The driver's door lock on my 93 Camry LE. I cannot
unlock the door. While the car has electric door
locks, this appears to be a mechanical problem as
I can hear the solenoid operating and can observe
some motion in the manual lock mechanism near the
inside handle as I toggle the switch from lock to
unlock and back again. However, the lock will not
release electrically I cannot move the manual
release far enough to unlock the door. Neithe the
inside or outside handles will engage to open the
door.
When I try the key from the outside, there is less
than the normal amount of travel (rotation) in the
unlock direction, but it works normally in the
locking direction. There seems to be an
obstruction. All other doors operate normally and,
as I mentioned, I can hear and observe the
solenoid in the driver's door functioning. I have
tried operating the switch a number of times in
hopes that it will clear the obstruction, but with
no luck.
Since the door is locked closed, I suspect that it
is impossible to remove the door panel to
determine the problem. Is there are any Toyota tech's out there who have
seen this before and can help unlock the door so I can remove the panel please?.

 

I dont know if you've ever had to get into your car with a slim jim because you forgot your keys in it but, i would try that maybe by pullig on the locking mechinism from within the door it will come unlocked and then you could gett your door panel off for further inspection.

 

Thank you so much.
I took the car to a friend (body shop) That was exactely what he did. with a hook that looks like coat hanger he manage to unlock the door and the panel removed. I turns out that a spring broke. he made a new loop on the same spring and put it back. Bingo, the door is fine now.

 

Slim jims rule. I get atleast 1 call a week from a friend to unlock their door.