This is a problem that has been pissing me off for a while. The rear passenger door has been acting funny since I got the car. First it was fine, then one day it wouldn't shut. Then when it shut it wouldn't open, no matter what position the lock was in, it acted like it was locked. Then it went through a stage where it would open but not lock at all. You could push down on the lock and close the door but as soon as you pulled on the outside handle the lock would just come on up and the door would open right up. I finally took the panel off and sprayed a bunch of degunk throughout. It seemed to work properly with the door panel off (finally!) so I put it back together and closed the door. It went right back to opening when locked so I pushed the lock down, maybe a bit too hard, and now the door is locked and shut, and staying shut. Even when I pull the lock up it wont unlock and I can't get the door open! Any thoughts on how I can fix this? Can I take off the door panel somehow?

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1983 300D TurboDiesel

Sounds like your door check strap seized up. Not good.

You might try driving down a very bumpy road to try and dislodge the bearing and the door open. Make sure to have a new check strap in hand to swap it out. That or you can just remove the old one until you get a new one.

Search the forum for "check strap" or "door check"

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'85 300TD "Puff The Magic Wagon" - Rolling Resto
'19 Mazda CX-9 Signature - Wife's sled
'21 Morgan 3-Wheeler P101 Edition
'95 E300d - SOLD
'84 300TD "Brown Betty" - Miss this one
'81 240D "China Baby" - Farm grocery getter

did you ever get your door open? My drivers side rear door is stuck shut and im trying to figure out how to get it open. It wont open from inside or out. The lock goes up and down when i use my drive lock, and if i pull it by hand it feels like its locking and unlocking. Driving me crazy not being able to use that door!

Edit: i think its the check stap as well. I was hearing a creaking/groaning sound when using that door before, but ive only had the car for about a month so i was more worried about fixing other things. Wish i had known about the check strap before it got stuck shut

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Clint. 1983 300D turbo, 150k
http://www.youtube.com/clintard

Nope, still stuck shut, but lucky for me its a back door-driver's door would suck hard. I need to verify but is the door check strap just the thing that stops the door from opening all the way out past a certain point? If so, I don't think that's it. There is something wrong with the locking mechanism. It feels like something came loose in the door b/c no matter what position the lock is in it feels and acts like its locked when you pull on the handle; both inside and out. If I could at least get the door panel off...surely someone must have dealt with this before?

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1983 300D TurboDiesel

mine acts the same way. I read something about its real bad if the child lock is on but cant find it now. what a pita

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Clint. 1983 300D turbo, 150k
http://www.youtube.com/clintard

What "child lock" would that be?

Yea, I'm not aware of child locks on the W123. But that's what it feels like, except it won't open from the outside either.
Perhaps the Jaw of Life are my only option!?

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1983 300D TurboDiesel