General Can I remove my door panel without opening my door?

[Parr]

Well joy again and my car has been broken into for the second time in less than a year. This time they wedged a screw driver in my keyhole... Didnt take anything though, so basicly just vandalism.

Anyhow I looked up a new barrel, about £20 and thought cheap fix just have to carry different key... Just been locking car from other side as I am stupidly out of money.

Yesterday I tried to unlock my door, and the central locking wedged it down again... eventually got it open and now I can no longer unlock my driver door, the one that was damaged. I pulled the lock up and its done nothing and pulled the handle and all it did was pop out...

Then when I got home, I notice the central locking keeps opening my passenger door when I lock it... So one door is locked and one is open...

Its currently raining like a mother outside, so before I **** about getting drenched can I get the door panel off from the inside without somehow getting the door open, and will I need any special tools?

Thanks! The car is a Fiat Punto MK1 Sporting 16v.

 

[teulk]

I would think it would be a little difficult as i think a few of the screws you would need to remove would be hidden by the end of the dashboard - also there are screws at the bottom of the door that you wouldnt be able to get to with the door being shut........

 

[Parr]

Well turns out FIAT in there splendor yet again **** me off by using SO MANY DAMN DIFFERENT TYPE OF SCREWS.

When on one piece of the car will 3 different screw heads be used? The panels are held on with Posidrive, but the arm rest is held on with hex, then the speakers are held in with different ones again... I got as far as removing the handle and the electric window cover and just gave up.

Turns out I can just about lock my car if I hold the key locked for a couple of seconds so the CL gives up but I can see that killing the door motor.

I swear to god im going to turn this car into a bait car, wait in bushs and knife whoever attempts to break into it. Getting fed up with crime, Brothers car, mine, girlfriends brothers, 3 friends from college, the list goes on and on and on. Last time the police even caught who did it but guess what? Too poor to pay compensation (Surprise suprise...) and didnt even get prison time...

Our law is ****ing useless.

 

[crabbo_1]

Where do you live....New york?

 

[Parr]

Bristol...

 

[custard]

Well turns out FIAT in there splendor yet again **** me off by using SO MANY DAMN DIFFERENT TYPE OF SCREWS.

When on one piece of the car will 3 different screw heads be used? The panels are held on with Posidrive, but the arm rest is held on with hex, then the speakers are held in with different ones again... I got as far as removing the handle and the electric window cover and just gave up.

Turns out I can just about lock my car if I hold the key locked for a couple of seconds so the CL gives up but I can see that killing the door motor.

I swear to god im going to turn this car into a bait car, wait in bushs and knife whoever attempts to break into it. Getting fed up with crime, Brothers car, mine, girlfriends brothers, 3 friends from college, the list goes on and on and on. Last time the police even caught who did it but guess what? Too poor to pay compensation (Surprise suprise...) and didnt even get prison time...

Our law is ****ing useless.

take the fuse out of the CL

 

[Parr]

take the fuse out of the CL

Oooo, where is the fuse too? I was going to ask if I could just disable it but felt a bit stupid.

 

[oktopod]

Well turns out FIAT in there splendor yet again **** me off by using SO MANY DAMN DIFFERENT TYPE OF SCREWS.

When on one piece of the car will 3 different screw heads be used? The panels are held on with Posidrive, but the arm rest is held on with hex, then the speakers are held in with different ones again...

Welcome to the club!

 

[faster4_tec]

different fasteners are used for different things!

if you mean't your door lock barrel had 3 attachment points and there was 3different kinds of screws fair enough. but your talking about 3 different locations and 3 different items, so your point is instantly worthless.

just thank your stars you don't own a ford of 90's early 00's, as they use torx bolts, but not 1, or 2, or 3 different sizes, no. they use about 10 different sizes in the cabin alone! engine and suspension is even more! and they sometimes use daft halfsizes where no normal torx will fit, like BETWEEN torx 40 and torx 45!!! so you have to cut the old bolts off! ridiculous!

vauxhal are just as bad.

 

[Xen]

Anyhow I looked up a new barrel, about £20 and thought cheap fix just have to carry different key... Just been locking car from other side as I am stupidly out of money.

so long as the door itself is undamaged, it may be possible to repair your lock.

go to the scrapyard and just nab a lock from another car... cost me £3.

then you need to dismantle both locks... im doing this from memory so some bits may be slightly different...

first of all, prise the plastic cover off the lock but be careful as they break easily. i found it easier to heat it a little with a lighter to make the plastic bend easier over the catches without snapping.

there is then a spring on the bottom end of the barrel to remove.

then their is a clip in the groove just about this which needs to be prised out.

then push the barrel out from the bottom end.

with the barrel out, remove the rubber ring from the top end and then use a small flat-head screwdriver to bend the edge of the lock face outwards to release it.

with the lock face removed, be careful - there is a tiny metal flap and spring in there. remove them.

At this point, you will be able to tell whether the lock is repairable or not. with both locks dismantled, compare the barrels to make sure the old barrel isnt damaged. then try your key in it and ensure all the little pins move inwards till they are flush. if they dont or the barrel is damaged, unfortunatly you wont be able to continue.

if all goes well, reassemble the lock using the old barrel and all the other parts from the new lock.

reassembling the barrel is a PITA. replace the spring and the flap, but try keep them in place while you put the lock face over them. then use a light hammer to bend the edges of the lock face back in. then use a small flathead screwdriver and hammer to punch the edges in where there are dips to secure it. then put the rubber ring back in place.

grease the barrel up at this point before going any further to prevent having a sticky lock.

place the barrle in the surround and replace the clip to secure it in place. Then replace the spring at the bottom of the barrel. grease this aswell.
then pus the plastic cover over the lock.

job done - test the lock before putting it in the door. if it works, put it back in the door and ressemble the door.

job done!


ill write a guide with pics tonite if i get chance.

 

[Ashy C]

What colour is your car, i have 2 yellow doors for sale

 

[The Sultan]

there's a much easier way to repair your locks and have your key fit all of them

get a lock barrel from a scrappy as before remove plastic cover with the lock unlock levers on it

remove centralising spring and remove c clip push lock out of surround

at this point don't start removing front covers and such as before

just put your key in it

you will see that most of pins will move but some wills still remain sticking out obviously or everyone would be able to open everyone cars

with your key still in it use a bench grinder or hand file to remove the tops of the pins that still stick out then this lock will work with it's key your key and depending on how many pins you modify a very select few other keys

the chance of someone putting there key in your lock and opening your car remains very slim

after all do you go round putting your key in other peoples cars

test fit in surround and make sure it turns freely then reassemble the hole lot

if you remove the seat you will gain access to all fasteners needed to remove the door panel try not to rip the weather shield too or your car will end up wet
tape it up with insulation tape if you do

or you could order a new one from fiat they cost about 50p