I have scoured the forums here and found folks with similar problems but haven’t found one with this exact problem with a Gen 3 Outback. The problem seems to be that it will not unlock. It will not unlock with the fob, the unlock button inside the car, the key in the door, nor with the thumb lever (I’m sure there is a more technical term but hopefully you know what I mean) on the interior. You can force the interior thumb lever over to the unlocked position but it just bounces back. When attempting to unlock it with the key in the door from the outside, the same “bouncing back” type of thing occurs.
The problem started one day when i went to close the door and it just bounced back open, colliding with the door pin. This has happened to me on other vehicles, so I didn’t think much of it, stuck my finger in the catch mechanism so that it could catch the pin upon closing, closed the door and away i went. The door has not opened since!
I am the only owner of the car, it has not been in an accident, someone did shatter the glass to break in and steal my GPS unit, but that was 5 years and 60,000 – 70,000 miles ago (BTW, I saw the break-in going down, called the police, grabbed my roommate’s keys and tailed them, directing the police right to them & they got ’em & i got my GPS back & restitution for my broken window!), anyway, back to my door…I am 99.9% sure that the problem is not from a more recent break-in attempt. I have asked at my local dealer, they have never been confronted with this problem & were no help. I have removed the passenger side door panel so as to have an example of what i’m working with here and what the problem may be….i know what part i need to replace…that is not the issue. THE ISSUE IS THAT I CAN’T OPEN THE BLOODY DOOR IN ORDER TO REMOVE THE DOOR PANEL SO THAT I CAN REPLACE THE PART!!
I am at my wits end with this situation. I am frustrated beyond belief, I am an avid DIYer and do most of the work on this car and all of the work on my 3 VW Scirocco’s, and I have NEVER been so stumped and frustrated by something like this in my life. I have come to terms with the fact that I may very well have to sacrifice my door panel and hack into it…I’ve priced replacements and it’s not cost prohibitive to do so, but before I go that route, I thought as a last ditch effort I would post this plea for help here and maybe, just maybe someone might have the secret to opening my door and be willing to share it.
Please, I am desperate! HELP!!
Sorry for the long drawn out story…just trying to provide all details as well as attempt to convey my level of frustration.
Thank you,
Jeff
