My 1974 Delta 88 Royale. The passenger door will no longer open. Handle button depresses and inside latch pulls but door will not budge. Lock mechanism appears to work as it goes up and down with normal resistance. Would welcome any suggestions. Thank you.

1974 Delta 88 Royale, Second owner, purchased in 1992 in northern Virginia.

 

Beautiful Oldsmobile. Did you remove the door panel and inspect the mechanism? Unfortunately, that might require some destructive disassembly since the door is stuck closed.

 

You, sir, have a problem.

I have a '73 Delta 88 convertible, and I'm sure the doors are the same.

Here's a photo of the passenger door. You're going to have to remove the inner door panels, of which there are two, an upper and a lower. The upper one is removed by removing screws along the bottom edge. I've indicated with red arrows where they are. Your problem is going to be getting at the front one because it's up behind the door jamb when the door is closed. I looked again at my car just now, and it is simply impossible to get at the front screw with the door closed.






If pushing and shoving on the door doesn't get it to open, you might take the car to a collision repair shop. They might have some experience in getting stuck doors open and might have some ideas.


Of course, the passenger could always get in and out of the car the way Robin got in and out of the Batmobile. Just hop over the door.

 

You might consider calling a lock smith. I've seen where they insert a "ballon" in the gap of the rear of the door and the body. They pump it up which allows them to inset a hook to pull open the lock. In your case maybe that flexing will allow the door mech to unlatch.

 

Nice car!
Try jacking the back of the car up lightly on the frame rail and retry. Try jacking the car up lightly just enough to raise the body but not to lift the wheels below the lock/striker. The goal is to get it to release with some flex in the body. Can also try prying up lightly on the bottom of the door with a trim removal tool, be careful not to damage paint.

 

Thank you sir! It’ll be my May car project.

 

If you try what is mentioned in posts #4 & 5 first, the door may open and it will be much easier to work on. It will also reduce the chance of breaking the door panel.

 

These are all great suggestions and I very much appreciate the diagram. I’m going to break out the tools in May and give it a go. Might circle back with more questions then.

 

This is the way. Put the jack under the frame at the back edge of the door, directly beneath the latch. Jack it up and the frame will flex, maybe enough to get the door to open. Then you can inspect the latch and striker for rust or see if it's binding. Maybe the door has sagged- hinges worn.

 

Pull the seat out, much easier to get at door panel.

 

I have a 72 convertible; seat will be easy to remove; my doors were fine but had to adjust latch post.

 

Pulling the seat out is not going to help. He still can't get at the screw at the very front of the door holding the upper panel in place. That screw is completely hidden when the door is closed.

I think these ideas of jacking up the car to try to get the frame or body to twist slightly might work. I know that this happens when I jack up my '73.

 

Just checking for an update- I was hoping to find jacking the car under the door solved the problem... how's it going OP?

 

Any luck? I'm in Bailey's crossroads... Close to you and I'm having the same problem with my 70 98 4 door. Driver's door won't open, lock works fine. I'm using a slim Jim right now trying to pop it

 

I'm looking for a solution. I have a '79 Hurst/Olds parts car that both of the doors are not opening. It's been several years since the doors have opened. I've tried the slim jim and even sprayed WD40 directly into the lock and on the striker. Nothing has worked.