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The driver's door lock on my '04 SE has jammed, of course in the locked position with the door shut.

I can't unlock the door with the key, the inner lock handle or the central locking remote, so of course I can't get the door open.

Any advice on getting the door open for starters.

I have attempted to get the door trim off with the door shut, but there's a clip at the front that the dash prevents you from removing and also the inner door handle surround doesn't want to come away with the lock lever in the locked position.

If I do manage to get the trim off, what is the problem likely to be? I've got the passenger door trim off to look at how it all works, but it the rods all just seem to disappear into a plastic covered mechanism.

Failing all of that, who would you recommend I take it so in Melbourne eastern suburbs to get it sorted?

Progress...

By using some gentle persuasion, twisting, turning and pulling on handles I have managed to get the door open and consequently the door trim off.

Any suggestions on next steps to fix the underlying issue of the lock being jammed would be most welcome.

Look at the locking mechanism. Determine what's wrong. Fix it.

Dann

I had the same symptoms on my NA. I did manage to remove the door card with the door shut...a right PITA, and not without a small amount of damage to the upper potion of the card. The problem was a small spring had broken on the lock/handle mechanism. MX5 Mania stock the springs, as this is a common fault on the NA. Not sure if this is common to the NB.

Culprit found!

Seems that water had got into the aftermarket central locking actuating solenoid on the driver door, which had seized in the locked position and was jamming the whole locking mechanism up.

I've managed to free it up, but looks identical to the ones that Jaycar sell for $13, so a new one is probably a cheap bit of insurance against it happening again too soon.

Also will mount it this time with the open end facing slightly down so that water will run out of and not into the solenoid.