2002 Ford focus sedan door wont unlock

[by106249]

Hi,
I have a 2002 ford focus se sedan. i noticed today that my passenger door wont unlock, i pull the interior handle and nothing, i push the lock button(?) thats above the handle and it feels like its spring loaded locked. all my other doors will unlock and open except the passenger. i have automatic locks. i wanted to know if there is a way to fix this problem? can you remove the door panel without the door being open? please give me as much help as possible. thank you

[jetrinka]

Can you open the door from the outside? Your gonna have to remove the door panel. It sounds like some sort of linkage came off inside the door.

[by106249]

No I cannot. It is impossible for me to open the door. I sprayed some WD-40 into the creavous and it didnt help. I constantly have all my doors opened and shut due to passengers, I need to get this problem fixed by Monday.

[TheGlassMaker]

No, you can't take the panel off with out the door open. well you could but you'll have to break it. There are hex screws that run around the outside of the panel, 6 I believe. Even if you manage to take the two screws from behind the pull handle, one behind the door open handle you still have to put out then up to get it to unsnap but of course that's if you can get the 6 or so hex screws. My guess is the latch isn't releasing. You could try a coat hanger and try to catch on the door lock that connects to the latch but it would take lots of patients. But there is a good chance the latch is broken internal and I wouldn't even know how to approach that. I've taken the latch off to replace it before but mine was just the opposite the door wouldn't close. It's has three screws that hold it in place on the inside of the door frame. I'm gonna have to scratch my head on this one.

[TheGlassMaker]

If you took the passenger seat out it might get you access to all the outer screws but the latch is gonna be serious issues. I have the old latch in the trunk now I could get you some pics of what it looks like and how it works.

[MerryFrankster]

To anyone still interested in this, it is not so hard to get the door panel off with the door closed. Here's how you remove the door panel from the inside with the door closed, without breaking anything.

1. Remove the interior door handle (one torx screw). It will just hang by its connecting cable,

2. Pry the top of the door from the window opening. Easy to do, does not require much force.

3. Pry off the cover of the handrest with a small flat head screw driver. Underneath are two hex head bolts. If you cannot get a socket on them to remove them, don't worry. The opening around each bolt will accommodate only a very thin wall socket. It's nice to remove these bolts, but as you will see, it is not essential.

4. Undo the two torx head screws along the bottom of the door.

5. All you have remaining are two screws, one on the front of the door panel, another on the rear. You cannot turn these because they are not accessible. So here's what you do. Grab the door panel and give it a very sharp tup. The screws will pull out of the plastic pieces they are set in. Same thing for the two bolts in the armrest. If you were not able to remove them, tug hard and they will pop right out.

Now the door panel can be removed. Easy as that.

Maybe you're thinking that next I will tell you how to open the door. Think again. The important things in life are never free.