Ok, with the summer around the bend, I am finding the door lock sticking into my arm entirely too often on my P5. I would like to figure out how to lower the stupid thing so I can cruize in comfort.

First thing is how do I remove the door without damaging anything. I am assuming that I will have to take a screw out somewhere near the door handle on the inside, probably another on the grab handle, and perhaps some near the bottom of the door? Also are the window controls going to be an issue?

The other problem is, can anything be done about it even if the door is off? Can the bottom half of the lock perhaps be cut away allowing the lock to drop into the door when locked?

If anyone has a service manual sheet of the door and how to remove it, that would be helpful, or even just anyone who has taken their door off might be able to answer these questions.

Stocker

 

This is a real good web site I've found about P5 stereo install. The reason that it would apply to you, is it has pictures of the door panel removal. As far as lowering the actual lock studs, let me know

Stereo Install

 

I doubt you could just cut the bottom off, as it probably is lager at the bottom so it doesn't come through the top of the door when pulled? But you may be able to cut the rod below the actual piece that you see. I havn't had a chance to get the dorrs off yet to check the mechanism

 

I believe cutting the bottom of the plastic part of the lock pull might be possible. If you check out the pics here (goto the front speaker install), you'll see that it's something like Gro Harlem described. It's a plastic piece attached on a long thin metal rod.

 

It does look possible but I would have to see it first to recommend that. I am unsore how the plastic attaches to the metal.

 

Okay guys....I UNDERSTAND the need or want for the LOCK BUTTON NOT to be sicking you in the arm as you drive around with the window down AND your arm hanging out....but PLEASE think about this before you go and modify the button.....and heres why...

there is a reason the button sticks out of the door even when the door is locked....there is a REASON that there is a button at all with electric door locks....its a SAFETY feature...so that IF your electrics should fail...you can still unlock the door and get out if you need to....without having to break a window....YEAH I KNOW we are talking about during the summer when the windows are down...but are you planning to make it longer in the winter/fall ? I THINK NOT>.....

Case in point....My cousin was driving his car....all electric goodies in it....and was actually run off a country bridge....the car ended up the water just covering the top of his car....guess what? the electrics in the door all shorted out..and would NOT work....the water presure on the doors kept him from opening them right away......he had to wait till the car was nearly full of water before he could open the door and escape.....HOWEVER....had the door lock button NOT been sticking out of the door....he would NOT have been able to unlock the door....

just food for thought.

 

Then how about adding a second all car lock/unlock switch to the passenger side of a P5?

 

OBVIOUSLY you are refering to the ELECTRIC switch...which I don't see where it would be all that hard...other than running the wires.....

BUT...that does NOT address the problem that was originally brought up by the original thread.

 

Here's some food for though. If the lock buttons are anything like the 1st gen ones (where it's not just a round plastic rod coming out, like old chevy cars had them), while you have everything apart, you use a dremel or some other means to cut a slit into the plastic button, just long enough to slip some strong fabric through the hole. you loop the fabric, and then put some metal rod through the other end of the loop. Think of how the zipper on your winter coat is. It has a string or a sturdy, wide piece of fabric. Sew it together or if it'll stick together by applying heat to it, do that. Then, when you put everything together, the button sits below the door panel, and if the electrics blow, you can just grab the cord and yank. Some may think it'll look tacky, but I'm sure you can get something that's wide that will fit through, so it sits flat against the door panel. Hey, it'll save your life, like Sir Nuke was talking about.

I feel for you, too, dude. I hate my lock button just as much as you do.

 

TRUE...IF you don't freek out and panic... :{D or have the car laying on that side....or something of that sort...... course you could always get one of those nifty little hammers with the pointy spike to keep in the glove box too....will take out a window in a heart beat!

 

Actually, I think I'm going to do this to my car this weekend. It'll give me a reason to go to bed early friday night so I can wake up early in the morn.

I've been so lazy that I don't get up early on the weekends anymore.

Later on.

 

I was looking over the responses and an idea came to me. I have a 91 Honda Accord LX, and the LX and EX have power door locks that sit flush in the door but can be opened without the use of electricity. They are flush with the door panel and are very comfortable for cruising with the window down. Also, the locks use the same metal rod system that our pros use. Maybe it's possible to cut out a little around the current door pull and adapt the honda one to our cars. I will try this tomorrow and will let you know the results.

Adam
Harbor Blue 91 LX

 

some cars have a safety feature in where, when you pull the handle it also unlocks the door. but usually found built into the lact assembly.

well, hows this idea along with cutting the rod shorter, or even just making a new one (although this is alot more complicated, but i like little projects like this ) adapting this would require one special part, also found on certain cars, new Civics come to mind, it's a pivoting pulley type device, that pivots on an axis point. (think of an old airplane propeller, but it only pivots 180degrees or less, depending on the throw of the handle rod) it has 2 rotational connection points on the ends for the rods to pivot freely. Simply use aftermarket doorlock rods to bend up 2 new rods, one that connects to the door handle rod and the other to the doorlock rod. It will take some trickery to find the correct angles and mounting point for the pivot pulley and new rods, but would solve the safety issue and be a cool mod/project.

 

This sounds VERY interesting...and seeing as how I have a wife that sews and stuff....you could actually find some fabric that is not only sturdy...but will match from a LOOKS department....pretty good idea!!

:{D

 

I agree we could probably shorten the rod. But from looking at the pictures the door looks like it has been stamped with a recess to allow the lock to come down with out binding, shortening the rod might cause the lock to bind. I was thinking that mazda probably uses similar locks in other cars. So is there another mazda part that looks the same but is shorter? So you could just swap out the lock part. Right now I think that, or shortening the rod are the best options. The other thing I was thinking is, what is the rod attached to at the other end? maybe it can be slid down a half inch at the other end with out any cutting at all.

I understand sir nukes point, but I like Gro said, there are three other useful doors.

Grrr damn lock.
Stocker