360 Door Won't Open. I am so screwed

So it looks like the door lock modulator is toast on my passenger door. I can't open the door from the inside or the outside since the modulator is in a locked state and can't be unlocked. The only option I have is to take off the door panel with the door closed and then somehow hook the locking mechanism and manually unlock the door. I've heard this is a real nightmare and if anyone has done this before and knows the tricks. Please let me know what they are. This is going to be fun!

 

I'm sorry I'm not very technically versed on the locking system of a car I don't own, but no chance you can get a police officer or someone with a slim-jim or similar unlocking tool to just release the mechanism?

 

You should be able to get a good locksmith to pick the lock for you I would think.

Best Regards,

Thomas Carey

 

Hah.......same happened to me this week, but not with a Ferrari, a Land Rover. Didn't try to get the door opened yet. Will take it to a locksmith sometime this week.

 

Yes you are screwed, but don't loose faith. Similar has happened before and it has been solved.

Check this thread for help http://www.ferrarichat.com/forum/showthread.php?t=175604&highlight=door+problem

We had the same problem, Doors jammed shut. Can´t remember 100% but will help if you have some Q. Basicly if I remeber right you will need a person with very narrow hands that can reach the door lock true the armrest hole once you have taken he armrestplate away.

With good luck it is just the locking cable that has jumped out of place (in that case it has stretch too long and will jump again if you dont replace it) You should be able to just put it in its place to get the door open for now.

 

Don't panic, locked myself out my Maserati on Thanksgiving. Locksmith easily picked lock, no problem. Call around to MB or BMW dealers and ask who they use, that's your best bet, but it can be opened without damaging the car.

 

Nicke
your my savior. I picked up the new door lock modulator today and am going to try your procedure tonight. Many many thanks!!!!

 

what a nightmare. good luck!

 

The story is a good example what Fchat is really for!!! Kudo to the fchatters who sharing their view and experience on Ferrari with friends & people on line! even they are on different side of the world.

Its so COOLLLLLL...........

 

Nicke
I just finished up after spending over eight hours in the garage. The majority of the time was spent taking the door panel apart from inside the car and reaching into the door to fiddle with the modulator unit hoping the door would open. I finally got it after hundreds of attempts trying to move the different levers and at the same time trying to gain leverage. Once I heard that magical pop sound of the door opening. I spent a few moments cursing Ferrari and licking all the wounds I now have.
Once the door was open it was a snap getting the door panel out of the way and taking a peek inside. I unconnected all the levers and wiring into the modulator and then removed the three screws holding it on, one had to be drilled out as I stripped it. I popped in the new one and connected everything back up. This is where more fun started. I now had a 180 out problem. I could not get the door closed. It just wouldn’t stay shut. I tried every possible position for the door striker and nothing worked. I finally used my brain and manually tested the lock and it didn’t fully catch. This is where I found the real cause to all my problems. The main problem was a seized cable from the outside door handle to the door lock assembly. It wasn't releasing fully which somehow made the door inoperable. I tried to disconnect the bad cable from the lock assembly and put too much leverage which broke the brand new $200+ part. At least I saved all the money Ferrari would have charged me in labor . Tomorrow it’s back to the dealer to grab a new locking assembly, some screws, connectors, and a cable.
In all my years this was the hardest and most frustrating piece of do-it-yourself automotive work that I’ve done. The space to get your arm in and move around is nearly non-existent. Once you have good reach. You don't have any leverage and don't even know where to apply it. Thankfully I had the new modulator, which I looked at whilst I was fumbling around inside the door without any view of what my hands were doing.
I feel for any other poor sap who has to go through this fiasco. If you start hearing creaking sounds when you pull your door lever. I recommend you replace the cables before they screw you like they did me.
Thanks again for the great information.

 

Richard- Thanks for the write-up and warning about creaking sounds. Glad you got it fixed!
It sure is great to have a forum where we can all 'self-help' each other! ;-)

Hunter

 

Jeez. Doesn't anyone own a crowbar anymore???

Glad you got it open!

 

Hope it all sorts out. Somehow your description reminds me of our procedure. Yes the room is very thight and narrow, still can't believe we got it finally open!

We tried the easy way, - take it to the dealer, but that ended in too long wait. Took to another ferrari specialist, he suggested sawing the door panel to get access to open the door... didn't ssem like a good idea. In the end we ended up doing what you have done, except we swapped the lock to a sracpyard FIAT Ritmo lock (that we bought for 5€) since the dealer didn't have a lock in stock.

BTW. The cables had been hopping out of place several times, but the inside door release allways worked. So wasn't too worried when the passanger door did it again. At the time we had to do this the driver side was completely shut, couldn't be opened - just like yours, and the passanger side could only be opened from inside. No prob aslong as the roof hadn't to be closed, but if yes, I had to leave the passanger window a bit open and carry with me a hitch that I could reach thrue the window gap to the inside door realse so that I could get the door open. The climb over to the drivers side. Basicly brake in to the car every time - and no one ever wondered what I was doing.

All the best to your endeavours, and I am glad to help in anyway, and contribute to this board. Props should however go to Spiderscott for making an picture thread about (almost) this.