Can't open door on 89 Lesabre

I am unable to open two of my doors from using either the outside thumb button or inside latch? The automatic and manual door lockes appear to be working and the key locke appears functional also. I have tried a few suggestions such as spraying lubricant into the door panel and lockes and banging on the outside of the door with a rubber mallett. I also tried to engage the mechanism by reaching down in between the door with some wire to try and jimmy it open,, no luck. Of course unable to get door panel off with door shut. Any suggestions??

Hi,

The locks on these type of cars are commonly problematic. Below is a link to another post about the same issue, it's regarding an Olds Ninty Eight, but the Buick LeSabre & Park Avenue have the same lock system as the Olds Eighty Eight & Ninty Eight so the information will apply. The only thing I know about the problem is posted on that thread so I hope you find something that is of some help....

Good Luck:)

http://www.automotiveforums.com/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=298256

Thanks for responding oldsbuickguy82. Regardless of which mechanism is messed up, i still need to get the door panel off from the inside to take a look? I guess until I get an idea of how to do that, I am kinda of stuck. I can get inside my vehilce no problem using the working doors. It appears that the door panel butts up against the dash and the plastic covering on the door post, so appears impossible to pull or pry off even enought to have a look inside?

I'm not really sure how to deal with it myself, it's a tricky situation because if you pull on the panel too much it might end up damaged and not fit back in place again. One of my front doors didn't open from the outside for a while but it did open from the inside so it wasn't so hard to deal with.

I guess if it were me I would take it to a garage, someone who is experienced might have seen the problem in the past and be able to help you fix it without doing any damage to the car....

Perhaps if there was a way to release the screws/bolts that hold the armrest in place you might be able to pull the panel off a little easier. If I'm not mistaken a couple of those bolts are accessible when you remove the little plate that holds the power window up/down switch...That should just pop out with a little force on it. I think you can unplug it too and pull it out totally if the wires are in the way.

Also, the plastic covering around the interior door handle and power lock switch just unscrews with that little star shaped bit and you can see a little inside the door from there, sometimes the trouble might be in the area right where the door locks and unlocks so that is something to consider too.

BUT...

If you haven't fooled with any of that stuff in the past I don't know if it's wise to start now, it can be rather tedious work and on an older car somtimes things just don't fit back like you want....I would have a mechanic or someone who is fimilar with that kind of thing have a look at it....I wouldn't want you to try the things I've mentioned and then end up breaking something...I'd feel terrible....

I really don't know what else to tell you right now except Good Luck!...

Later:)

I added my experience in the above linked thread, here is the single post link: http://www.automotiveforums.com/vbulletin/showpost.php?p=3548311&postcount=5