CANT OPEN pass door

[78-5.3]

my girlfriend and others have that bad habit of slamming truck or car doors drives me crazy why people do that when they shut good!!! now i cant open it ,,ive pulled the door panel off and it i cant seam to open it the lock seams to be down and wont come up any ideas!!!
PS BESIDES NOT LETTING her in it again that is!!!!

[RandyP]

Sounds like your linkage is in a bind and/or the latch went south. Stop messing with the linkage and see if you can get your hand all the way in to the latch. If you can get up in there, hit the lever to unlock on the latch and while holding it unlocked, see if you can release the latch.
Sometimes the linkage gets out of whack and binds up, not allowing it to unlock. At least you are able to get the trim panel off, makes it a lot easier to fix.

[tucsonjwt]

Yup. Likely the linkage is corroded. Try spraying WD 40 or PB Blaster, etc., on the linkage - especially the ends.
When I got my 83 about 8 years ago, the power door locks would not work sometimes, and the manual door handle would not unlock the doors. I thought it was door lock actuators, so I had them replaced. Still I was climbing out of the windows to escape the truck. Finally lubed up the lock rods and everything worked OK - more money wasted on unnecessary repair.

[RandyP]

What does it feel like when you put the key in and try to unlock it?

[dropd80s]

I have a 84 K5 that does that every once in a while. I allways have to fully press the outside door handle button all the way down firm one time and then it will unlock fine.

[78-5.3]

Originally Posted by RandyP

What does it feel like when you put the key in and try to unlock it?

i dont have a lock in it at the moment ?

[78-5.3]

ok my girlfriend got in LOL THERE is a small hole that near the front edge she put a screw driver in and pulled back on it while lifting the lock and it popped open !!!

[pcmcobra]

girlfriend,screwdriver near truck= disaster?
lol

[RandyP]

[78-5.3]

thats what i thought but she did it !! im gonna get a new lock ASSEM.
FOR THE TRUCK i think there is some differances betwwen the years though can i use an 84 on my 78??

[RandyP]

They are the same from somewhere in the early 70's, like 74 or 75 up. You'll have to recode it, but that is fairly easy to do. I actually recoded mine where the ignition key works the door locks. Or you can just take all the tumblers out, any key will unlock it then, but how many people will know that?

[78-5.3]

Originally Posted by RandyP

They are the same from somewhere in the early 70's, like 74 or 75 up. You'll have to recode it, but that is fairly easy to do. I actually recoded mine where the ignition key works the door locks. Or you can just take all the tumblers out, any key will unlock it then, but how many people will know that?

sorry no im talking about the door latch they are different from 73-82 to 82-87 anyone know why??

[RandyP]

Ahh, my bad. The differences between the latch is how the linkage attaches. You can use it as long as you have the linkage to replace with the other latch as well. Or maybe you can use it if you just have the attaching clip, not really 100% positive on that one.