I live in Minnesota and it got really cold here last night. This morning my brother and I were on our way to school and I went to unlock the passenger door for my brother. I have never had my locks freeze, when it gets cold they turn hard, but always open. So I didn't think anything of it when the lock turned hard. The problem was I turned the key, and all of the sudden the key became tensionless. I can turn the key and it will spring back to center, so i dont think the key mech is broken. I suspect that the linkage came off. So after school I went to pull the door panel off and try to reconnect it, but i can't get the door open. I don't think the door is frozen because I can push and pull on it and it does flex. I was able to pull the lock rod in the cab up, but it seems like it doesn't come all the way up, and I can't get the door open I tried to pull the door panel off in the cab, but I can't find any way to do it with out bending and torquing it a lot (the side to the front of the truck can't come straight out because it hits the dash). I'm afraid if i do pull it off it will crack. So do you guys out there have any ideas on how to get the door open? Or will I just have to try to get the door panel off with the door closed. Any input is welcome.

 

Quick update, I have come to the conclusion that all of the linkage is disconnected, everything moves (inside and oustide handle, lock, lock rod) but it feels like there is no resistance. I am working on trying to carefully get the door panel off, but it feels like there is still something holding it on, I have taken out the screw right by the inside door handle, Am i missing some other screws, and I have automatic locks and windows, so there is no crank handle.

 

There's a bunch of clips all around it, and I believe there are two or three screws on the bottom of the panel. I may be misremembering here. You can always pop out the window seal, stick a coat hanger in there, and try to get the door open first that way so you can at least access it without lying on the floor.

 

I'm beginning to like the coat hanger idea because im tired of working in a cramped cab, will the coat hanger trick work with no linkage hooked up in the door?

 

It depends on where it has broke, and how patient you are. Making a tiny hook on the end can be helpful. You want to try and grab the linkage wherever it's broke, and move what's still attached. You might have to pull any dangling parts out of the way.

 

Thanks, I guess I will be freezing my butt off after school. My main goal is just to get the door unlocked so its usable, fixing the lock can wait til its warmer. I'll see how it goes

 

Ok, another update, I have been trying to use a coat hanger for an hour now out in the sub zero temp with no success. I'm thinking of going back to trying to remove the door panel. I got the drivers side almost all the way off (because i can open the door) and it looks like what is holding me back is the inside door handle. It appears that I have to unbolt it, what im worried about is how I will get it back on. Does this sound like im on the right path???

 

just pop the door panels off. there should be a manual release lever on the back of the latch inside the door that should allow the door to open just like the manual release levers on the tailgate. i know i had to do this to my 91 when i first got it. the passenger door was stuck shut. once you get it open spray the latch parts with penitrating oil.

 

You do have to unbolt the handle and its a pain to get it back on but it you use a nut driver it makes it much easier.

My passenger door was stuck shut and locked for the longest time. I still am not sure what exactly caused the problem but it will unlock I just have to pull pretty hard on the lock linkage pin thing. Passenger door stuck seems to pretty a somewhat common problem on these trucks.

 

I did get the door working, unfortunately I broke a few of the plastic clips that hold the door panel on (but 20 year old plastic in -20 degree temps, what else would you expect?) The issue was that the end of the key mech broke off, where the lock linkage hooks up, the linkage is fine and I can reattach that when i replace the key mech. But the linkage rod rotated and somehow jammed up the other lock rod that comes up through the door. So i could pull it up, but it jammed and I couldnt pull it all the way up. I won't be replacing the key mech until it warms up outside (May) or I get inside a heated shop. But for when I do, how hard is it. It seems like it will be tedious to try to move small parts around inside the door?