A noob in need of help - Discovery 1 O/S Door Jammed

James A · Sep 24, 2017

Hello,

I'm new to the site and looking for some help with my Disco 1.

Got a 97 300tdi and the drivers door would not open from the outside. I watched a few videos that discussed replacing the springs etc. But the problem did go away after I watched this video:

I stupidly twisted the 2nd vertical rod all the way clockwise, so made it shorter. This is around 2 mins into that video.

All seemed fine but now my door is shut and will not open from the inside or outside. To make things worse, the outside latch as now snapped. I have been able to get the door card slightly away from the door, but obviously the door is shut so I can't remove it. It's proving near impossible to reach the rods to readjust and hopefully open the door. It could also be the actuator but I don't know at this stage. The central locking keeps popping up when I press the lock button on the key.

I'm now at the stage when I think the door card may need sawing so I can actually get some access to those rods and hopefully open the door. Or worse than that, completely mash up the front door so I can get it off and replace. Problem is, I'm not seeing many caprice blue driver doors.

Please, can anyone help me and spare this door from being ruined?????

Thank you in advance

kevstar · Sep 24, 2017

I would sacrifice the door card rather than damage the door once its off it you should be
able to open it by pulling the rod

Gazbo · Sep 24, 2017

James A said:
Hello,

I'm new to the site and looking for some help with my Disco 1.

Got a 97 300tdi and the drivers door would not open from the outside. I watched a few videos that discussed replacing the springs etc. But the problem did go away after I watched this video:

I stupidly twisted the 2nd vertical rod all the way clockwise, so made it shorter. This is around 2 mins into that video.

All seemed fine but now my door is shut and will not open from the inside or outside. To make things worse, the outside latch as now snapped. I have been able to get the door card slightly away from the door, but obviously the door is shut so I can't remove it. It's proving near impossible to reach the rods to readjust and hopefully open the door. It could also be the actuator but I don't know at this stage. The central locking keeps popping up when I press the lock button on the key.

I'm now at the stage when I think the door card may need sawing so I can actually get some access to those rods and hopefully open the door. Or worse than that, completely mash up the front door so I can get it off and replace. Problem is, I'm not seeing many caprice blue driver doors.

Please, can anyone help me and spare this door from being ruined?????

Thank you in advance

You may have broken the rod connector from the outside handle which means you can not use that until you get the door open to fix it.
Try this, you no doubt can get inside the Disco from the passenger side, manually check the door locking mechanism to ensure it is going up sufficiently to unlock the door. Put the window right down on the drivers door, pull on the door from the inside or have someone push hard against it at the lock end pushing the door hard in the closed direction, then try the internal door handle at the same time, it may release the lock and allow the door to open.
This particular problem is very common in the D1 and can only properly be cured with the fitting of new springs, in the lock mechanism, cheap, available but a bit of work to fit.
If the method above fails you may need to break into the door card to access the rods, use the video as a bit of a guide on where bits are behind the card, you may be able to cut through the card with a Stanley knife, or whatever you call them over there.
Good luck with it, I have been through much the same thing with my old D1, I know it's not fun.
Mine's Caprice Blue, but I need the door.

kevstar · Sep 24, 2017

I have the same prob on the drivers door too but I need a new door as it was damaged when I bought it
its been caught on something when reversing & pulled the stop leaver right out of the mechanism & bent
the door skin & wing if I can find a door & you need internal bits your welcome to them for the price of
postage

Colour of the door needed doesn't matter as I will be painting the full motor !!

discool · Sep 24, 2017

I would think about what's involved in removing the drivers seat before destroying anything, the workshop manual gives the length of the rods should you have to readjust any of them, when you have finally have access to them that is.

kevstar · Sep 24, 2017

discool said:
I would think about what's involved in removing the drivers seat before destroying anything, the workshop manual gives the length of the rods should you have to readjust any of them, when you have finally have access to them that is.

I did think about that too ive just went & had a look at mine there's a couple inches of space between the seat
& the card, although it sits in a little to the door jams enough room to pull the card out without removing the seat
just a bit fiddly to get a leaver in to prize the card off the door & plenty space to remove the seat to allow access
if its too tight. Seat bolts are visible & look simple to remove

James A · Sep 24, 2017

Thanks all. Managed to remove the seat and then the door card. Thankfully managed to open the door from the inside after adjusting the rods and the actuator seems to be back to normal. Just need to deal with external lock latch. Progress

kevstar · Sep 24, 2017

James A said:
Thanks all. Managed to remove the seat and then the door card. Thankfully managed to open the door from the inside after adjusting the rods and the actuator seems to be back to normal. Just need to deal with external lock latch. Progress

Nice one happy days again

A noob in need of help - Discovery 1 O/S Door Jammed

James A

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kevstar

Well-Known Member

Gazbo

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kevstar

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discool

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kevstar

Well-Known Member

James A

New Member

kevstar

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