Permanently Locked Shut
Hello,
I’m in need of some help. I have searched the forum in regards to non locking/unlocking and opening doors and see there are many solutions however none for door at that are closed and not responding.
I see some have asked the question but it would appear none have an answer?
My rear drivers door won’t open from the inside or outside when unlocked. I have tried to unlock by pulling the handles whilst pressing the dash buttons but to no avail. The child lock is also on.
How can I release the door to replace the mechanism? I understand the door card can be removed with the door open, is it the case with the door stuck shut or will the door card need to be destroyed in order to gain access?
Member Since: 11 Sep 2016
Location: Marnoch
Posts: 4145
If you remove the rear seat you should be able to get the door card off without doing any damage.. not very easy to do with the door shut but possible...
Corris Grey D4 Commercial SE 2016
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Indus Silver D4 HSE 2015 (gone)
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31st Mar 2023 8:25 pm
DJEwen
Member Since: 19 Apr 2017
Location: Cairn o’ Mount
Posts: 51
Thanks for that Nige! Are you aware of it having been done that way before or will you be using me as an experiment? I suppose it’s then just a case of gutting it from the inside, presumably the door can be released once the card is off?2005 Discovery 3 HSE Zambezi Silver 56,000mls
31st Mar 2023 8:35 pm
DJEwen
Member Since: 19 Apr 2017
Location: Cairn o’ Mount
Posts: 51
I’m amazed. Almost every person I spoke to told me NOT to buy a discovery 3 or 4. My argument was, but a car with the right history and the fact there are 18 years of document repairs on forums and you tube, I actually said “there’s a fix for everything” it’ll be fine.
2 weeks in and I have this issue but there’s no documented repair. More fool me.
I shall document the repair.2005 Discovery 3 HSE Zambezi Silver 56,000mls
31st Mar 2023 9:50 pm
kajtzu
Member Since: 11 Aug 2017
Location: Helsinki
Posts: 6570
No, really, they’re great vehicles. They’re just sometimes high maintenance.
But yes, if your door latch actuator has failed removing the seat and the door card is as far as I know the only way to fix it neatly.
I replaced to modules in separate doors but mine did not lock. So in a sense I was lucky.
31st Mar 2023 10:00 pm
Moo D3 Decade
Member Since: 13 Aug 2010
Location: Wiltshire
Posts: 13908
Welcome to D3 ownership. Its a journey but a good one.
If its any consolation, I bought a 2008 D3 with 160k on the clock for my daughter (just turned 18) for her grand tour around Europe / Turkey after her A Levels because it has a really good history with it. If I was worried about a D3, I'd have bought a Toyota.
The D3 is a great bus but has its anomalies but then all cars do - my brand new Defender is a case in point.
New Defender L663 110 SE (known as Noddy!)
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No longer the Old Buses original owner
231,000 miles and counting
05 S manual owned from March 2005
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31st Mar 2023 11:47 pm
M3DPO
Member Since: 22 Sep 2010
Location: Notts.
Posts: 8103
DJEwen wrote:
I’m amazed. Almost every person I spoke to told me NOT to buy a discovery 3 or 4. My argument was, but a car with the right history and the fact there are 18 years of document repairs on forums and you tube, I actually said “there’s a fix for everything” it’ll be fine.
2 weeks in and I have this issue but there’s no documented repair. More fool me.
I shall document the repair.
If you think the rears are difficult wait until a front won’t open from my experience the best advice I can give to anyone is the moment you have signs of a failing door actuator get it sorted, if it closes and won’t open they are a nightmare, standing on your head trying to take the front seat out is not a job for the faint hearted It can when others can't,
It will when others won't,
It goes where others don't.
1st Apr 2023 8:48 am
rrhool
Member Since: 28 Aug 2014
Location: Norfolk
Posts: 4400
^^To be fair, that's true of most modern cars. I've got an old VW Passat as a hack about, and the passenger door went into 'dead lock', and there was no way to open it. Had to destroy the door card, to get the glass released and out, then physically destroy the old lock mechanism with a long chisel and hammer to let the door open!Richard
D3 SE 2007. Triumph 2.5Pi 1973. Ferguson TEA20 1948.
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1st Apr 2023 9:34 am
kajtzu
Member Since: 11 Aug 2017
Location: Helsinki
Posts: 6570
Bet such mayhem and destruction was soothing for the mind though
1st Apr 2023 9:36 am
DSL Keeper of the wheelie bin
Member Since: 11 May 2006
Location: Off again! :-)
Posts: 72787
M3DPO wrote:
DJEwen wrote:
I’m amazed. Almost every person I spoke to told me NOT to buy a discovery 3 or 4. My argument was, but a car with the right history and the fact there are 18 years of document repairs on forums and you tube, I actually said “there’s a fix for everything” it’ll be fine.
2 weeks in and I have this issue but there’s no documented repair. More fool me.
I shall document the repair.
If you think the rears are difficult wait until a front won’t open from my experience the best advice I can give to anyone is the moment you have signs of a failing door actuator get it sorted, if it closes and won’t open they are a nightmare, standing on your head trying to take the front seat out is not a job for the faint hearted
Not forgetting the tailgate not opening!
1st Apr 2023 10:10 am
DJEwen
Member Since: 19 Apr 2017
Location: Cairn o’ Mount
Posts: 51
Thanks for everyone’s input on this. I’m going to order new mechanisms for both rear doors and install the door that’s still opening first as a practice before undertaking the seat removal and stuck rear drivers door,2005 Discovery 3 HSE Zambezi Silver 56,000mls
2nd Apr 2023 10:59 am
ronp
Member Since: 29 Nov 2006
Location: North Yorkshire
Posts: 15213
That sounds a good idea in what you’re doing.
But as Del states, be aware of the tailgate failure, it is a more common issue.
I’ve installed one of these mainly for camping use, but also backs up as a ‘fail-safe’
I was a normal heterosexual chap, but in these new woke awakenings I now identify as a Wardrobe.
2nd Apr 2023 12:23 pm
DJEwen
Member Since: 19 Apr 2017
Location: Cairn o’ Mount
Posts: 51
I like that, Ronp. I think I saw a similar sort of modification from Powerful. I’ll certainly look to get this done as pert of my preventative maintenance/modification journey. I thought I saw a video of someone being able to open the tailgate by manually flicking up the catches on either side to open, is that not the case once the mechanism has failed?2005 Discovery 3 HSE Zambezi Silver 56,000mls
2nd Apr 2023 3:28 pm
ronp
Member Since: 29 Nov 2006
Location: North Yorkshire
Posts: 15213
Yes, Powerful do it to, the product is the same [from LRP Italy], but 4X4 Overlander was a much better price when I got mine.
Saw that video too about accessing it from pins at the side.
However when I was stripping out the rear and removing the 'body to tailgate' flap, I had a look and couldn't see any catches [unless they're D3 specific only - but I would but reckon so].
The only pins were the fixed locating pins.I was a normal heterosexual chap, but in these new woke awakenings I now identify as a Wardrobe.
2nd Apr 2023 6:01 pm
DJEwen
Member Since: 19 Apr 2017
Location: Cairn o’ Mount
Posts: 51
Thanks Ron. It’s added to the ever growing list of maintenance and modifications.
Tonight I nipped to the shop and figured I’d try the rear door and it opened. I don’t dare lock it! Of course it’s been raining all day and will be tomorrow. I’ll get the door card off pronto!2005 Discovery 3 HSE Zambezi Silver 56,000mls
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I suppose it’s then just a case of gutting it from the inside, presumably the door can be released once the card is off?
from my experience the best advice I can give to anyone is the 
