C5 Passenger door won't open from outside

markeddy · Post by **markeddy** » 09 Nov 2010, 10:22

As per the title, I have to open the passenger door from inside.
All other doors open fine from outside when I unlock the central locking.
This problem was intermittent about a year ago but has no been a permanent problem for last few months.

MOT is due very soon so need to sort this.
Any advice gratefully accepted.

markeddy · Post by **markeddy** » 10 Nov 2010, 09:16

UPDATE........ The title should read "Door will only unlock from inside"

After some testing I can now give the following details:

Passenger door opens/unlocks from inside

When I unlock the central locking remotely, I can here it click at the passenger door

Once the passenger door has been opened/unlocked from the inside, it will then open and close fine from the outside until it is locked again

The passenger door will lock via the central locking

Post by **myglaren** » 10 Nov 2010, 09:38

It is a common fault.
There is a design weakness in the lock that involves the child locks.
Setting the child locks regularly kills the ability to open the door from the outside and as the child lock is set it can't be opened from the inside.
It is possible but not east to remove the door card and access the lock sufficiently to get the door open and replace the lock.

markeddy · Post by **markeddy** » 10 Nov 2010, 10:06

Thank you for the response but I do not use child locks and am a little confused as to how they would affect the front passenger door not unlocking remotely..........

frenchcarnut · Post by **frenchcarnut** » 10 Nov 2010, 10:14

markeddy wrote:Thank you for the response but I do not use child locks and am a little confused as to how they would affect the front passenger door not unlocking remotely..........

I thought I couldn't open mine this morning, but it was the frost!!! Good yank and it opened. But be careful, C5 handles are a bit sensitive to normal yanking as the interior variety are prone to failure.

So perhaps wind the window down and hold the frame of the door whilst grabbing the handle. That way the force is mainly concentrated on the entire door rather than the handle?

markeddy · Post by **markeddy** » 10 Nov 2010, 10:20

Definitely not weather related.

Like I said, once I have unlocked from the inside, the door operates with no problems until it is locked again and then it has to be opened from inside again.

All very odd.

It did start as an intermittent fault but is now permanent and MOT is next week

frenchcarnut · Post by **frenchcarnut** » 10 Nov 2010, 10:23

markeddy wrote:Definitely not weather related.

Like I said, once I have unlocked from the inside, the door operates with no problems until it is locked again and then it has to be opened from inside.

Apologies, misread that. Good luck

markeddy wrote: MOT is next week

Put my van in this morning with an electrical hazard light fault. Can't wait

citroenxm · Post by **citroenxm** » 10 Nov 2010, 12:44

"Myglaren" refers to REAR DOORS, but, it sounds like one of two things, a linkage problem inside the door, or a Lock problem internally...

Prehaps a replacement lock from breakers should be your only fix.. itswhat I would do...

Paul

ACTIVE8 · Post by **ACTIVE8** » 11 Nov 2010, 16:23

citroenxm wrote:"Myglaren" refers to REAR DOORS, but, it sounds like one of two things, a linkage problem inside the door, or a Lock problem internally...

Prehaps a replacement lock from breakers should be your only fix.. itswhat I would do...

Paul

Are these newer models more prone to being made cheaply (by accountants), or poorly designed than the earlier models?

citroenxm · Post by **citroenxm** » 11 Nov 2010, 17:12

Made cheaply would be my guess!! To try and reduce costs..

Paul

Jeff · Post by **Jeff** » 11 Nov 2010, 18:36

I had this problem with a Xantia first....had to remove card, cut a small hole in door big enough to get my fingers in to push the multiplug back on the lock and secondly with a C5....after removing card and obtaining 2nd hand lock from scrappy, after looking at replacement lock, I used a drill and a long 15mm drill bit , I started drilling through the mechanism and the action of the end of the masonry drill bit turned "popped" the lock open.

All in all....a needless pain.

Post by **myglaren** » 11 Nov 2010, 20:22

citroenxm wrote:"Myglaren" refers to REAR DOORS, but, it sounds like one of two things, a linkage problem inside the door, or a Lock problem internally...

I did indeed, sorry for the mistake.

Prehaps a replacement lock from breakers should be your only fix.. itswhat I would do...

Paul

Well worth a try.

citroenxm · Post by **citroenxm** » 11 Nov 2010, 20:28

I have actually got a C5 REAR Passenger door lock, from when a customer had his 2.2 C5 with the famous lock problem.. its completely possible to remove the door card and undo the child lock with the door shut, I managed it the second time was easyer...

I bought the replacment lock, but cooling system problems made him Part Ex the car...

Might need it one day... as my locals move up to C5's...

Paul

jimleshed · Post by **jimleshed** » 12 Nov 2010, 10:53

Mine does this sometimes too.
Front passenger door sometimes does not unlock/open...ok from inside
Actually it might do it often, as 90% of the time I drive alone.

Usually a lock/unlock cycle seem to fix it at the moment, so I guess its something a bit sticky somewhere...

Post by **myglaren** » 12 Nov 2010, 11:50

My driver's door does this occasionally.
I find that giving it a hard push from outside or pull from inside (open the window and pull the door, not the handles) will allow it to open.
I then spray some silicone lubricant on the door catches and exposed locking assembly, which seems to last about six months.
Closing the door firmly helps to avoid the problem. No need to bang the doors though.

Completely missed the real problem when I first read this