Cannot open driver door in Citroen C5

[x_XP]

Hi everyone,

This post in relation to 05 my Citroen C5 2.2 HDi Estate.
Today I parked my car on the driveway and shut my door as usual without locking the car, after fifteen minutes or so i come back to let the dog out, but drivers door was somehow locked.
Firstly i though that dog might have pressed some button, this happened to me in Land-rover when dog stood on central locking on the door .
So I pressed lock and unlock with remote but this did not work.

Drivers door remind shut/locked and can not be open from inside with the handle or outside with key or remote, all other doors are working, this is a bit strange because car was left unlocked.

So my question is did this happen to anyone and what is the procedure in this instance to get the drivers door open?
Is it possible to remove door lining panel while door is shut?

Thanks Michael

[myglaren]

Give the door a really hard push in the area near the lock and you will probably find it will open. If not operate the lock a few times and try again.
It is a known problem. Both mine have done it on occasion, the estate more than the current one.

Clean the lock contact areas thoroughly and apply some silicone lubricant (Halfords have it if there are no other local options).

[x_XP]

Thank you
SOLVED
goggling i did find this solution:
quote:
"Stumbled across a way of getting door open. If its the front door, turn the key to the unlock position (anticlockwise) and turn it forcefully it should click at about the 9 o clock position. You should then be able to get door open"
Had to do this twice than it worked for me

[jgra1]

chaps..

not quite on the same subject as the original message
both my front doors now almost impossible to open from the inside.. MOT in 2 days... I am guessing the doors have dropped now? certainly I can feel movement on the drivers door..
if that is not the problem, then there is something wrong with the unlocking handle/mechanism within the door..

I stress that the door is unlocking ok, just not openable from inside unless a fairly violent tug on the handle..

anyone had similar? it seems a bit like the handle isn't doing enough, in it's movement.. to get the latch open.. I notice the handles do have a 'stop' mechanism, meaning they will only move/open so far

John
edit..

just been outside and opened all doors, and clicked the latch as if they all shut.. sure enough, the rear door's internal handle operates smoothly, and when handle is about 60% open the latch clicks open

front doors. harder to operate the internal handles, pull them as far as possible and the latches don't move.. only when you pull them hard and fast will the latch open..

hmm
will de skin them (and me) in an hour

[myglaren]

John, push the door hard from the outside and I think you'll find it will open then.
Spray the lock mechanism with silicon lubricant and it will be OK for a few months.

[jgra1]

thanks Steve..

took skin off.. door handle just doesn't quite do enough work to open the lock.. sprayed inside of mech anyway..
added a few small zip ties in a useful place and it works for now..
will do same with passenger door tomorrow

it's odd though....
must be worn or seized components in the lock mechanism.. that mostly affect the internal handle, not the external one,,

[myglaren]

It's not uncommon. My old estate has the interior handle broken off now, they open the door by opening the window and using the exterior handle. Idiots.

[Oliver53]

My 2003 2.0 hdi estate is having the same problem on driver's door. Not possible to open it from either side. Tried all the tricks mentioned above (pushing hard from outside, turn key forcefully) to no avail. Any other ideas please?

[Oliver53]

Update: I tried to remove the door card with the door shut but failed. However, after removal of all screws I can reach the steel rod through the gap between door card and door, by pulling the rod the door was finally opened.

My 2003 2.0 hdi estate is having the same problem on driver's door. Not possible to open it from either side. Tried all the tricks mentioned above (pushing hard from outside, turn key forcefully) to no avail. Any other ideas please?