Door opening issues

[bigwinn]

This one has me stumped

I had issues with the door cable stretching so I solved that a week back

After successfully opening and closing the door no issues I now have the issue where the outer and inner handles on the drivers door won’t open the door

GM5 has been done and cycling the lock button still shows the door tell moving and I can hear movement in the door

I’ve got the door card off so I can see down into the area and can see the inner Bowden cable is attached and fine

See pic

I’ve jiggled and pressed on the door while using the handles- no joy and have also liberally doused in wd40

Any suggestions?

Thanks

 

[DMike]

If the door bowden cable was streched and tightened, could further stretching or completely torn cable now cause the behaviour?

 

[bigwinn]

Not sure

As I can see the inner cable working no issue

I wonder if the inner and outer cables have detached from the mechanism in the door?

 

[enuff_zed]

[ref]bigwinn[/ref], I believe it probably is the internal mechanism of the catch assembly broken.
I've been trying to work out how you could possibly unhook it to get the door open and I'm drawing blanks.
Only last ditch thing I can think of is: when you take the trim off the b-pillar, can you see the ends of the screws that hold the locking plate to the b-pillar? Won't be easy, but if all else fails I am wondering if you could undo them from inside to open the door with the locking plate still attached to it.

 

[bigwinn]

[ref]bigwinn[/ref], I believe it probably is the internal mechanism of the catch assembly broken.
I've been trying to work out how you could possibly unhook it to get the door open and I'm drawing blanks.
Only last ditch thing I can think of is: when you take the trim off the b-pillar, can you see the ends of the screws that hold the locking plate to the b-pillar? Won't be easy, but if all else fails I am wondering if you could undo them from inside to open the door with the locking plate still attached to it.

I think they are flush to the door- approx 5mm gap

Would it do much if I took the door hinges off? I don’t think that would give me much room either?

 

[enuff_zed]

Would it do much if I took the door hinges off? I don’t think that would give me much room either?

I thought of that but you'd need the wing off to get at the hinge bolts and I'm not sure how you'd get the loom and check strap off.
Even if you did the rear would be firmly attached to the b-pillar.

 

[Jas- USA]

Googled Z4 e85, door won't open and this was the first thing that came up:

https://z4-forum.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=76531#:~:text=Try%20reaching%20inside%20the%20door%20and%20where%20the,end%20is%20free%20and%20the%20door%20should%20release.

 

[bigwinn]

Cheers

Will have a look how I can access with the door card still on

 

[enuff_zed]

Cheers

Will have a look how I can access with the door card still on

I do have a good door card here if you have to get drastic with it.

 

[smorris_12]

Not sure this quite fits but one from my E46 last year: I had a door that suddenly wouldn't latch shut, it just bounced off the catch and stayed open. Gave it a damn good slam and then ended up with a door that wouldn't open at all.

Long story short, it was the Bowden cable having frayed or jammed in its sheath. As soon as it was disconnected I could open the door from the outside.

 

[bigwinn]

Not sure this quite fits but one from my E46 last year: I had a door that suddenly wouldn't latch shut, it just bounced off the catch and stayed open. Gave it a damn good slam and then ended up with a door that wouldn't open at all.

Long story short, it was the Bowden cable having frayed or jammed in its sheath. As soon as it was disconnected I could open the door from the outside.

Internal Bowden?

 

[smorris_12]

Yes, sorry. It was the equivalent of shutting the door with the inside handle pulled and that jammed the works up completely as it was effectively still pulled until I released it.

 

[bigwinn]

Well I’m in

Managed to get the door card off which made access to the mech easier

Airbag off too so I could get my hand in the door

Working on the Bowden clip area I managed to get the door unlatched

The actuator mech looks goosed as there is huge movement in the claw so new one going in

 

[smorris_12]

That's lucky. A lot of door latches seem completely unfreeable if they die. And with security in mind the mechanism seems to be completely inaccessible from outside.

 

[bigwinn]

Must admit I’m breathing more freely now