71 drivers door wont open - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

rawraw67 · 01-03-2008, 08:18 PM

last week I bought the truck home 1970 Gmc,The door work fine then.but now we can not get it open.I have the doors inner panel off and can see that the star that is in side the door latch is not spinning.so it wont let the door open.I work for a few hours today but had no luck.not sure if I should get out the drill and start drilling away,or maybe my cut off wheel.

Thanks Jason

faribran · 01-04-2008, 12:14 PM

keep working with it... i am sure it will open.. no need to damage it further..

LONGHAIR · 01-07-2008, 01:43 AM

This really should be in 67-72....it not an FAQ.

**michael bustamante** · 01-07-2008, 06:05 AM

my driver door was doing that also. my door was set just far enough away from the striker that the wheel was getting stuck and not turning. I would have to actually kick my door openfrom the inside. (truck abuse I know). all I did was re hang my door and closed the gap a little to bring the latch closer to the striker. now the latch (star) and the striker meet perfect.

cdowns · 01-07-2008, 06:51 AM

are you sure the lock knob didnt get pushed down and is jammed?

melvin · 02-16-2008, 06:53 AM

Will it open at all? Try spraying the star with some lube and working the door back and forth. I had to do same on my passenger door, took about 5 minutes of working then it broke free. Works like a champ now.

PanelDeland · 02-16-2008, 08:43 AM

Try pushing in on the door while opening.Sometimes the star will bind if the door is adjusted with the latch mechanism too tight.

Chevyholic · 02-16-2008, 09:26 AM

Where is your seat belt? I had this happen to me once and as it turned out I closed my door and seat belt hadn't retracted. I caught the male-end underneath my door shimming it up. Just enough so that nothing worked to open it, although it wasn't actually latched. I actually had to get inside and use every one of my 200lbs to get that damn thing open again. Now I always check my belt.

Good luck!

Premium72 · 02-16-2008, 12:41 PM

yeah sounds like the door is adjusted to far in, just takes a touch off an itll get stuff. get inside and force your body weight on the whole door and bang it open. good luck .

01-03-2008, 08:18 PM	#1
rawraw67 Registered User Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Bay the Bay Posts: 485	71 drivers door wont open last week I bought the truck home 1970 Gmc,The door work fine then.but now we can not get it open.I have the doors inner panel off and can see that the star that is in side the door latch is not spinning.so it wont let the door open.I work for a few hours today but had no luck.not sure if I should get out the drill and start drilling away,or maybe my cut off wheel. Thanks Jason

01-04-2008, 12:14 PM	#2
faribran Registered User Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: AL Posts: 1,828	Re: 71 drivers door wont open keep working with it... i am sure it will open.. no need to damage it further.. __________________ "

01-07-2008, 01:43 AM	#3
LONGHAIR just can't cover up my redneck Join Date: May 2004 Location: Columbus OH Posts: 11,414	Re: 71 drivers door wont open This really should be in 67-72....it not an FAQ.

01-07-2008, 06:05 AM	#4
michael bustamante Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Albuquerque NM Posts: 7,862	Re: 71 drivers door wont open my driver door was doing that also. my door was set just far enough away from the striker that the wheel was getting stuck and not turning. I would have to actually kick my door openfrom the inside. (truck abuse I know). all I did was re hang my door and closed the gap a little to bring the latch closer to the striker. now the latch (star) and the striker meet perfect. __________________ 1967custom

01-07-2008, 06:51 AM	#5
cdowns Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: daytonabeach Posts: 22,956	Re: 71 drivers door wont open are you sure the lock knob didnt get pushed down and is jammed? __________________ 71c-10 350/2004r/4:11 lowered3/4 longbed/dead by hurricane MEANING OF DEATH::::: SOMEBODY ELSE GETS YOUR STUFF DONT BELIEVE EVERYTHING YOU THINK TAKE MY ADVISE;I DON'T USE IT ANYWAY

02-16-2008, 06:53 AM	#6
melvin Registered User Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Sparks, NV Posts: 18	Re: 71 drivers door wont open Will it open at all? Try spraying the star with some lube and working the door back and forth. I had to do same on my passenger door, took about 5 minutes of working then it broke free. Works like a champ now.

02-16-2008, 08:43 AM	#7
PanelDeland I am a Referee of life. Join Date: Jun 2000 Location: Greensboro N.C. Posts: 13,992	Re: 71 drivers door wont open Try pushing in on the door while opening.Sometimes the star will bind if the door is adjusted with the latch mechanism too tight. __________________ The 47-present Chevrolet and GMC Truck Message Board Network,it's owners,moderators,members,and associates of any type should not be held responsible for my opinion. You can't fix stupid,not even with duct tape. "My appearance is due to the fact that "GOD" does punish you for having too much fun!" Barrett-Jackson has perfected alchemy,they make rust into gold! "You can lead a horse to water but you can't saddle a duck" "Cleverly disguised as a 'Responsible Adult' "Sometimes your Knight in shining armor is just a retard in tinfoil"

02-16-2008, 09:26 AM	#8
Chevyholic Will it run today? Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: DFW, Texas Posts: 272	Re: 71 drivers door wont open Where is your seat belt? I had this happen to me once and as it turned out I closed my door and seat belt hadn't retracted. I caught the male-end underneath my door shimming it up. Just enough so that nothing worked to open it, although it wasn't actually latched. I actually had to get inside and use every one of my 200lbs to get that damn thing open again. Now I always check my belt. Good luck! __________________ Jaws, the 1971 Chevy Cheyenne Longbed. She's big, grey, and has an insatiable appetite! Last edited by Chevyholic; 02-16-2008 at 09:26 AM.

02-16-2008, 12:41 PM	#9
Premium72 Registered User Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Villa Rica Ga Posts: 889	Re: 71 drivers door wont open yeah sounds like the door is adjusted to far in, just takes a touch off an itll get stuff. get inside and force your body weight on the whole door and bang it open. good luck . __________________ WombatFire, Art-Design-MADNESS Follow My Build and Adventures on Instagram



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