Drivers door won't open

[djfairbrother]

Hi All

I've had a problem for a while where I couldn't open the drivers door because the exterior handle was sticking open. Bashing it back in then trying again worked every time, until my mechanic snapped the exterior handle (cheers mate)

Now the door won't open from the inside or outside. I couldn't get the door card off without opening the door so I've cut a big hole in it. Now the linkage rods are exposed but not all the way to the locking mechanism. I've tried fiddling with the mechanism (I can just reach it with my fingertips), but I can't seem to remove the plastic cover around the mechanism to get better access - any ideas?

The rod that links to the exterior handle is totally jammed, I can't move it up or down. The rod to the interior handle moves both ways but doesn't spring back. I can lock and unlock the door as normal, but just can't open it.

Anyone have any advice on how to free up the mechanism, or open the door from the outside with a snapped handle?

[Northern Bongolow]

http://lushprojects.com/bongopartsmk2/c ... mgno=.html.

https://www.ebid.net/uk/for-sale/mazda- ... GwodGyQOSQ

[djfairbrother]

Managed to sort it in the end by getting a big screwdriver in there and forcing the lever from the external handle upwards, then opening with the interior handle. Maybe this will be useful for others in future...

Thanks for the links.