Passenger door wont unlock / open

[spartacus46]

Ok. This has been an ongoing issue with my Saturn Vue for about one year now. If we try and open the passenger door when it is locked, you hear a slight noise and then the door will not open even if the locking latch is up or down. You can use the lock/unlock switch to attempt to unlock the door but all that happens is the lock going up and down without unlocking the door.
What we have done…..we kept locking and unlocking the door until it finally unlocks. Sometimes it takes minutes….sometimes it takes hours…..sometimes it takes days. Grant it, we try not to attempt to open the door if the car is not unlocked but it sometimes does it still. Does anyone have any idea what I am talking about and a possible solution? The warranty has run out. ANY assistance is greatly appreciated!!!

:sneeze:

[original007]

Need a new door lock(latch if you will),not terribly hard to do.

[OhioVueBoy]

Finally, someone else on here with latch problems. I was beginning to think that I was an anomoly.

I have replaced all of the original latches out of my VUE for doing this exact same thing, all at various times in its life. The driver's door lasted the longest, surprisingly.

They are not hard to do - after you pull the door panel (don't miss any of the hidden screws - like behind the tweeter, and inside the door handle cup), there are 3 bolts holding it on (the ones that surround the latch on the side of the door jamb), and a couple of plugs (err might just be one though, I'm getting foggy in my old age of 26).

One thing to note - DO NOT destroy the vapor barrier plastic on the door when you are working in there. The seal is self vulcanizing, and that stupid piece of plastic costs more than the door latch (which is $49.00 IIRC).

~D.J.~

[kevo420]

When you say that seal is self vulcanizing....

are you talking about the seal on the inside or outside of the door.

If it's self vulcanizing does it mean that you can re-apply it after removal and you'll be ok?

I need to replace the wiring to my power door lock on the drivers door but didn't want to wreck the seal. so after getting all panels off i backed out for fear of doing more expensive damage to the seal.

Am i ok to remove the plastic and just re-apply it?

[OhioVueBoy]

Just peel it back as far as you need to work on it, and then tack it back with some silicone. That is what I did, and mine are holding up well.

It is a one shot deal - the seal material will not stay together when you pull it off.

~D.J.~

[emsvitil]

The locks are designed to fail..........

Here's a post I made a year ago about them:
http://www.saturnfans.com/forums/showthread.php?t=108263