When the key is inserted, the doors lock as soon as the engine starts, put the car in park, turn the key to the off position, all door unlock, but you can't open the driver's side door, it just moves, until you play with the lock, back and forth until it pops open, any ideas on how to unstick it? Do I have to remove the indoor panel to do it? The last owner riveted the door panel on, instead of using the pins.
WD 40 honey or find someone that wants to pop the door panel off. but tha'ts more labor than its worth. Ah, nothing like talking to each other over Yahoo Answers, is it honey?
sounds like your power latch actuator is going bad (ie the little electronic pull motor that actually moves the latch) it does require the door panel to be removed to be replaced, repair should take less than 1 hour, pretty common issue to good bad on camry's especially 92-96 series
Does the door lock and unlock correctly and easily with the key from outside? What about from the inside button? Is it only the actuator motor not being able to unlock it? If it's more than one, it could be some linkage is bent (perhaps due to someone with a slim jim unlocking your car). Other wise it's the door lock motor, either way, you gotta get that cover off.
Since the last owner riveted the door panel and not using pins. That may or may not be your problem. If not my guess is what they call a actuate and basically it acts like a plunger. Put your key in turn and it comes up and unlockes. Have a repair shop look at and if it does need one. Those suckers are very expensive. Here where i live at 260 a piece. Go to a junk yard here where i live at are you ready for this about 11 a piece.
The last owner already gave you a pretty good clue as to his mentality when he riveted the door panel on like a moron, maybe you'll get lucky and find another display of his stupidity when you pull the door panel, like maybe he lost a piece of the actuator linkage and tried to replace it with a piece of coat hanger or something, or maybe the actuator itself is loose, which would cause it to not pull or push as far as it should,you know what I mean?, if it's loose it would reduce the distance it's capable of pulling or pushing because the actuator is wobbling back and forth, or if something is bent in the linkage it would have the same effect, you never know till you open the panel up, but maybe you'll get lucky!!, hope this helps,good luck with that!!! George
