Door Latch Won't Release

[JimE]

I have a 1986 Silverado c10 with electric door latch's and windows.

The door is not completely shut and will not open. The door will not close all the way , nor will it release the latch. The electric part will move the door latch rod that sticks up by the window works up & down, and by using the interior door handle it still won't release the latch.  I tried feeling around inside the door area after taking off the interior door panel, but still no luck. Tried all of the above with someone on the out side and still no luck.

The one thing I did find is that I cannot lock or unlock the door by using the key.

Call me stumped.

[thirsty]

You should be able to operate the latch from inside the the door if you have the panel off. Then again you should be able to get it shut all the way unless your striker bolt is messed up or something broke in the latch assembly.
Is this something that just happened out of the blue or were you installing the door?

[JimE]

You should be able to operate the latch from inside the the door if you have the panel off. Then again you should be able to get it shut all the way unless your striker bolt is messed up or something broke in the latch assembly.
Is this something that just happened out of the blue or were you installing the door?

I had just taken the door panel off and then shut the door. It's like the "C" shaped latch is half way open/closed and will not fully latch or release.

[thirsty]

JimE, here are a few threads.

http://forum.73-87chevytrucks.com/smforum/index.php/topic,3457.msg15568.html#msg15568

http://forum.73-87chevytrucks.com/smforum/index.php/topic,17265.msg136894.html#msg136894

http://forum.73-87chevytrucks.com/smforum/index.php/topic,10763.msg77978.html#msg77978

[JimE]

Success!, I want to thank everyone for the help.

I finally tried the most obvious thing, I got out my Liquid Duct Tape (WD-40) and squirted it into the lock, and around the door handle button on the outside.  I had come to the conclusion that the latch mechanism had to be in the locked position or the door would open. I used the passenger door lock to open/lock a couple of times and it popped the driver door mech to unlock.

Now to cleanup the lock and lube it up.