Passenger door locks but won't unlock

[Vic Evans]

My 1999 pug 806 has had a problem for a couple of years but as she's been in hibernation I've forgotten about it.
I now need to use her for a while & am wondering why the front passenger door (RH door on LH drive ) will lock on the central locking key fob but not open unless done manually from inside the vehicle or use the key. The button jumps down on locking but stays there when unlocking.
The rear sliding doors & boot perform fine.
Before I start taking off the door card etc to investigate anyone got any ideas.

[wheeler]

Have you checked for broken wires in the sleeve between the body & the door. Quite a common place for wiring to break as it flexes all the time.

[Vic Evans]

Have you checked for broken wires in the sleeve between the body & the door. Quite a common place for wiring to break as it flexes all the time.

Just went out to the barn to have a look at this sleeve, wiggled the sleeve & tried the key fob remote whilst sat in the passenger seat with door closed. Door still locked but would not unlock.
Whilst there I noticed that this door 'button' was not quite as low as the others when door locked so I pushed it down a few mm & blow me the things working correctly again.
Many thanks for your advice. I doubt I'd have got the thing 'fixed' if I hadn't tried your suggestion 'cos I very rarely sit that side of the old gal & from the drivers seat wouldn't have noticed the button wasn't sitting right down like the others.

[mickthemaverick]

In that case sounds like some gunge stopping it locking down properly, maybe a case where a good squirt of WD40 or similar down beside the button will ease it up so it locks and hence unlocks properly

[Vic Evans]

In that case sounds like some gunge stopping it locking down properly, maybe a case where a good squirt of WD40 or similar down beside the button will ease it up so it locks and hence unlocks properly

I've been wracking me old noddle as from the depths of old age I sort of remember this happening yonks ago.
If I remember correctly the plastic button connects to a rod attache to the lock by a plasticy tapered gissmo so it can be fitted (pushed on) after the door card & elbow rest (dunno what it's called) where the 'button' sits are fitted.
It's an easy thing for a passenger to try to lift up the button thinking that it'll unlock the door instead of using the little pull back handle that unlocks & opens it so probably that's what's happened.