Morris Minor Owners Club

Help! I can't open my passenger door from the inside, the handle just won't move Any ideas anyone?

Elaine

Its not something silly like the inside latch lock has broken off in the locked position on second thoughts forget that as you can still open the door with the latch locked from the inside, can you still open the car from the outside as it sounds like the operating rod has come adrift which means you need to take the door panel off to have a look, I have not heard of this before so it cant be a common problem.

Kevin, no the door won't open from the outside as it is effectively locked! How do I take the door panel off and are there any tips for me to stop me making a bad situation worse

Elaine

elainemr,
I have no idea about lock mechanisms, but it's simple to remove the door trims on a Minor 1000. You need to remove all the interior handles (They are held on with screws). Then the door panel is held with spring clips around the edges, so you carefully yank it off.
To get decent access you may want to remove the passenger seat! (that should also be a quick job)

When you get to see the inside of the door - I hope you find something obvious, but if not, let us know and someone might be knowledgeable.

I have taken off the door panel, but cannot see anything that obvious, but to be honest I am not sure what I am looking for! I have screwed the handle back on and wiggled a few things, but it still will not budge. I have looked in the bottom of the door to see if anything has fallen off but I can't feel anything.

Please can anyone help

Elaine

Elaine can you not see the rods/parts that run from the handle to the lock mechanism, something must have come adrift to cause the handle to be completly jammed, also check that the window still winds up and down freely and that something there has not come loose and is jamming things up. Look at your drivers side door which is fully working and then you will see what parts are supposed to be moving and then compare them, this may reveal the problem.

Elaine is this car a 4 or 2 door?

I've sorted it! After more poking around I found out what the problem was. Not wishing to offend all you technical people, it was the sticky-out-thingy that the handle screws into. It had seized up and would not move. I sprayed it with oil and wiggled it around a bit more and it finally loosened.

Brixtonmorris, she is a 4 door saloon.

Thanks to everyone for all the advice.

Elaine

elainemr,
Seems like you are picking it up quickly! Well done

As Ray said well done Elaine a future technical advisor in the making, as Willie says try and keep it simple at first which is exactly what you did

Well thank you, I feel very proud!

The great thing about this website is that you can be really ignorant and ask stupid questions, and nobody makes fun of you and makes you feel even more stupid.

Elaine